The 2017 Suzuki S-Cross has been revealed showing off its new styling and raised running height.

SPY SHOTS OF the Suzuki S-Cross were leaked from a European Suzuki dealer conference earlier this year and now the vehicle has been fully revealed. It goes on-sale in Europe next month and is likely to arrive Down Under early next year.

The most noticeable changes to the new S-Cross are its “more distinctive and upright front end styling offering” and its raised running height to 180mm (up from 165mm on its predecessor). Around at the back there’s a new LED rear combination light cluster which Suzuki said provides a “cleaner and more contemporary style”.

But it’s on the inside where Suzuki seems to have made the biggest effort with the new S-Cross. There’s “an updated soft-touch dashboard pad, framing highlights for the centre panel and newly designed seat fabric for SZ4 and SZ-T models. S-Cross offers ample room for five occupants with their luggage and the double sliding panoramic glass sunroof fitted as standard on the SZ5 model has one of the largest opening areas in its category (560mm),” Suzuki said.

Specifications for Australian models haven’t been announced yet, but in Europe the S-Cross will be available in three variants. Entry-level SZ4 models are equipped as standard with seven airbags, ESP, Bluetooth, DAB digital radio, air conditioning, Daytime Running Lights (DRL), 16-inch alloy wheels, cruise control with speed limiter, air conditioning, heated door mirrors, black protective skid plates and black wheel arch extensions.

SZ-T adds LED Projector Headlamps, satellite navigation, polished 17-inch alloy wheels, rear parking camera, front and rear parking proximity sensors, Dual Zone automatic air conditioning, front fog lamps, rear privacy glass, silver roof rails and silver rear skid plates. Equipment for the top-spec SZ5 model includes Radar Brake Support (RBS), leather seat upholstery, heated front seats, double sliding panoramic sunroof and aluminium roof rails.

Under the bonnet will be the same engines that feature in other Suzuki models, including a 1.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine for two-wheel drive models, a 1.4-litre turbocharged petrol engine with up to 220Nm of torque, and a 1.6-litre turbo-diesel engine that makes 320Nm of torque from 1750rpm.

All-wheel drive models feature Suzuki’s four-mode ALLGRIP system which debuted on the first S-Cross in 2013 and has been tweaked and run in Vitara since then. The system runs as a two-wheel drive in general driving but is designed to predict slip based on steering angle and wheel speeds and then feed torque to the rear wheels before slip occurs.

Question: The S-Cross heralds the arrival of yet another SUV, but why do Australian buyers flock to SUVs when a station wagon is more practical, especially when compared with two-wheel drive SUVs?