Good morning, and welcome back to Shitbox Showdown! Time to start your week off right with another round of weird cheap old cars. So let’s finish up with Friday’s lost causes and then we’ll dive in: 
Looks like a clear win for the SM. Several commenters made the case that Citroen’s famous hydraulic system isn’t that hard to work on; you just need to understand it. I suppose that’s true; the secret to a good coq au vin is simply following the recipe. But that doesn’t make it any easier.
Today’s choices have more in common than it may seem at first glance: both are all-wheel-drive, both have four-cylinder engines, both have little fixed quarter windows between the door pillar and widnshield, and both are up for sale because they are too small for their intended purpose. Also, they’re both a little left-of-center, which puts them right in our wheelhouse.
2009 Suzuki SX4 – $4,000
Engine/drivetrain: 2.0 liter dual overhead cam inline 4, four-speed automatic, part-time AWD
Location: Lacey, WA
Odometer reading: 185,000 miles
Runs/drives? Yep
Suzuki doesn’t sell cars in the U.S. anymore, and that’s a shame. Suzuki motorcycles already had a hold in the U.S. in the mid-80s when the Samurai hit our shores and created a legend. Since then, Suzuki has been known for tiny, tough 4x4s like David’s beloved Chevy Tracker. Suzuki’s tiny hatchbacks have also gained a following thanks to the success of the Geo Metro. So what could be better than a Suzuki hatchback with four-wheel-drive?
The SX4 came to America in the 2007 model year, available with all-wheel-drive and either a four-speed automatic or five-speed manual. This 2009 model has another trick up its sleeve: You can select FWD, AWD, or traditional 4WD with the center diff locked. Obviously, even full-on 4WD won’t give it the off-road ability of the Samurai/Tracker/Sidekick/Vitara, but it’s probably a big help in snow.
This SX4 is in good shape. It has new tires, and has also had the catalytic converter and O2 sensors replaced, so there should be no problems with a smog test. The main reason the seller is letting the vehicle goes is its size; apparently it “won’t baby.” The seller also complains that the car is slow, but come on; it’s an automatic AWD economy car. What were you expecting, a Ferrari?
1992 Toyota Previa AWD – $4,000
Engine/drivetrain: 2.4 liter dual overhead cam inline 4, four-speed automatic, AWD
Location: Snoqualmie, WA
Odometer reading: 233,000 miles
Runs/drives? Sure does
When the minivan craze hit, and every automaker who wasn’t Chrysler was sent scrambling, they all used different strategies to get their own piece of the action. Toyota chose to import a version of its weird cab-over TownAce/MasterAce van and called it, rather unimaginatively, the “Toyota Van.” It sold well, but the market moved on and demanded bigger vans. Enter the Previa. Still weird, with an inline four lying almost on its side under the floor, and a rounded spaceship style that wasn’t like anything else on the road.
This Previa is even better, with all-wheel-drive for better traction in foul weather. It also appears to be shod with oversize tires on what might be Jeep Cherokee wheels. They look cool, but I worry they’ll rub. The seller says the tires are new, at any rate. It also has a new battery and fresh spark plugs, which are a big deal on this van because they’re not easy to get to.
This van is in good shape, but it does have a lot of miles on it. But I don’t think I’ve seen a Previa under 200,000 miles since maybe 2003; these things rack up the miles. Like the SX4 above, this seller says they’re selling it because it’s too small, not for a kid, but for their dog. (Which begs the question: what kind of dog is too big for a minivan?)
If you want something all-wheel-drive, you can take the easy obvious route and get yet another Subaru, or you can be bold and choose something a little cooler. Like one of these. Which one will it be?
(Image credits: Craigslist sellers)
My sister has had a Previa for years and loves it. We’ll have the Toyota.
I’ve never owned or driven either, but a coworker has one of the Suzukis and has nothing bad to say about it. I saw one of the Previa’s at a friend’s garage in for engine service and I want nothing to do with working on one of those, so I voted Suzuki.
GIVE ME THE EGG.
No brainer…. AWD minivan all day every day. If I didn’t already own one as my light-offroad camping rig, I’d be looking to buy one.
I always thought of my SX4 as a microvan. I want both, but since I have to park in NYC on occasion the decision is made for me.
Buy the van, get correct wheels, sell the ones on it. An AWD mini-van is not a common item. Good bad weather people mover.
Tough choice, both vehicles are worthy. The auto trans is a black mark for both. The Previa features great style and excellent handling for a van, but if you’re going to be saddled with a slush box, the supercharged version of the Prevua is a must. So, I went with the Suzuki, a good looking, economical, Swiss Army Knife kind of car.
I went Toyota.
“Won’t baby” made me throw up my english muffin.
Voted the van because it’s cool and the Suzuki is not.
I voted for the Previa, but the SX4 was (and still is) a cool car. An AWD compact hatchback is inherently cool. I know opinions on styling are subjective, but I think we can all agree the SX4 isn’t ugly (I personally like the styling- it is distinctive but not because it is overstyled with gratuitous creases, lines, or cladding). Aside from the absent 3rd pedal, this SX4 is awesome.
The Previa looks good with those tires and that roof rack. I would add a 2 inch lift kit (a quick internet search confirms you can buy a lift kit for a Previa, by the way), remove the second row seats, and throw an air mattress in the back. For $4500 all-in, this could be an off road bedroom on wheels.
It’s interesting to me that both of these sellers feel the need to explain why they’re selling the cars — and that they have landed on such hilariously bad excuses. Any 4-door car should be fine for toting a small child around, and any minivan should be large enough for even the biggest dogs (though I suspect that when the seller said: “Purchased it to have vehicle for dog but turns out she’s a bit too big.” the “she” in the sentence was the van — sort of the way people refer to ships as “she”). If you want a new car just go out and get it; it’s ok! Nobody’s going to be giving you the side-eye for wanting to upgrade from a Suzuki that’s pushing 200k miles or a van that’s old enough to rent its own cars and is on its way back from a trip to the moon.
Hot take – maybe what they mean is “she” (the Previa) is too much van for their tiny pup, and they need to downsize to something their dog won’t get lost in. Like a Fiat 500.
Yep. That’s exactly what I was thinking. I picture some poor little shit-zu (not changing it) bouncing around the van interior like a pinball!
The Previa is the “better” vehicle, but at that age (it’s over 30 years old!) and with those miles, I’m taking the Suzuki and hoping that I squeeze out an extra year over the Toyota
I went for the SX4.
I’ve been wanting at least one of those last 5 or so years of US market Suzuki’s, right down to the Suzuki Fronti….. I mean, Equator.
Like both but lately I miss having extra room. So Previa and yank the seats out.
These are both excellent choices. I know people who have had SX4s and swear by them. They are hearty, if a little thirsty for their spec sheet. But the Previa is a poster child for the early days of figuring out what a minivan was. 3 doors and a motor hidden in the floor. A real dark horse contender.
The SX4 is a truly underrated car and 3 pedal model is amazing. BUT Previa wins. Sorry awesome little Suzuki
I’ll take the Brubaker.. erh, I mean Previa!
I’m not gonna lie I blacked out and voted Previa. My uncle had one when I was a kid and I loved it. Sometimes sentimentality wins out.
You could get the Suzuki’s with three pedals. My friend is selling one for the same price:
https://m.facebook.com/marketplace/item/912657316448354/
I owned a 2009 Suzuki SX4, except ours was a manual. It was fun to drive and the manual exaggerated its pep (wasn’t bad at about 140 hp). It was awesome in the winter; decent ground clearance comparable to a Subaru, pizza cutters, manual, and that 4×4 lock option. It had a bitching sound system with a sub, too.
Downsides? A paltry 11.2 gallon tank, very few cubes for cargo unless you fold the seat, very loud on the highway, and very susceptible to wind buffeting. I’d say it got about 20-22 MPG city, 24-26 highway. Not great.
It never gave us any problems that I can recall. I like the Previa, but I think it’s a bit overpriced with that mileage. You really can’t go wrong with either, though.
I owned a 2007 SX4 and I really miss it. It babied great; once we went camping with four adults, a three-year-old, and all of our gear including two tents. Everything fit inside, no roof rack or anything. Admittedly, I did hear some muffled moans from the backseat, but sans the other couple we never ever had accommodation problems.
But it was surprisingly thirsty, as you say, and at 170K miles it felt worn out (sold it for $700 in 2021) – although this may have been due to the original owner, who clearly wasn’t into maintenance nor cleaning.
My ’16 Honda Fit has a 10-gallon fuel tank, but the difference is mid-30s to 40 MPG.
Also with the set of Blizzaks mounted presently (New Hampshire) it’s a snow beast. I consider it a poor-man’s SAAB 900 when things get white and deep.
SX4 is the double bullseye of winter beaters: 4WD, cheap, big enough to hold four or cargo, light enough to push when you get too optimistic. The Previa is just second best here.
This is The Autopian and we worship at the altar of the van here. Hell it seems like every 4th or 5th article is van related. I’m honestly shocked the Suzuki is even keeping pace as of now. Obviously I went Previa because I too must pay respects to our van overlords or risk eternal damnation.
I know the Suzuki SX-4s are hardy little things, and very versatile.
However, I voted for the Previa because it just looks astounding on those wheels.
They’re both automatics, so I’ll go for the SX4. I’ve already had a Previa. It handled surprisingly well for its size & weight, but, lacking either a 3rd pedal or supercharger, was not exactly exciting
I knew a guy who drove around a full-grown Newfoundland in a Neon.
He eventually got a Honda HR-V, which again, not huge.
There is no WAY a Previa is too small for a dog.
I assume the Previa guy owns Clifford the Big Red Dog, if he can’t get it into a Previa.
What is this person getting to replace it? A Transit?
I’m also more than a bit skeptical that this guy’s dog is too big for the van. You can easily it six 300 lb. humans in a Previa. Does that mean this guy owns a 1 ton dog?
My dog is a 55 pound greyhound who is not “too big” per se, but she can’t really “sit” like a normal dog because her legs are just too damn long. When riding in the car she needs either a dedicated cargo area or a bench seat to lay or stand on. If that were my Previa I’d probably have to remove the middle seats completely to give her enough space to lay down since there’s no way in hell she can just sit on a seat because of her geometry.
So yeah, maybe “too small” is an oversimplification from the seller in this case, but I could see it not being ideal if you’ve got dog + cargo + other humans to consider.
It’s still a minivan though, seats can be moved around pretty easily and I think the back bench could fold both directions for a kind of lumpy bed. If this doesn’t work what would?
I used to drive behind a Kia Soul that had a poor mastiff in the cargo are with the seat up, my two schnauzers in the back of the V70 I think pitied that poor dog crammed in there
I regularly haul my 110lb Bernese Mountain Dog AND his “little” brother – an 80lb collie mix around in my ‘06 TSX, so yeah, that is a head scratcher.
I’m here to promote the SX4.
As a former owner, this car was genuinely awesome to me for 9 years. These SX4’s are exceptionally well put together for the price, and the AWD system was excellent for the price. I lived in Saranac Lake, NY when I bought mine; there are few places I can imagine being a better place to test that AWD system, as the winter there is basically October to April. I can also confirm that it WILL baby. However, it will not double-baby (or at least not without some pain).
I got rid of it as parts and service became difficult to come by. But compared to a 30 year old Previa it can’t be much worse. If the Previa was up against almost any other car, I would have gone with that. But I’m shamelessly biased for the SX4.
I’ll second everything you say, although in NYC. I once parked on top of an Upper West Side snowdrift so large that EVERYONE ELSE DROVE BY THE PARKING SPOT WITHOUT EVEN TRYING – which should tell you everything you need to know if you have ever tried finding a Manhattan parking spot on a Thursday morning.
Yep, but drive around the block enough times you’ll have a spot by Thursday afternoon (NYC native).
I like hatchbacks with zero shame, and that selectable fwd/awd/4wd feature sounds perfect… I’ll take the little orphan Suzie.