Suzuki XL-7
Good Value, at a Price |
By Rick Newman
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Nits: Visibility out the back is poor, with major blind spots at the rear quarter panels, where's there's very little glass to see through.
G forces: There's just one engine, a 252-horsepower V-6, which has decent power but is loud and clunky compared with some of the better engines available. Otherwise, the XL-7 offers a stable ride, though it can feel heavy and lumbering on curves. All-wheel drive is available on all models for about $2,000 extra.
Gizmology: Dashboard controls are basic and serviceable, with decent solidity. Four power outlets are standard, though you have to upgrade to the mid-level trim line to get power seats.
Hot or not: Not. The XL-7 has an ungainly appearance, tall and wide without being particularly handsome.
Pain at the pump: Modest. Mileage ranges from 18 mpg/city to 24 mpg/highway.
Crash course: Earns nine stars out of 10 on the government's frontal crash test, nine out of 10 on the side-impact test, and 4 out of 5 on the rollover test. Details: http://safercar.gov/NCAP/Cars/4169.html
Standard safety features: Advance frontal air bags, side-curtain air bags (three rows), antilock brakes, stability control, traction control.
Price points: Base prices range from $23,534 to $28,584. Price as tested: $28,584.
More info: www.suzukiauto.com/sr_07/xl7/
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$23,534 – $28,584
18 mpg/city – 24 mpg/highway
Model year tested: 2007
Five years ago, the '07 XL-7 would have been a competitive SUV. But today, it sits at the top of the bargain bin, a decent value but not a vehicle likely to turn heads or wow enthusiasts.
Suzuki is in a spot that Hyundai and Kia were in several years ago, when they mainly offered cheap versions of the same products everybody else had, with a marginal reputation for quality and innovation. And Suzuki is copying many of the tactics the two Korean automakers have used to woo customers: a generous 100,000-mile warranty, new cars at used-car prices, lots of standard safety gear, and affordable luxury if you pay a few extra bucks. One thing the XL-7 does offer is a lot of space and functionality for the money. The base price of just under $24,000 buys you a basic but sizable five-seater with all the typical power features, a V-6 engine, and a cargo area able to fit a week's worth of luggage or most of the household stuff you'd ever want to haul. For about $25,000, you can get all that plus a third-row seat. And for well under $30,000, you can get a nice luxury package with heated seats, leather upholstery, rear A/C vents with separate controls, a DVD player, and other goodies.
Nothing wrong with that, right? No, but you'll also have to put up with some annoyances that automakers have finally wrung out of other SUVs. The 252-horsepower V-6 has decent power, but it's noisy and rough at shift points, which gives the XL-7 that old trucky feel. The rear liftgate is quite high when it's opened, and heavy. I struggled to pull it closed, and I'm 5'11"; shorter folks might end up asking their neighbors to come out and help. On the test model I drove, the liftgate rattled every time I hit a bump, never a hopeful sign. And the strap that releases the second-row seats, for access to the third row, is awkwardly placed behind the seat, on the floor—an uncomfortable reach.
None of that makes the XL-7 a bad car. If anything, it highlights how good the competition has become when comparisons are based less on mechanical issues and more on soft features like the usability of doors and seats. If those kinds of minor shortcomings aren't a bother, then you might be perfectly comfortable in the XL-7. After all, there's nothing wrong with a bargain.
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