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2005 Suzuki XL-7 Mid-Size Sport Utility Vehicle
Suzuki XL-7 has big interior, off-road capability
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Car Review of the 2005 Suzuki XL-7 Mid-Size Sport Utility Vehicle
Base MSRP Range: $20,399 - $27,799
Base Invoice Range: $19,379 - $26,409
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MSRP As Tested: $26,394.
Versions: 2WD, 4WD
Vehicle Category: Mid-Size Sport Utility Vehicle
Engine Location: Front Engine
Drive Wheels: Rear-wheel drive, 4-wheel drive.
Standard Engine: 2.7-liter, Dual Overhead Cam, 24-valves, V-6, 185 â€'horsepower at 6000rpm and 184 lb-ft torque at 4000 rpm.
Transmission: Five-speed automatic, Five-speed ">manual.
Fuel Economy (city/hwy): 17/22.
Standard Safety Features: Driver and passenger airbags, Inflatable side curtain airbags, Tire pressure monitoring system Anti-lock brakes, Tire-pressure monitor, Daytime running lights.
Competition: Ford Explorer, Honda Pilot, Toyota Highlander.
When it comes time to test a low-priced SUV, I've learned not to expect too much. After all, most of them are just overgrown versions of cheap economy cars.
Suzuki, though, takes a different approach with its inexpensive XL-7. It's basically a small version of a heavy-duty SUV, complete with a rugged suspension, available four-wheel drive, relatively roomy interior, and even a third-row seat for families. It has all the traits that made SUVs popular in America, not only a tough-looking body.
Starting at $20,399, the XL-7 is priced to compete with the many car-based SUVs for sale today, including the Ford Escape, Honda CRV, Toyota RAV4, Mitsubishi Outlander, and Hyundai Santa Fe. But instead of using car-like construction, the XL-7 rides on a truck frame to give it greater durability for off-road driving than those car-based SUVs can offer.
This truck-based platform has some major downsides, though, if you plan to use it primarily for driving on pavement.
First off, it has a rough, bouncy ride that isn't nearly as comfortable as the car-based SUVs it competes with. Hit a pothole, and it feels like it has Pogo sticks for shock absorbers. It's also noisier than most of its competitors, and it feels heavy and cumbersome in city traffic.
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