The South African market has been flooded with new Chinese SUVs over the past few years. Every month seems to bring another newcomer promising more features, more technology and more value for money.
That competition has been great for buyers, but it has also pushed established brands to up their game.
Enter the Suzuki Across 1.5 GLX.
The first thing that caught our attention was the styling. The Across looks fresh without being overstyled. It has clean lines, a confident stance and enough character to avoid blending into the background. My favourite detail is the full-width LED light bar at the rear. It’s a simple touch, but one that makes the SUV look more expensive than its price tag suggests. Combined with the 17-inch alloy wheels, it gives the Across a modern and well-proportioned look.
Step inside and you’ll find a cabin that feels well put together. The layout is straightforward and easy to use, while the materials used throughout feel solid. Dominating the dashboard is a 10.25-inch infotainment touchscreen, paired with a 7-inch digital instrument cluster ahead of the driver. Together, they give the interior a modern feel without making everyday tasks unnecessarily complicated.
The panoramic sunroof is another welcome addition, bringing plenty of natural light into the cabin and making the interior feel even more spacious. The eight-speaker Infinity by Harman sound system also deserves a mention. Whether you’re listening to your favourite playlist, a podcast or catching up on the latest news, the sound quality is genuinely impressive for a vehicle in this price bracket.
One feature that quickly became a favourite during our time with the Across was the 360-degree camera system. It makes parking and manoeuvring in tight spaces far easier, especially when dealing with crowded shopping centre parking lots or narrow driveways. It might not be the flashiest feature on the spec sheet, but it’s one you’ll appreciate almost every day.
Under the bonnet sits a naturally aspirated 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine paired with a 12V mild-hybrid system. Outputs stand at 76kW and 137Nm, with power sent to the front wheels through a six-speed automatic transmission.
Now, let’s get one thing out of the way. The Across isn’t going to win any drag races. If you’re expecting neck-snapping acceleration, you’ll need to look elsewhere. But that’s not really what this SUV is about.
Around town, the drivetrain feels smooth and easy to live with. It gets up to speed without fuss, handles stop-start traffic comfortably and settles into a relaxed rhythm on longer journeys. The mild-hybrid system quietly assists in the background, helping to improve efficiency without demanding any extra effort from the driver.
Suzuki claims fuel consumption of around 5.3L/100km, while we managed 6.3L/100km during our time with the vehicle. That’s still a respectable result for a family SUV and should help keep fuel bills under control.
Safety is another area where the Across scores highly. Standard equipment includes six airbags, adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, lane departure warning, blind-spot monitoring and the aforementioned 360-degree camera system. ABS with Electronic Brake-force Distribution is also included, adding another layer of reassurance for family buyers.
What I like most about the Across is that it doesn’t rely on one headline feature to sell itself. Instead, it combines good looks, useful technology, strong safety features and decent fuel economy into a package that simply works.
Verdict
At R464,900, the Suzuki Across 1.5 GLX gets a lot right. The feature list is generous, the cabin feels well put together and the running costs should remain reasonable. Add in the panoramic sunroof, premium audio system, comprehensive safety suite and practical 360-degree camera system, and you start to see just how much value is on offer.
No, it won’t be the quickest SUV at the traffic lights, but that’s hardly the point. The Across focuses on the things that matter most to everyday buyers, and it does them well.
For anyone looking for a family SUV that looks good, comes loaded with features and won’t break the bank, the Suzuki Across 1.5 GLX is definitely worth a closer look.
