Suzuki Across GLX Review - Making a Statement
- Dylan Naidoo
- 1 day ago
- 3 min read
By: Dylan Naidoo
What Suzuki has managed to do in the South African market is something that many new and upcoming car manufacturers can only dream of achieving. From becoming the new brand in the market, all the way to now ranked second in the best-selling cars in South Africa. Through effective marketing, clever pricing structures, innovative technologies and catering to most car buyers' needs, it comes at no surprise why Suzuki is doing so well. Going up against the giant that is the Polo Vivo, the Suzuki Swift has effectively become the new go-to hatchback to get things done. And now with the growing hybrid segment, Suzuki is fighting back with their new mid-sized crossover “mild hybrid”, the Suzuki Across GLX, our car for review.
Engineering and Technology
Our model for review is the top-of-the-line GLX version, featuring Suzuki’s naturally aspirated (NA) 4 cylinder, 1.5L paired with a hybrid power system, with the new engines being dubbed the “K15C” according to Cars.co.za. The engine itself delivers 76kW of power and 137NM of torque, paired with a 12V hybrid system. offering up to 2.2W and 55NM for brief periods, according to Cars.co.za. The Across is available in both a 5-speed manual and 6-speed automatic, with the automatic variant being paired with gear paddles. Suzuki also claims a 5.3L/100km fuel economy. In our testing, the engine could use a little more power, but for the everyday commute, I think it is sufficient. It would be welcome to see Suzuki utilise their turbocharged 1.4L found in the Swift Sport a bit more. Fuel efficiency in our testing reflected around 6.3L/100km, so not vastly far off from Suzuki’s claims.
Technology-wise, Suzuki continues to push innovation as always, with the Across featuring a
large touchscreen 10.1 infotainment system paired with both front and rear cameras, with the GLX model featuring a full-view surround camera. The infotainment system is paired to an 8-way Harman Infinity sound system, delivering a decent amount of sound. The car also features cruise control as standard, as well as keyless entry and a digital gauge cluster, all very impressive technologies on display. And with 6-airbags as standard, you can have peace of mind and drive with confidence, especially since the Across is backed by Suzuki’s standard 5-year/ 200,000km warranty and 4-year/60,000km service plan. As noted by Cars.co.za, the Across also contains many other convenient features, such as a wireless Android Auto/Apple CarPlay with a wireless charging pad and automatic climate control, all wonderful elements to see in this decently priced family crossover.
Design
I was quite taken back by this car. I mean this, but I really think this is Suzuki’s best-looking car yet. Its sleek front end is matched perfectly by the distinct design lines for the rest of the car. And those rear lights are a very nice touch. Yeah, we saw what you did there Suzuki, “Across” as in the lights go across the rear, very funny. Overall, I love the look. It really looks good, and the interior matches the car spectacularly!
No really, Suzuki has upped their game in recent years with the interior. The interior features a gorgeous design, with the seats wrapped in a comfortable synthetic leather (for the GLX trim) that matches the car’s premium feeling.
Interior and Spacing
The interior of the Across seems to be much larger than its Grand Vitara sibling, with the seats featuring a comfortable synthetic leather, however, this is only available with the GLX variant. Something else exclusive to our GLX variant is the leather wrapped steering wheel, as opposed to the polyurethane used in the other variants, as well as the sunroof, a nice feature to see. Seats are comfy, breathable, and offer a great amount of both head and legroom. Even through some of Durban’s famous rough roads, the ride stayed moderately decent.
As for boot capacity, our model features a 333l boot size, which is adequate for the car size. In real world testing, the boot is quite large, and the back seats can be folded to reveal much larger boot space, perfectly capable of carrying much bigger loads.
Pricing and Overall Thoughts
Pricing for the Suzuki Across starts at a strong R349,900, with the highest GLX trim at R464.900. However, for that entry price point, you are getting a decent amount of car for the money. The Suzuki Across really does do a lot of the right things, and I think this car is close to being pretty enticing at the price point. Suzuki is dominating in the South African market, and it all comes down to them bringing luxurious cars like the Across to the masses.
Find out more on Suzuki's current line up through this link: https://www.suzukiauto.co.za/
