HispanicBusiness

It used to be that small cars were called "butt busters" for very good reasons.

Today's new breed of subcompact sedans combines comfort, high fuel economy and affordable pricing. One is called the 2007 Suzuki Forenza. Another is the Suzuki SX4. Suzukis are popular vehicles in the Hispanic market.

The SX4 is billed as an SUV crossover with sporty pretensions. The Forenza is a four door sedan that also comes as a (gasp) station wagon.

The attractions for both Suzukis include fuel economy and modest pricing. In fact, the mpg numbers and price tags of the Forenza and SX4 are almost interchangeable. They both use a 2L four-cylinder rated at 127 horsepower for the Forenza and 143 horsepower for the SX4.

Forenza turns in 22 city and 31 mpg highway. That is coupled with modest pricing, $15,349 for the Forenza. The SX4's figures are 24/30 for $15,999.

The traveler Forenza has a 14.5 gallon tank. The city SX4's tank is but 11 gallons.

The acceleration times, 0 to 60 mph, are almost identical. The Forenza does it in 10.5 seconds and the SX4 in 10.7.

"SX4 vehicles lack cruise control and that's good. It's not a highway cruiser. It's a city commuter with scant inside room. The driver and passenger are very cozy and the backseat offers less room..."

Forenza weighs in at 2,800 pounds and the SX4 about 1,000 heavier. The lighter Forenza is on a 102.4 inch wheelbase and is 172.2 inches long. The SX4 is shorter at 98.4 inches for the wheelbase and 162.8 inches long.

That accounts for a bit extra room in the Forenza. Legroom is 42.4 inches or the equal of much larger vehicles. The SX4 manages with an inch less. Shoulder room in the Forenza is 54.7 inches and more than an inch less in the SX4.

Those are mighty big inches making for tight quarters in the back seat of the SX4 and decent room in the Forenza. The Forenza comes through with what seems like oceans of legroom. That and a surprisingly smooth ride lets the Forenza travel long distances in relative comfort.

Not so with the SX4. The ride is a little busy with no real road sense around curves. There's a fair amount of understeer (the vehicle wants to go straight) in turns along with a quick return to on-center of the steering wheel.

SX4 lack cruise control and that's good. It's not a highway cruiser. It's a city commuter with scant inside room. The driver and passenger are very cozy and the backseat offers less room.

The SX4 also comes with all-wheel drive and anti-lock brakes standard. The front-wheel drive only Forenza does not have standard ABS and that shouldn't be an extra cost option. ABS is a key safety component.

Like SX4, the Forenza also serves plenty of notice if it's driven too hard into curves. Yet it feels livelier in traffic than the 10.5 seconds 0-60 would indicate.

And neither punishes the posterior.