Article Comments: 2007 Suzuki XL-7 First Drive

24 messages, Last post on Feb 21, 2007 at 5:10 PM

You are in the Suzuki XL-7 Forum. Your Hosts are steve_ & tidester

What is this discussion about? Suzuki XL-7, SUV

Article comments for First Drive: 2007 Suzuki XL-7 - As a matter of fact, the XL-7 is really little more than a stretched version of the Chevrolet Equinox and most of its engineering took place in suburban Detroit. Like its American cousin, the XL-7 is a front-wheel-drive unibody sport-ute with optional all-wheel drive. (more)

Outline

Messages Page 2 of 3: 1; 2; 3; Prev; Next; Last

#9 of 24 Re: When will the XL-7 be available? [evergreen] by slinky1 Sep 12, 2006 (6:45 am)
Replying to: evergreen (Sep 06, 2006 7:01 am) I work for cami, the ones building it, should see it at dealers by the start of november, at best the end of october......... Replies to this message: coldcranker (Nov 11, 2006 8:03 am)
#10 of 24 Pricing by joey2brix Sep 14, 2006 (4:17 am)
Sounds good. I mean a base Pontiac Torrent is 22.6K and you get a crappy old motor with that. GM better lower prices.
#11 of 24 3rd Row by azranger1 Oct 26, 2006 (2:20 pm)
We're going to need to replace our '98 Montero (7 passenger) in the next 6 months or so and took the Internet tour of the new XL7. It appears to me that the 3rd row actually has LESS leg room than the '06 version it replaced. Has anyone had these two trucks side by side and sat in the 3rd row? Thoughts? Overall, I'm sure the vehicle is more refined, but I'm not sure the space is as usable. Not real comfortable with any affiliation with GM, either. Replies to this message: coldcranker (Nov 10, 2006 6:26 pm)
#12 of 24 Re: 3rd Row [azranger1] by coldcranker Nov 10, 2006 (6:26 pm)
Replying to: azranger1 (Oct 26, 2006 2:20 pm) Get a Ford Freestyle for lots of room and great MPG with the CVT, and plenty of room in its 3rd row seat. The XL7 is a good choice and almost identical in size to the Freestyle. The XL7's engine is superb (max torque at only 2300 RPM!!!!!). Also, there is the new Mazda CX-7, and upcoming CX-9 (bigger than the CX-7, actually Freestyle/XL7 sized.) The Mazdas are looking good as well. The Ford Edge is OK, but probably not great. The Pilot is a great choice, though.
#13 of 24 Re: When will the XL-7 be available? [slinky1] by coldcranker Nov 11, 2006 (8:03 am)
Replying to: slinky1 (Sep 12, 2006 6:45 am) "...I work for cami, the ones building it..." What is cami? I had to find out. It sounds like the NUMMI (spelling?) Toyota-GM joint venture I heard about many years ago that may still exist with the Pontiac Vibe / Toyota Matrix. Link CAMI website. The XL-7's engine and vehicle size/value is going to give GM's own GMC Acadia a run for its money. The GMC Acadia is starting at $30,000 U.S. dollars! An XL-7 is even cheaper than a Ford Freestyle, which I drive. (Actually, I got mine last year for $22,300 discounted.) And, most importantly, super-model women biker gangsthink the XL-7 is cool.... That's got to be a reason to buy one right there.
#14 of 24 Suzuki XL7's by suzukidon Nov 16, 2006 (11:50 am)
XL7's have been arriving at dealers across the country for 2 weeks now. 3rd row seating is much IMPROVED from previous years. Nav system is very nice, voice activation that actually works with very little training. Touch screen also with scrolling map and then all your usual goodies. XM radio no longer requires a add-in unit. Just call to activate. True dual exhaust with crossover "H" pipe, yes, it has plenty of get up and go! I'm a Suzuki Tech and I love the XL7's! Replies to this message: texlady (Nov 25, 2006 3:51 pm) coldcranker (Nov 25, 2006 8:43 pm)
#15 of 24 Re: Suzuki XL7's [suzukidon] by texlady Nov 25, 2006 (3:51 pm)
Replying to: suzukidon (Nov 16, 2006 11:50 am) Dropped in a dealership today to look at Hondas. After spending an hour or more driving the Pilot and CR-V, the salesman asked me to look at the XL7. The one I drove was loaded with navi, sunroof, etc. Nice car and the price was amazing for all the goodies. Positives were plenty of power, comfortable seating, good stero system, excellent saftey features and an outstanding drivetrain warranty. My concern would be is it a pretty piece of junk? I've been reading reviews and the older ones are not looking too good in terms of reliability, fit and build. This being a remodel there is not much data on which to base a decision. Do I take a chance and get good value for the price or regret the decision a few months down the road. Has anyone else seriously considered this car? Has anyone else actually bought one? What do you think? Replies to this message: coldcranker (Nov 25, 2006 8:43 pm)
#16 of 24 Re: Suzuki XL7's [texlady] by coldcranker Nov 25, 2006 (8:43 pm)
Replying to: texlady (Nov 25, 2006 3:51 pm) I would trust the review at Car and Driver Test -- click here. Its basically a good design. Its so all-new that you can't compare it to the old XL-7s. I prefer the Freestyle (due to its CVT, Volvo chassis, and high MPG), but the XL-7 is a winner, too. That 3.6L engine is superb, although it would be nice if it had the Acadia/Outlook/Enclave 6-speed tranny instead of the 5-speed. The 5-speed seems to waste energy (MPG & acceleration is down) compared to the GMC Acadia. If you compute the lbs/hp figure, the XL-7 should be faster 0-60 than the Acadia, but its not the case, strangely enough, as the 5-speed must be soaking up some power. You would not be wasting your money getting an XL-7 at all, overall.
#17 of 24 Replies to above, more... by ribbonspeakers Jan 05, 2007 (12:33 pm)
I think the XL-7 is so new it would be wrong to compare it to earlier Suzukis regarding reliability. Look at Hyundai: Early cars were useless piles of junk practically as they left the assembly line. They now are among the most reliable cars extant. Japanese manufacturer's generally have better than average reliability. I think buying this car is a reasonably safe bet regarding reliability. To me the 6-speed's advantage is way overstated above. Except for a straight up race how could it matter? In that case it probably would barely equal the difference of a slight difference in load. Besides, the Acadia/Outlook are WAY heavier (close to 1k lbs heavier) & that should exceed the difference of 1/5th more gears (20%). The fuel savings of the extra gear may not equal the difference in correct tire psi. That one seems like a red herring to me (only my opinion). Besides, the GM version of the 3.6 has about 25 more hp (275), considerably greater difference than only one extra gear. I don't know if the 6-speed mentioned is the same as that in the full-size GM SUV's & trucks, but someone who builds those vehicles told me there are reported reliability issues w/ that 6-speed (he was not happy that he may be stuck w/ that new 6-speed tranny on his next truck, the '07 Silverado). This GM 3.6L V6, w/ variable valve timing, is one of my favorite motors. It's incredibly smooth, silky sounding, & makes great power & has great driveablity throughout. Very interesting that, in the new Acadia/Outlook, it makes more power than in the Cadillac CTS, yet uses a lower fuel grade (regular in the SUV's vs. premium in the CTS). I'm looking forward to driving the XL-7. Looks like a great package & maybe an unbeatable value. I'm glad it's not a complete girlie-looking vehicle the way almost every car made these days seems to be. The TV commercial w/ the girl riding the Suzuki M109R, chasing the XL7, then trading keys w/ the XL7 driver, are totally corny but may be effective. What do other members think about it?
#18 of 24 commercial by guxu Jan 06, 2007 (5:34 pm)
I thought the commercial was the motorcycle and XL7 heading to each other. Replies to this message: coldcranker (Feb 18, 2007 9:21 pm)