You notice it first in the way the door closes. Not a heavy, bank-vault thud, but a solid, considered click. That is the Suzuki Across in a nutshell: a compact SUV that seems to have thought about where it wants to sit in the local market. And the answer is not at the top table, but rather at a very well laid-out sideboard nearby.
Suzuki South Africa has positioned the Across as a flagship, but the word comes with a small ‘f’. This is not a brand trying to outmuscle the German establishment. Instead, the Across arrives as a carefully assembled package, aiming to lift Suzuki’s range without leaving its value promise at the dealership door. It is marginally larger than the Vitara, and that extra centimetre or two goes mostly to cabin presence.
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Under the bonnet lives the familiar K15C four-cylinder petrol engine, now with a 12V mild-hybrid system. The numbers are modest: 76 kW at 6 000 r/min and 137 Nm at 4 400 r/min. An integrated starter generator lends a hand during acceleration and harvests energy on the overrun, storing it in a small lithium-ion battery.
The official combined fuel consumption is quoted at 5,3 l/100 km, with CO2 emissions of 121 g/km. Start-stop technology is standard, shutting the engine at traffic lights with a barely perceptible shudder.
On our usual Highveld test route the top spec GLX handled the shifting pace without complaint, albeit at a leisurely pace – meaning it does require thought and planning before making passing moves, especially on single-lane roads.
The naturally aspirated 1,5-litre does become audible when you press it up a long incline – there is a certain strained note that suggests it would appreciate a small turbo-charger to deal with the Across’s kerb weight compared to the lighter Fronx.
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But the six-speed automatic is a sensible partner, holding gears where it should and shifting up early when you ease off. The claimed fuel figure might be optimistic for daily commuting, but mid-6s are within reach, even with some enthusiasm.
Ride quality is a quiet win. The suspension absorbs the tar patches and speed humps of Gauteng with a composed, controlled motion. Ground clearance is quoted at 210 mm, which is enough for a gravel road or a rough farm track without the underbody crying foul.
Steering is light – almost too light for some tastes – making parking lot manoeuvres a one-finger exercise. On tighter bends, the feel becomes a touch vague, but the Across does not pretend to be a hot hatch. The brakes respond to a light foot; a firmer push brings a slightly abrupt stop, so you learn to modulate.
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Where the Across makes its most persuasive case is in the cabin. The layout is minimalist, with a three-level dashboard and contrast stitching. Important controls – lane change assist, cruise functions – are button-operated from the steering wheel. That is a small but meaningful detail: no burying essential tech in a touchscreen sub-menu. The 10,1-inch infotainment screen (wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto included) sits alongside a 10,25-inch digital instrument cluster. Material quality is a step above the usual at this price: soft-touch surfaces where your elbow lands, and a solid feel to the rotary dials.
The GLX grade adds synthetic leather with copper stitching, ventilated front seats, an eight-way power driver’s seat, a head-up display, an eight-speaker Harman Infinity sound system, a 360-degree camera, and 64-colour ambient lighting. A panoramic glass sunroof is also present.
Practicality is generally good up front. Rear headroom is a little tighter for taller passengers – those over 1,85 metres will notice – and the boot measures in the low- to mid-300-litre range. That is not class-leading, but the powered tailgate and the 60:40 split rear seats help. Storage includes a centre console box with armrest, four cup holders, four bottle holders, and two 12V sockets (one in the boot, suitable for a portable fridge).
Safety is comprehensive for the segment. Six crash bags, Isofix anchors and a full suite of driver aids on the GLX: autonomous emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning with prevention, lane keep assist, blind spot monitoring, rear cross traffic alert, high beam assist and a weave alert.
Value is the Across’s quiet argument. Pricing starts in the mid R300 000s for the GL manual, with the GL automatic and GLX automatic occupying higher rungs. Suzuki includes a 5-year/200 000 km warranty and a 4-year/60 000 km service plan. The spec sheet is honest: what you see is what you get, with no artificially low base price waiting to be inflated by options.
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The design is understated. A satin chrome strip spans the upper grille, connecting narrow LED projector headlamps. A trapezoidal lower intake sits below, flanked by circular fog lamps. The side profile uses black plastic cladding on the rocker panels and wheel arches.
GL models ride on dark grey 17-inch alloys; the GLX gets machined dual-tone 17-inch rims, both on 215/60 tyres. A full-size spare is included. At the rear, a full-width taillamp cluster houses 19 individual LED segments. Colour options include Arctic White Pearl, Splendid Silver, Mystic Green, Magma Grey, Sizzling Red, Exuberant Blue, and Bluish Black. GLX models can be specified with a dual-tone Bluish Black roof.
The Suzuki Across is not the fastest in its class, nor does it offer the largest boot. It is not trying to rattle the cage of premium brands. What it offers is a thoughtful, well-finished compact SUV that prioritises comfort, fuel economy and a cabin that feels more expensive than the price suggests.
For a daily driver on mixed South African roads – town, highway, and a bit of gravel – the Across presents a compelling, quietly confident argument.
Colin Windell for Colin-on-Cars in association with
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