The fun meter may not spin all the way to the right, but for 15 grand there's a nice heaping helping of whoo-haa inside the little Suzuki SX4 With a nice, stiff unibody frame, good brakes and an engine that puts emphasis on torque, good times are to be had, though one will surely wish for more horsepower, bigger wheels and a better shifter.

Driving along the San Diego coast for a brief introduction to the SX4, we found much to like – and, of course, a few things that could be improved. The five-speed manual transmission, for example, is a rubbery affair that meets the minimum expectations for its job – it could be quicker and offer more feeling. Though our opportunities to explore the envelope were limited, the tires complained pretty easily if pushed, and it's clear that bigger treads would help to keep up with the grip offered by the all-wheel-drive system.

There's enough torque from the SX4's engine to keep you out of trouble when merging onto the freeway, and it's lively enough to keep things interesting when the light goes green. Total power output is okay – but only just. And though the manual transmission's stick and clutch pedal play could be crisper, drivers interested in giving the car a workout will be able to do so. Compared to the Caliber R/T, which features a continuously variable transmission and 172 horsepower, the SX4 – with the manual five-speed – was much sportier ride. Same goes for the Sport trim of the Honda Fit, with its shift paddles and less-powerful engine. The Suzuki's brakes grabbed fine and kept their composure in San Diego traffic.

Inside, the SX4 is all about utility and space, with easy-to-use controls, good basic materials and plenty of room for a small five-door vehicle. Two full grown adults in the front seats of the SX4 never felt cramped or confined, and opening up the cargo door revealed plenty of room for suitcases and grocery bags.

All in all, the 2007 Suzuki SX4 offers a decent, sporty alternative to small car class leaders, though we wonder how the SX4 could perform without the added weight and four-wheel grip of the AWD system. Certainly, the SX4 would be faster and more nimble. Given the weight penalty of AWD, it's actually a surprise that the SX4 does such a good job of getting around town. And when you combine its on-road behavior and all-wheel-drive grip with an interior that features durable materials, easy-to-use controls and plenty of room, it's easy to recommend the lower-priced base model SX4 with the manual transmission. Then, with the extra cash, go out and get yourself a turbocharger, bigger wheels…and you've got yourself a little squealer.