These instructions apply to the Suzuki SX4 S-Cross Mk2 (AK) 2022-Present.
For other models, please choose your vehicle here.
The Suzuki SX4 S-Cross Mk2 (AK, 2022–present) has an automatic engine start/stop system that cuts the engine at a standstill to save fuel. As you stop with the brake held, the engine shuts off; press the accelerator (or clutch on a manual) and it restarts. On the mild-hybrid versions that restart is handled by the integrated starter-generator and is unusually smooth — normal, not a fault. If you’d rather keep the engine running — in traffic, on a hot day, or before working in the engine bay — switch it off with one button.
How Start/Stop Works on the S-Cross
The S-Cross only stops the engine when several conditions are met: the battery must hold enough charge, the engine must be warm, the cabin at your set temperature, and the car properly stopped with the brake applied. On the mild-hybrid, a small 48 V system and its integrated starter-generator power the restart, which is why it feels seamless. When any condition isn’t satisfied — cold engine, low charge, heavy climate demand — it leaves the engine idling instead, protecting both comfort and a clean restart.
Before You Begin
- You only need the ignition on to change the setting — no need to be moving.
- The button is on the dashboard, marked for start/stop (A OFF); an OFF light confirms the state.
- The change lasts for this journey only — it reverts to on when you next start the car.
- Before opening the bonnet, switch it off so the engine can’t restart while you work.
How to Turn Off Start/Stop
- Press the start/stop (A OFF) button on the dashboard.
- The ‘OFF’ warning light illuminates to confirm the system is disabled.
It Resets Every Drive
Like nearly every car with this feature, the S-Cross re-enables start/stop each time you switch the ignition off and on. There’s no permanent factory ‘off’ — press the button once at the start of each journey if you don’t want it.
If the Engine Won’t Stop (Even With the System On)
If start/stop is on but the engine never cuts at a standstill, an inhibit condition is almost certainly being met. Work through these before assuming a fault:
- A weak or ageing battery — the most common cause; the system needs healthy charge to guarantee a restart. A tired battery, or lots of short trips, stops it working.
- The cabin isn’t at temperature — on a hot or cold day the climate control keeps the engine running.
- The engine is still cold — it won’t stop until warmed to operating temperature.
- You’re on a gradient — on a slope it may keep running for predictable braking and hill-hold.
- The car isn’t fully stopped or the brake isn’t firm — creeping forward, or easing pressure, cancels the stop.
- A door is open or the belt is unbuckled — these safety interlocks hold the engine on.
After the Reset
Once you press the button, the OFF light stays lit and the engine idles normally at every stop for the rest of the drive. Nothing needs resetting and no fault is logged. When you next start the S-Cross the system defaults back to on. On the mild-hybrid, the smooth energy-recovery behaviour is separate from start/stop and continues either way.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I turn off auto stop/start on a Suzuki S-Cross?
Press the A OFF button on the dash once. The OFF warning light confirms the system is disabled, and the engine keeps idling at your next stop. There’s no menu to open — it’s a single dashboard button, and the change lasts until you next restart the car.
Can I disable it permanently?
No — the S-Cross resets start/stop to on at every ignition cycle. There’s no factory option to keep it off for good, so you press the button once each journey. That default is deliberate so the fuel-saving feature is always available.
Why did start/stop come back on?
Switching the ignition off and on re-enables it automatically. However you left the button, a fresh start returns the setting to on. This is normal and doesn’t indicate a fault with the button or the system — it’s simply the designed default state.
Is it bad to leave start/stop on?
No — it’s designed for it. The S-Cross uses a starter and battery built for frequent cycling, and on the mild-hybrid the integrated starter-generator makes restarts especially smooth. Turning it off is preference or for engine-bay safety, not something the car needs for reliability.
Why does the mild-hybrid restart feel so smooth?
On the 48 V mild-hybrid, the integrated starter-generator spins the engine back up almost silently, rather than the sharper action of a conventional starter, and adds a small boost when pulling away. That refined restart is a feature of the hybrid system, not a sign anything is wrong.
Could a weak battery be why it stopped working?
Very likely. Start/stop depends on a strong battery to guarantee an instant restart, so an ageing or under-charged battery is the usual reason the engine no longer cuts out. Frequent short trips that never fully recharge it produce the same result.
If a start/stop fault light shows instead of the normal indicator, look it up on autodtcs.com — a tired 12 V battery is the usual cause. See our S-Cross battery guide.
Independent guide — not affiliated with Suzuki. Always follow your official service manual and safety precautions. Read our full disclaimer.