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What to check: Suzuki SX4 / S-Cross

BBy age

CBy miles

Ranked across all years of the Suzuki SX4 / S-Cross, from its own MOT record and from what owners report. Tick it off at the car.

From this model's MOT record

The physical checks its own defect data says are worth your time, most telling first.

Brake pipes underneathRuns high on this modelFollow the metal brake lines with a torch where they run along the sills and over the rear axle. White crust or flaking metal means they are corroding, and the online MOT history usually shows the same advisory creeping up for years before the fail.Recorded on 6.7% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 1.9%

A binding brakeRuns high on this modelAfter the test drive, hold the back of your hand near each wheel hub. One wheel running much hotter than the rest is a sticking caliper. A car that slows itself down when you lift off on a flat road is saying the same thing.Recorded on 2.9% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 0.7%

ExhaustRuns high on this modelListen along the exhaust at cold idle for blowing or chuffing, and give the tailpipe a push to check nothing hangs loose. Small blows only get louder.Recorded on 1.7% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 0.6%

LeaksRuns high on this modelLook at the ground where the car usually stands, then glance under the engine after your test drive. Fresh drips of oil or coolant are the cheapest warning you will ever get about a car.Recorded on 1.6% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 0.0%

Rubber boots and gaitersRuns high on this modelOn full steering lock, look in behind each front wheel at the concertina rubber boots on the driveshafts and steering rack. Splits, or grease flung around the arch, mean dirt is getting into a joint that costs far more than the boot protecting it.Recorded on 1.4% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 0.6%

Lights and horn walkroundWith a helper, run every light: dipped, main beam, indicators, brake lights including the high-level one, reverse, fog, and the horn. On newer cars a dead LED section can mean replacing the whole lamp unit rather than a bulb.Recorded on 1.7% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 1.2%

Steering playWith the engine running and the car parked, waggle the wheel lightly about the straight-ahead. The wheels should respond almost at once. A dead zone before anything happens means wear in the rack or the track rod ends.Recorded on 1.4% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 1.1%

Worth doing on any used car

These judge the seller's upkeep rather than the model.

Tyres, all fourCheck the tread across the full width of each tyre, inner edge included, and look for cracking and mismatched brands. A set of decent tyres is £500 or more on most cars, which makes this the easiest money to take off a price. If the pressure warning light is on, budget for sensors too.Recorded on 29.3% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 20.1%

Pads and discsLook through the wheel spokes at the brake disc. A pronounced lip on its outer edge, or a rusty and scored face, means discs and pads are due all round, a few hundred pounds on most cars. A haggling point rather than a reason to walk away.Recorded on 11.3% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 10.1%

Windscreen and wipersRuns high on this modelScan the glass in daylight for chips, especially in the driver's line of sight where even a small one can fail the MOT. Run the washers and check the wipers clear without smearing.Recorded on 2.6% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 1.7%

Because of what owners report

Drawn from the owner reports rather than the MOT data. These are the model-specific ones.

If it's a pre-2014 1.9 diesel, ask for EGR, swirl flap and turbo history, and check when the timing belt and water pump were last changed.No paperwork on any of this means budget for a DPF, turbo or timing belt job that may already be overdue.

On an automatic, drive it in slow, stop-start traffic and feel for hesitation or shudder pulling away.A juddering DCT clutch pack is a costly gearbox repair that isn't always covered once the car is out of warranty.

Check the door sills and boot floor for damp, staining or a musty smell, especially after rain.Reported water ingress around the sills usually means a failed door membrane needs replacing.

If it has a panoramic sunroof, run it fully open and closed a few times.A jammed or dropped sunroof glass is an expensive fix, into four figures on some reports.

On a slope, apply the handbrake, take your foot off the footbrake and see if the car creeps.Owners have reported the parking brake briefly failing to hold, which lines up with brakes being this model's most common MOT fail.

Ask for the last couple of service invoices, not just the stamps in the book.Gives you a real figure for ongoing main dealer costs rather than a guess.

On a test drive, check the boot opens and shuts freely, including in cold conditions if possible.There are reports of the boot sticking shut in cold weather, usually a minor seal or latch issue but worth ruling out.

Full Suzuki SX4 / S-Cross reliability report