Stick shift Across eliminated our only real concern
When we tested the automatic Suzuki Across a few months back, we had only one concern. It was slow. One of the slowest cars we’d ever tested, in fact. It delivered a remarkably tardy 13.7 seconds to 100 and an excessive ten seconds from 80 to 120 km/h. Which had our calculators out, as we concluded that the test unit was likely down on power.
At the same time we asked for a manual version for test, and duly this sexy red unit with its black wheels and a stick shifter inside, arrived. We immediately despatched our road tester and anxiously awaited the results. Ping! The test run Whatsapp proved as expected. Three seconds quicker to one hundred clearly shoves Across manual into the middle of the ballpark. The rest of the figures concur.
Which is also very good news for the car that Suzuki calls its most advanced SUV yet. Not to be confused with the premium new RAV4 based overseas Across, this more value-oriented South African car blends family-friendly space and practicality most impressively with cutting-edge technology. Add cool looks and class-leading safety, its powered by an efficient mild-hybrid petrol engine.
Sculpted Across’ broad, dynamic stance
Suzuki also calls Across’ silhouette sweeping and its body lines sculpted in a ‘broad and dynamic’ stance. The contoured and creased bonnet atop narrow projector LED DRL headlamps, large lower intake and underguard make for look of intent. We’d go as far to say there’s even a bit of Darth Vader in there. Yes, this cool new Suzuki comes Across very well indeed.
Black plastic clad rocker panels and wheel arches frame black 17-inch alloys in 215/60 rubber with a full-size spare. A seamless 19-segment LED taillamp creates a cool light signature across the back under an integrated roof spoiler and shark-fin antenna and over an aluminium-look skid plate.
Stepping aboard is where Across really impresses. Recent Suzukis captivated us, but Across takes it up a notch. Its clean, fresh and minimalist new design eliminates some of its siblings’ fuss and clutter. Everything you need, is at your fingertips. And has a neat tactile button, knob or switch to do it. No cyber button nonsense here.
It’s all at your fingertips in Across
The stylish three-level dashboard brings precision stitching, solid chromed door handles and an illuminated glove box, large centre console box with integrated armrest, four cup holders and four bottle holders, two each, front and rear and a 60:40-split single-fold rear bench do duty
Across has a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster and easy to understand 10.1-inch CarPlay and Auto wireless touchscreen infotainment with an active cooled device charging pad, four USB C ports. There are also two 12V accessory sockets, one in the boot to power anything from a car fridge to a portable power station.
The fabric clad height-adjustable driver’s seat is complemented by a tilt and reach multifunction steering wheel with paddle gear shifters. Auto climate control includes rear vents and there’s cruise control, a reverse camera with rear parking sensors and even a smart powered tailgate.
So the mild hybrid does add to the Across mix.
Safety stretches from six front, side and curtain airbags to ABS, EBD, ESP and hill hold control, as well as an electric parking brake with brake hold. The real trump card here is that this basic Across GL Automatic costs just three hundred and fifty odd grand.
Think about that for a second. That’s a hell of a lot of sport utility vehicle for the money. And it’s from Suzuki. Not some new brand you though was a detergent. There’s still the far more comprehensively specced GLX. If you need all that extra spec, it’s there if you want it, at a premium.
Moving on, Across’ dependable always-on 12V integrated starter generator mild-hybrid massaged Suzuki K15C engine has a 12 to 1 compression ratio and a most effective start-stop system. Oddly enough develops a kilowatt and a Newton meter each less than the similarly endowed non-hybrid 76 kW 137 Nm Fronx.
Suzuki’s latest strides come Across clear
The seamless 12V lithium-ion battery equipped mild-hybrid works continuously to boost the petrol engine for ‘responsive performance and reduced fuel economy and emissions.’ This time around, this red manual ticked all the boxes. It even beat the ‘elevenish’ seconds we thought it should, to 100 km/h and allow us to round this test off with great fanfare….
Bold, exciting and supremely equipped, the Suzuki Across 1.5 GL Hybrid is way more SUV than you’d ever expect from this side of three hundred and fifty grand. We love what Suzuki has done with it range in recent times, but this car’s significant strides forward across so many facets, comes Across even louder and clearer. – Michele Lupini
Images & testing: Giordano Lupini
ROAD TEST: Suzuki Across 1.5 GL Hybrid Manual
76 kW 137 Nm 1.5 litre petrol I4
Hybrid: 48V Starter Generator
6-speed manual FWD
TESTED:
0-60 km/h: 4.47 sec
0-100 km/h: 10.85 sec
0-120 km/h: 15.55 sec
400m: 19.4 sec @ 127km/h
80-120 km/h: 8.27 sec
CLAIMED:
VMax: 165 km/h
Fuel: 5.3 l/100 km
CO2: 121 g/km
Range: 850 km
Warranty/Service: 5y 200K/5y 60K km
LIST PRICE: R349K
How does it compare? Check with Auto's Test Data right here
