Suzuki APV walkaround and short test drive report

[mbt]

We test drove the new Suzuki APV wagon-cum-minivan on a short stretch of pasong tamo this afternoon...

impressions:

Amazing space efficiency and impressive interior space
The APV will comfortably seat eight adults, with generous leg and foot space for each of them. Very impressive, considering that this vehicle is shorter than a Toyota Corolla Altis. The secret of course, is the skyscraper height of the vehicle, which allows dinner chair-high seats. The high ceiling translates into plentiful headroom; this vehicle will easily accomodate Marge Simpson without toppling her hairdo. While the Toyota Innova boasts more space and comfort up front and in the middle, the APV easily trumps almost every other SUV in third-row habitability. Access to the third-row easily bests most other SUVs and crossovers, including the Innova and Fortuner, never mind such torture-chamber third-row seats as in the Everest, Isuzu Alterra, and Nissan Patrol. The vestigial nose thoughtfully houses the fluid bottles and maintenance items, and also some tools like the jack. Don't look for the engine under the small hood, it's mounted under the driver's seat.

Microvan dimensions means easy parking and great maneuverability
Go ahead and squeeze into that tiny gap in traffic... go ahead and make that tight u-turn... you probably can with the APV. Visibility is great all-around, with a large windshield, huge outside mirrors, and large windows. The driver sits high, so you can look past the roofs of that line of sedans in front of you and see what's causing the traffic jam in front.

Quality and solidity? Refinement? Look elsewhere...
A pervading sense of hollowness surrounds the APV. The doors sound a little tinny when you slam them, the sheetmetal clangs like a tin can when you knock it, there's a hint of structural shudders even in slow driving, the pedals make loud metal-on-metal clacks when you step on them, the panel gaps are a little too conspicuous, toggling the interior air-recirculation switch results in a loud whooomp! as the vent opens or closes, the under-seat 1.6-liter gasoline engine sounds huge on the road, and the shifter in the manual variant seems recalcitrant...

But then again, the price is right
... but you can't expect too much from a base price of P599,000 for the poverty-pack stick-shift model or P750,000 for the range-topping automatic, right? The base model seems a great deal, while the P750,000 is a bit of a stretch for the upmarket variant, considering that it encroaches on Toyota Innova territory already.

Driving dynamics? Some
Our brief drive was really too short for a full evaluation, but the driver will likely find the APV a mixed bag. On one hand, the driving position is a bit awkward, with the left front wheel well eating up the space where the driver's left foot should be. The relationship of the steering wheel to the pedals is a bit uncomfortable, with the wheel set at a somewhat bus-like angle and the pedals set too close in relation to the wheel. However, the high-chair seating is a boon for visiblity, the shifter falls right to hand, and the engine is reponsive, although it gets loud at speed. Acceleration is deliberate, and I get the feeling that the APV will huff and puff when fully laden or when going up mountains, or worse, both. But then again, this motor probably promises good fuel economy, perfect for the oil crunch. And Pinoys seem used to vehicles with incredible power-to-weight ratios, like the Mitsubishi L300 Versa Van and the old Toyota Liteace, so it's probably not too bad for the demographic Suzuki is aiming for with the APV.

The steering itself feels overboosted, and on-center feel is vague with a large and springy feel. However, turn the wheel a little bit more, and it seems to settle into a comfortable linearity, although the steering is much too light. On the flip side, the APV feels light on its feet, no doubt due to the mid-engine, rear-drive layout that removes a significant weight from the front wheels. On our brief drive, this microvan seemed to be endowed with a remarkable agility and immediacy to its moves.

The ride is a bit choppy, perhaps owing to the leaf-sprung rear, but not harsh.

We didn't carry enough speed into curves to have a feel for body roll or top-heaviness, but then again, the APV isn't a sports car and doesn't pretend to be one.

But then again, at an entry price of P599,000, the driver probably won't complain.

Snappy styling
Looks distinctive and upscale. The boxy theme is done well, in my opinion. There's some resemblance to the Isuzu Axiom and the VW Caravelle/Eurovan.

Free maintenance for 20,000 km or 2 years (whichever comes first)
According to a paper stuck on the display APV, the APV comes with a 3-year/100,000 km (whichever comes first) warranty, AND, the dealer will foot the bill for all regular maintenance services for 2 years or 20,000 km, whichever comes first. More value added to a good value.

Tentative verdict: Great space, great utility, great practicality, good price,... and you'll buy an APV for these reasons and nothing else.
Best used as a family van for the city. Makes an ideal business workhorse too; imagine a jumbo Suzuki Super Carry. Used within these parameters, the APV looks like a good buy. Imagine a Hyundai Getz or a Kia Picanto enlarged to sit eight adults. Just don't look for luxury, perfect refinement, or a stimulating drive, and you'll probably find the APV satisfactory.

Photos:

^ The APV at least looks more upscale than its base price suggests.