There are cars that make you feel good gliding down the high street. Cars that have the neighbours gawping with envy.
The S-Cross is neither of those which suggests this family SUV has passed its sell-by date. Perish the thought because beneath its slightly anonymous styling lies a car that does what most families want: It starts every morning, gets you to work, or the kids to school and doesn’t bankrupt you with garage bills.
All of which proves the point that the S-Cross is rather good at its job. Erm, but what about the business with the disappearing digital speedo that sparked a right old debate with my wife?
This is positioned in a box between the rev counter and analogue speedometer but mixed up with 10 other bits of car info like average fuel economy, power distribution, you get the picture. It’s a rolling system and if you overshoot you have to go through it all over again which, admittedly is annoying, and prompted an indignant Mrs Rogers to ask ‘why don’t car companies scrap the outdated dials and just have a digital speedometer like most of the Chinese brands?
I put the case that it is tradition and where would we be without a rev counter? In the end we agreed to disagree and decided the dials are there to feed the male ego.
Phew, let’s get back to the merits of the car and a way of saving money without losing out too much. S-Cross is a nice simple two model range: Motion and Ultra and my advice is to save a chunk of money and buy the entry Motion. It has a generous kit list, including heated front seats, navigation, auto dipping LED headlights, keyless entry and start, reversing camera, I could go on. Opt for a manual and that is another £1,350 saving.
What are you missing out on? Polished alloys (take them or leave them), 360 deg camera ( I would like that), leather seats (fabric trim is more comfortable) front centre speaker (who cares), pan sunroof (the cabin is quieter without it).
S-Cross has probably gone as far as it can go without being replaced by a new model which is unlikely with the emphasis switching to electric. Inside owners will be pleased that everything is sensibly laid out. There are buttons you can find (like knocking off lane assist) without consulting the owner’s manual, and physical switches that do not send you swiping through menus just to control the heating.
Something that does show its age is a handbrake which has pretty much gone out of fashion and feels out of place when mated with an automatic. It is six speed with steering wheel paddles and is a little lumpy going through the motions. It is also lacking a gate between drive and manual so it is too easy to accidentally flick it into manual when setting off.
The tried and trusted 1.4 litre Boosterjet engine does not have to prove anything to anyone. It is no flyer but does the job and comes up with the goods for safe overtaking. It is also consistently economic, proven by my 52.3mpg return over 674 miles and easily beating the official average.
On top of the really good spec lift S-Cross is well off for driver safety aids including my favourite cross traffic alert which is reassuring when reversing out of supermarket or side parking spaces.
In an age when car companies are hell bent on making everything bigger, faster and more complicated, the S-Cross is refreshingly uncomplicated and doesn’t appear to have a serious flaw.
Yes it is looking dated yet it is thoroughly competent, practical, comfortable, easy to live with a decent amount of space for family motoring, and that is why it works. Carry on servicing the car at a Suzuki dealer and the warranty will be extended to 10 years.
Fast facts
Motion automatic
£25,599
1.4 litre petrol; 107mph
0-62mph 10.1secs; 111mph
48.7mpg combined
132g/km. 1st VED £560
Insurance group 20
Boot: 430 litres
