2007 Suzuki XL-7

Around our shop, Suzuki is the little car company that could. With only modest investment, they keep cranking out pleasing new designs like the compact Grand Vitara sport utility and tiny SX4 crossover. But what about their largest utility the XL-7?  Well, for 2007 a transformed XL-7 enters the highly competitive family-size crossover segment. But, in this case, is Suzuki’s determination enough to win over buyers?

As the utility market becomes more defined by crossover vehicles, Suzuki’s timing with their all-new 2007 XL-7 CUV couldn’t be more impeccable. 

The mid-size XL-7’s reinvention is total. It required trading in a very traditional body-on-frame SUV design for a new unitized chassis with more car-like driving characteristics.

The chassis is an elongated and updated version of the underpinning used by the Chevrolet Equinox, Pontiac Torrent, and Saturn Vue. But unlike those, the XL-7 offers both two-row 5-seat and three-row 7-seat configurations.

For the needed extra passenger space, the body was stretched to within 5-inches of a full-size Chevrolet Tahoe. Yet, to maintain maneuverability, wheelbase growth stopped at 112.4 inches, still very typical for a mid-size UTE. The former rear-wheel and part-time four-wheel drive has now evolved to either front-or available automatic all-wheel drive.

Both drivelines are powered by a new and larger 3.6 liter, twin-cam V6 with variable valve timing. Throwing out a respectable 252 horsepower and 243 pound-feet of torque, the new engine is mated to a 5-speed automatic transmission featuring a manual shift mode.

Government Fuel Economy ratings are 17 city and 23 highway with all-wheel drive.  Our tester managed 19 miles-per-gallon on regular gas. The XL-7 has an Energy Impact Score of 18 barrels. That’s its total oil consumption for a year and about 15% lower than a typical body-on-frame utility.

Our XL-7 sprinted from 0 to 60 in a strong 7.6 seconds.  The quarter mile was timed at 15.9 seconds at 89 miles per hour.

The XL-7 rides on a fully independent suspension with MacPherson struts up front and multilinks in the rear.  Seven-passenger XL-7’s include Nivomat rear load-leveling shock absorbers.

On our track, the XL-7 felt solid and far more nimble than its predecessor. Understeer was surprisingly mild, but there was a fair amount of body sway. But despite that tendency to rock and roll, we found the XL-7’s overall behavior to be confident and easy to handle. Stops averaged a slightly long 133 feet from 60 to 0 but were straight and true.

On the outside, the XL-7 wears unique to Suzuki sheet metal and cues, including some of the boldest headlamps on the planet.  Touches you pay extra for on rivals, like a roof rack with crossbars, rear spoiler, and dual chrome exhaust tips, are standard.

Standard on all trims are tilt wheel, CD-audio with auxiliary input jack, automatic climate control, folding front passenger seat, side curtain airbags, and tire pressure monitoring.

But the most family-friendly interior feature of the XL-7 is the 2-passenger third-row seat. Ideal for children or small adults, it’s optional on Base and Luxury trim, and standard on Limited. The wide 60/40 split second-row provides ample room for three, plus rear climate controls and a recline feature. Behind the large lift gate there’s 14 cubic feet of room, which swells to 50 with the third-row folded, and to 95 with the second row folded flat. 

Base price for a 5-passenger XL-7 is a reasonable $23,534. The third-row adds $1,350 more. The nearly loaded Limited XL-7 starts at a still modest $28,583.

The 2007 Suzuki XL-7 makes a strong case for a larger slice of the rapidly growing family-size crossover utility market. It has style, features, power, price, and warranty that are superior to most rivals. The XL-7 made a big impression on us, and we think it will with smart consumers too.