The 3.6-liter V6 puts out 252 hp at
6,400 rpm and 243 lb-ft of torque
at 3,200 rpm. That's up from
185 hp and 184 lb-ft for the 2.7-liter '06. The 24-valve DOHC
mates to a five-speed automatic
transmission that features a manual-shifting mode and reportedly
lets drivers go from zero to 60 in
less than 8 sec.
The 36% power boost, however, doesn't compromise fuel
ratings. Designers delivered
economies equal to or better than
its predecessor. The AWD tester I
drove has an EPA rating of
17/23 mpg, while the front-wheel-drive variant gets 18/24 mpg.
To get a more comfortable,
carlike ride, Suzuki did away with
the body-on-frame chassis and
went the "crossover" way — unibody frame, mated to fully independent McPherson struts in
front and multilinks in the rear.
The Limited-trim, seven-passenger SUV also featured load-leveling shocks on the rear to improve handling under full load
and keep ride height consistent.
Rollover sensing is standard. It
monitors the angle and roll rate
on flat roads and brakes the outside wheels, reducing lateral
forces.
This year's model also sports a
new aerodynamic skin, one nearly
10 in. longer and 2 in. wider. The
stretched platform has 95 ft3 of cargo space and comfortable first (41.2 in.) and second (38.8 in.)
row legroom. The optional third
row has only 30.8 in. And although the XL7 has a tad more
ground clearance and can tow
payloads of 3,500 lb, it's not as
well suited for off-road adventures as last year's model.
The change in the exterior is
dramatic. Designers replaced the
boxy profile with a much sleeker
silhouette — approach and departure angles dropped nearly 11
and 3.5°, respectively. The headlights and front end are my favorite upgrades. The new three-bar
grille and two-tone bumper system look sharp. And in back, I like
the dual 3.5-in.-diameter, stainless-steel exhaust. The exhaust
has one center and two side mufflers, along with two catalytic converters and down pipes. The combination is said to give best-in-class NVH in quietness and tonal
quality.
Inside, the cabin is spacious.
The top-of-the-line XL7 is equipped
with a plethora of standard creature comforts. Some of them come
as options (or aren't available) in
competitive crossovers including
the Honda Pilot and the Limited
versions of the Toyota Highlander
and Hyundai Sante Fe. They include a leather-appointed interior
with wood-grain trim, heated front
seats, driver-info center with trip
computer, rear AC controls, seven-speaker audio system with MP3
connection, DVD rear entertainment system with wireless headphones, and side curtain air bags
all around. The base XL7 is just under $23K with the Limited trim topping out just south of $28K.