'A' for improvement
Suzuki makes the grade with freshened XL-7

In the classroom of compact sport-ute competitors, Suzuki is one of the quiet contenders. While Ford, Jeep and Honda are fighting for the limelight and the teacher's attention, the Japanese automaker sits quietly in the back, hard at work doing its homework. The result of this careful studying is the redesigned 2004 XL-7, a comfortable and affordable SUV that not only gets top marks, but also moves the automaker closer to the head of the class.

For 2004 the XL-7 sports a stylishly redesigned front grille, bumper and headlights. In the back, a freshened custom-look taillight design flanks a body-coloured, hard spare tire cover, which is mounted to the cargo door. Our tester was one of three first-time exterior colours, which include Classic Red, Cosmic Blue Metallic and Azure Gray Metallic.

The driver's seating position is very car-like, although those larger in stature might find legroom at a premium, especially on the right side where long legs bump against the centre stack and steering wheel.

The wheel, with controls for stereo and cruise, can tilt but not telescope, and the dash gauges show clear displays between the three spokes. Electroluminescent gauges for speedo, tach and fuel/temperature are clear and bright … so bright, in fact, that wearing your sunglasses at night might not seem inappropriate. This can be adjusted, but due to the sensitive control switch, I never could find a brightness level with which I was comfortable.

The centre stack houses an in-dash, 6-disc CD changer and stereo with large, easy to use buttons. Below is the HVAC system, which is also user-friendly and effective.

Woodgrain trim accents add an upscale feel and there are lots of storage areas scattered throughout for CD cases, maps and stuff while a 12-volt outlet is located between the driver and passenger.

In the back are headrests and 3-point seatbelts for all three passengers, though two occupants would be much more comfortable over long trips. Legroom is on the squishy side, but the rear seats can slide back and the seatbacks are also adjustable.

One drawback is the lack of cupholders. Usually there are more than necessary, but rear seat passengers in the XL-7 will have to make do with only two, which are located in the lid of the front centre armrest, which flips back. When the cupholders are in use, the armrest is unusable.

The rear seats split 60/40 and there was more than enough cargo room (2127 litres) to swallow a load from Home Depot that included four cargo bins, a toolbox and 20 window shutters. There are grocery hooks and a cargo cover to keep things organized and hidden from prying eyes, though the side swinging cargo door caused some inconvenience while loading in the parking lot.

While many 'cute-utes' favour unibody frames for more car-like ride and handling, the XL-7 employs a traditional ladder-style frame. In combination with its high-low range 4-wheel drive, which is operated easily with the push of a button, and decent ground clearance, the XL-7 can tread over rocky trails or muddy roads. Although it's not an extreme off-roader, the presence of a low-range gear case makes the XL-7 more capable than others.

Under the hood is a 2.7-litre V6 engine with 185 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and a healthy 184 lb-ft of torque at 4,000 revs. The engine is quiet and smooth in both city and highway driving, though wind noise is quite noticeable at higher speeds. Power is transmitted via a standard 5-speed manual transmission or, in our test vehicle's case, an optional new 5-speed automatic that shifts smoothly and timely.

Despite its "old-school" body-on-frame construction, which can often result in a truck-like ride, the XL-7 has excellent road manners and ride quality is quite good. Steering is loose and could benefit from a more precise feel, while body roll is significant in the corners. For its size, however (it's the longest in its class), the XL-7 maneouvres well in tight spots and over rough surfaces, and is a comfortable vehicle in which to travel longer distances.

The JLX model comes fully equipped with automatic air conditioning, 6-disc CD player, steering wheel mounted controls for stereo and cruise, heated mirrors, sunroof, fog lights, aluminum wheels and anti-lock brakes.

While Suzuki doesn't have the cachet of the big guns, it is steadily improving in the SUV segment. If anything, the Japanese automaker has shown it is an apt pupil that does its homework. Overlooked, but surprisingly capable and comfortable, the XL-7 might soon become teacher's pet.

Immediate competition:
Ford Escape, Honda CR-V, Hyundai Santa Fe, Jeep Liberty, Kia Sorento, Mitsubishi Outlander