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2007 Suzuki XL7 JLX AWD NAVI Road Test

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Michel Deslauriers
GM's best small SUV

The latest generation of XL-7 is assembled in Ingersoll, Ontario.
The original XL7 was a strange bird. Suzuki thought it might be clever to stretch their compact Grand Vitara and fit another two seats in back. The plan seems to have worked out alright, because we're seeing a lot of them on the road.

It was time for Suzuki to replace its aging XL7, but the company is on a budget these days. So the new XL7 rolls off General Motors' assembly line, alongside the Chevrolet Equinox and Pontiac Torrent. Should Suzuki be ashamed of that? Not at all.

What about those headlights?
You either love'em or hate'em. One thing's for sure, they're distinct. They look so wrong, yet they somehow seem to blend in through every angle you look at them. From the lines of the fender flares to the bottom rim of the grille, the headlights just plain fit.

A hefty design much more pleasing than its predecessor.
The rest of the exterior styling looks more GM than Suzuki, sort of a mix-n-match between the Equinox, the Torrent and the Saturn VUE. Overall, it looks pretty good. The bulging fenders give the truck a muscular stance, like a bulldog ready to attack a mailman's leg. The black and silver bumper caps are a nice touch, too. If the first XL7 seemed a little unusual with its small yet long body, the new model sports a more conventional shape.

Decent interior
Wood accents make the interior look more upscale.
Unsurprisingly, the cockpit is pure GM. It seems to be a patchwork of elements taken out of the General's parts bin; the steering wheel is from the Equinox; the shifter console and power window buttons are from the VUE. You'll find the same easy-to-use climate control buttons in just about any GM product. The final result is good, albeit a little plasticky, and the wood trim cheers up the atmosphere.

I really like the leather seats; they're comfortable and decently supportive. Legroom for the second-row seat is about 30 mm (an inch and a half) tighter than in an Equinox, and the third row should be reserved for children, as is the case with most small 7-passenger vehicles.

My biggest complaint is about the XL7's interior is the number of creaks and rattles heard while driving. That's a shame, and I hope that the noise in this test truck is an isolated case.
Michel Deslauriers
Michel Deslauriers
Automotive expert
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