I'd like to tap into the collective wisdom of this forum for help with a somewhat disconcerting experience I had whilst test driving a Suzuki S-Cross.

I first test drove the car (petrol, manual, 2WD) a few weeks ago at a dealership near my place of work, and then again more recently another specimen of the same engine and trim at a different dealership near where I live. The ride felt surprisingly different the second time. On the first test drive the car was somewhat bumpy at lower speeds but settled quickly once 30mph was reached, and at motorway speeds the ride quality was pretty good being both smooth and comfortable. On the second occasion, driving on a different route, the ride was rough, and it did not seem to improve at higher speeds (as it had done previously) leaving me painfully aware of all the imperfections on the tarmac.

Admittedly, it was windy the second time and the road surface was a bit wet (though it wasn't raining when I test drove the car), but the ride was rough even at low speeds in densely built up areas, so I doubt it was the wind rocking the car.

Needless to say, I'm rather disappointed by the variability in ride quality between the two cars, and I'm at a loss how to explain it. Looking back at reviews of the car to be found on the internet, I notice that there are some discrepancies in reviewers' accounts of the car's ride quality. For example, one reviewer reports: 'The S-Cross’s firm suspension means you feel patched-up, potholed surfaces in town rather too much. Things improve at higher speeds, though, and the heavier, four-wheel-drive versions ride slightly better than the front-wheel-drive ones'. Another reviewer, by contrast, commenting on the car’s chassis dynamics, suspension and damping, concludes that 'the good chaps at Suzuki have done an exceptional job on the S-Cross as it behaves very well on the road, with very little float and yaw, no matter how "enthusiastically" it’s driven'. HonestJohn's review, on the other hand, stresses that 'suspension can be a little bouncy', particularly on the lighter petrol engine, while David Ross in his Road Test notes: 'The ride is a touch on the firm side, particularly the rear suspension set-up which can be noisy over poor roads, but the majority of the time the S-Cross is comfortable and smooth.'

I appreciate that the same car may behave differently depending on engine choice but is it possible for individual cars of the same engine and trim to vary so widely, and if so, how do I know what I'm going to get if I place an order?