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Wobbly when turning at high speed Suzuki’s APV returns with minor improvements and an updated face
By Lionel Kong
THE CAR THAT defies convention is back with a new face and a bunch of upgrades. Call it what you will, but the van-like, Indonesian assembled Suzuki APV (All –Purpose Vehicle) was a big hit when it waas first launched here three years ago because it was the most affordable 8-seater that you could buy.
That, and the fact that the large side panels made it a car just asking for custom painting and decals.
If you owned one, you could also boast to your friends that your car shares the same drivetrain layout as a Ferrari, since the boxy Suzuki is actually a mid-engined, rear-wheel drive car. You’ll need to undo a couple of latches beneath the front seats and flip them back to access the APV’s engine. All that you’ll find beneath the car’s bonnet is the radiator.
Its mid-life facelift sees the APV getting new chrome garnishing at the front and along the flanks.The 1.6-litre engine gets an improved electronic control unit that changes the torque curve slightly over the old unit. Suzuki says that this makes the APV more responsive from the lower down the engine’s rev range.
It’s a welcome improvement, since with only 92bhp the original APV took a lot of effort to get moving when it was fully loaded with eight adults.
Open the doors to the new car and you’ll find that there’s less seats inside now. The middle bench row from the pre-facelift car has been replaced with two individual captain-style seats. The rear bench will still fit three people. The new configuration is actually a good thing if you don’t need a full-on eight-seater because it’s now a lot more spacious inside.
Yes the boot is still just a tiny slot behind the third row seats, but your passengers will never feel squashed in the APV’s cabin. It’s practically a lounge on wheels. An additional air-con blower unit mounted on the roof ensures that it never gets too warm at the back too.
Some things remain very much the same though, like the van-like driving position. You’ll find yourself sitting upright and pretty close to the windscreen. The good thing is that all-round visibility is great, and you’ll never have to guess where the nose of the car is.
It’s decently quiet on the move, and even though the driver is sitting right on top of the car’s engine you’ll never know, so good is the insulation against heat and noise. It’s still a car best driven with a light right foot, and corners have to be taken at moderate speeds as the semi-rigid rear axle and McPherson front suspension isn’t designed for any kind of fast driving.
But the APV isn’t one for darting around quickly in. As a laidback, relaxed cruiser for family and friends it does the job very well considering its asking price. And there’s nothing in its price bracket that is as well built.
NEED TO KNOW
Suzuki APV 1.6 (A)
ENGINE TYPE 1,590cc, 16V in-line 4
MAX POWER 92bhp at 5,750rpm
MAX TORQUE 127Nm at 4,500rpm
GEARBOX 4-speed automatic
TOP SPEED 160km/h
0-100KM/H 14.0 seconds
PRICE $57,500 with COE
WARRANTY 3 years/100,000km
CONTACT Champion Motors
TELEPHONE 6774-9773
