2008 Suzuki SX4 Sport

While it's better known in the U.S. for its motorcycles and perhaps even its outboard marine engines, Suzuki is nonetheless a force to be reckoned with on the worldwide automotive stage. In fact, the Japanese brand outsells BMW, Mazda, and Mitsubishi on a global scale. And in America? Well, for 2005 and 2006, it was the fastest-growing manufacturer. Suffice it to say, Suzuki is hot, and with its all-new SX4 Sport, it has no plans of cooling down.

Meant as a sportier option to the SX4 hatchback on which it's based, the SX4 Sport sedan ditches its sibling's all-wheel drive in favor of a lighter front-drive layout that helps drop curb weight by some 120 pounds. Complementing the sedan's slimmer physique are 17-inch alloy wheels with 205/50 Dunlops (versus the hatch's 205/60R16s), an aero body kit, front and rear anti-roll bars, and standard four-wheel disc brakes with four-channel ABS. Riding on MacPherson struts up front and a torsion-beam live axle in back, the $15,395 SX4 Sport is a thriftier alternative to the $20,305 Nissan Sentra SE-R.

Sure, the SX4, with a 2.0-liter, 143-horsepower four-cylinder, pales next to the 177-horsepower SE-R, but its made-in-Japan build quality and fun-to-drive factor match, if not surpass, those of the Nissan. Suzuki boasts that the SX4 Sport is based heavily on the acclaimed Swift hatchback sold in Europe and Asia, and the benefits are apparent-the Sport is easy and enjoyable to drive quick, especially when equipped with the standard five-speed manual that features short throws and a nice mechanical feel.

Even when loaded with the available Touring package-a six-CD changer, foglamps, a rear spoiler, and stability and traction control-the SX4 Sport costs less than $17,000. So if you're shopping for a Nissan Versa or a Toyota Yaris, the Suzuki deserves a long look, as deals like that tend to move swiftly.