By Ron Amadon, MarketWatch
DARNESTOWN, Md. (MarketWatch) -- The new Suzuki XL7 is so different, and so refined, that all during our test drives the line of one well-known Lerner and Loewe song kept playing in our head -- "The rain in Spain stays mainly in the plain."
The irascible Professor Henry Higgins used that wonderful song in "My Fair Lady" to prove that flower-peddling urchin Eliza Doolittle could drop her Cockney accent and speak "upper-class" English. The XL7, our analogy goes, underwent a similar sort of conversion, changing from a rather crude vehicle to one that's much more polished, bigger, smoother, and more powerful.
But instead of "upper-class English," it got a dose of ... Chevrolet. Yes, the new Suzuki rides on a modified version of GM's Theta platform that's also forms the base for the Chevy Equinox and the Pontiac Torrent.
As such, the new XL7's 9.8 inches longer than the old model, rides on a wheelbase that's roughly two inches longer, and is about two inches wider. The new model's also about 290 pounds heavier than the old one. Most important: Whereas the old design was truck-like, the new one is very much more like a car.
While styling's a subjective matter, we think Suzuki hit a home run with the new design. Indeed, on the road we were surprised at the number of people who pointed at the SUV with their lips reading, "What is that?" Suzuki's rather teasing ad campaign during the baseball playoffs might help answer that very question. See slide show.
Suzuki still has a long way to go to become a household word as far as four-wheel vehicles go, but they're now better prepared to take on the big dogs with vehicles like the XL7. The trick is to get customers into their showrooms (and, as a corollary, for potential customers to find those dealers).
So what's this new one like out on the road? It's actually quite pleasant with a very attractive interior, fair road manners, and adequate power. The only flaw in the design is the third-row seat -- something that we've criticized in other SUVs.
In the XL7's case, the seat was difficult to get into, offered very little in the way of leg and knee room once you got there, and was even harder to get out of. The 50-50 seat easily folds flat and creates space to carry home enough groceries to get the supermarket manager to shake your hand as you leave. Maximum cargo space, Suzuki says, is 95 cubic feet, or a bit more than a Chrysler Pacifica.
The new XL7's powered by a 3.6-liter V6 that cranks out 252 horsepower with torque of 243 pound-feet at 2,300 rpm. Designed by GM and built by Suzuki, the engine's nicely muted under virtually all situations. We would guess a zero-to-60 time of about eight seconds. Rounding out the power train is a responsive five-speed automatic with manual shift option. The two work in good harmony.
Wind noise is virtually non-existent in daily driving, and while there's some road noise to be heard, the XL7's a rather quiet rig on balance.
Handling's on the soft side, right in line with the tastes of many SUV operators. Drivers will find some body lean in tight turns, and the XL7 makes it well known that doesn't enjoy fast corners.
It's not an off-road vehicle either (Prof. Higgins, after all, would be offended by that kind of roughhouse behavior), but it does offer front-wheel or all-wheel drive.
On the safety side, the SUV comes with driver and passenger front airbags, side curtain airbags, and a tire-pressure monitoring system (on delivery, one tire was over inflated by 27 psi). There are anti-lock brakes, and an electronic stability system.
Prices start at $22,899 for a base model. Our top-of-the-line Limited Edition, outfitted with a navigation system, sun roof and chrome wheels, bottom-lined at $32,384.
We think that the good Colonel Pickering would be amazed at the changes in the new XL7 and that his friend Higgins would be too. It's worth a check if you're in the market for a nice crossover vehicle. And you might be able to strike a good deal at Suzuki.
Bottom line? By Jove, I think they've got it!
Comments? [email protected]
