Driving the Suzuki APV GLX

In photos, the Suzuki APV might look understated and unassuming. But on the road, watching heads turn to gawk at this high-sided van with the robot-like face can be quite entertaining. Yes, this new small van from Suzuki looks endearingly cute in a high-tech way — enough to make small kids beg their parents to buy one.

The power output of the 1.6-liter, 16-valve aluminum gasoline engine seems a bit low at 91hp/127Nm. (Most 1.6-liter cars have 115 hp or more.) Nevertheless, acceleration is surprisingly peppy when the small van is lightly loaded (i.e. two adults, three kids). But even with this light load, the APV is most comfortable cruising at 80kph. Perhaps it’s a combination of short gearing (we tested the automatic model), blocky van-like aerodynamics, and the hard-working 1.6-liter engine that conspires to give the APV a somewhat high 3600 rpm engine speed when cruising at 100kph in top gear. Go for 120kph and you’re listening to a constant 4000rpm-plus roar. Then again, low-speed intra-city commuting is this little van’s forte, not high-speed out-of-town blasts.

Fuel economy seemed to hover around 6.5 to 7 kms. per liter during our test, which was composed mostly of city driving — not too different from most 1.6-liter automatic-equipped cars. (The 5-speed manual APV should give much better fuel economy.)

Ride quality from the strut-spring front/leaf spring-rigid axle rear suspension is reasonably comfortable for a tall vehicle with a short wheelbase. The best position is the middle row as it’s in the center of the wheelbase followed by the driver and front passenger. Occupants of the rearmost bench, which is positioned literally above the rear wheels, have to cope with the vertical motions of the rear axle. I could see from the mirror the head of my 11-year old son — who doesn’t want to sit with his younger sisters in the middle row — bobbing up and down from the back row. Braking power from the vented front discs and rear drums (no ABS) is strong and requires minimal effort.

Eight passengers are accommodated by three rows of seats in a 2-3-3 seating configuration, although the three passengers sitting side by side had better be on the slim side to fit comfortably across the two rear bench seats. When the third-row seats are stowed, the APV’s rear portion can swallow up to 714 liters of cargo. Initial build quality and fit and finish seemed high, even by lofty Japanese standards.

All things considered, the Silky Silver Suzuki APV is one test vehicle that I already missed minutes after returning it. It’s not perfect, but its many positive attributes and a relatively low retail price of P750,000 (P620,000 for the manual) makes it a compelling choice for those wanting an inexpensive people mover. — MANNY N. DE LOS REYES

There are some vehicles one wouldn’t mind driving if only to satisfy the curiosity of the little driving demon inside. The Suzuki APV GLX is one such vehicle. With its minimalist van looks, it can hold its own in the head-turning department for sheer originality. Suzuki’s new mini-people-mover, however, has got a few other tricks up its sleeve.

Tops on the list of the surprises one will find in the Suzuki APV is the better-than-expected comfort provided to its second row passengers. With its high center of gravity and short wheelbase, one would expect the stocky-looking APV to be a bit bouncier on the fly, but it’s the exact opposite for those fortunate enough to find seating on the vehicle’s second row. The best seats in the house also come with the most legroom as the front and rear rows are actually left wanting in the legroom department. Oh, and for those who will choose to buy an automatic, an added rear aircon vent jacks up the middle row comfort experience even further.

Another big plus going for the APV is the killer sound system that practically whips the sorry @$$es of many of the variants that other, more established brands in the market put out in the market. This, plus the vehicle’s generous ground clearance and car-like maneuverability make the APV’s driver almost as happy as his passengers in the middle.

We say almost because despite the little quirky features of the APV, it does have a few shortcomings. Not the least of these shortcomings is the rather uncomfortable driving position — at least for the driver’s left leg. In order to maximize space, you see, the APV’s driver and front row passenger are situated almost above the vehicle’s front row wheels. As such, the APV’s wheel well bulges right where it would have been perfect to rest one’s left leg (if he were the driver) or right leg (if he were the front row passenger).

And, while the APV’s 91 horses valiantly try to ferry all eight of its passengers, common sense dictates that a few more stallions would have probably given the vehicle more generous pulling power. Not that the APV cannot gather enough speed on Metro Manila’s traffic-infested streets (it is, in fact, quite responsive for a vehicle of its size), but we’d rather recommend the vehicle to city-dwellers than to those who tend to ferry their way through the provinces on a regular basis.

That being said, we tend to agree with Manny in his argument for the APV’s value-for-money proposition. At P750,000 for the automatic and P620,000 for the manual, one would be hard-pressed to find a vehicle with as much balance as the Suzuki APV does. A brand new vehicle that seats up to eight people comfortably for that price in this day and age? I’d have laughed my head off had I not driven the Suzuki APV myself. Such an inexpensive people mover is definitely worth the city dwelling family’s second look. — DONG MAGSAJO

The Good

• Car-like maneuverability

• Cool sci-fi styling

• Impressive head- and legroom

• Peppy performance with minimal load

• Great-sounding audio system

• SUV-like 170-mm ground clearance

The Bad

• Tight shoulder and elbow room with three-abreast seating

• Sluggish performance when fully loaded

• Only three cupholders

• No low-fuel warning light (we actually ran out of gas waiting for the light to come on)

The Verdict

• Despite its quirks, the Suzuki APV becomes an irresistible value when you consider that it’s the only fully loaded automatic-equipped car-like people mover around for under P750k. Best when used in the city or for infrequent out-of-town trips.