Suzuki's news this fall is the arrival of the Suzuki SX4 Sport four-door sedan, a good looking compact car that will be a lot of fun on the road.

The 2008 SX4 Sport, at least to my eyes, is a pretty classy little sedan. That's as it should be because Suzukis are what I call premium subcompacts -- though they cost a bit more than entry-level models, they generally have a richer look to them and are better-equipped than their lesser-priced competitors.

The SX4 Sport comes with a 2.0-liter, four-cylinder engine rated at 143 horsepower with a five-speed manual transmission or an available specially tuned four-speed automatic transmission. The estimated EPA fuel economy rating is 23 mpg city and 31 mpg highway with automatic transmission.

Stylewise, other than the obvious distinction from the crossover model -- the existence of a trunk -- the SX4 Sport has a tough looking front fascia and grille, and thankfully, for visibility, a fairly low waistline, making it easier for Pittsburghers to see down hills at intersections.

The SK4 comes equipped with such features as four-wheel anti-lock disc brakes with electronic brake force distribution, driver and front passenger air bags and seat-mounted front and side air bags and side curtain air bags.

Other standard features include A/C, power windows and locks, four-wheel disc brakes with Bosch ABS, six airbags, 17-inch aluminum alloy wheels and keyless entry.

The SX4 Sport is backed by a 100,000-mile/seven-year, fully transferable, zero-deductible powertrain limited warranty.

The starting MSRP for the SX4 Sport is $14,770 plus $625 destination and handling.