Suzuki X90 test drive 1996 - 1997 SUV

Declassed element

The wave of the traffic control inspector of the traffic police: Sorry, what kind of miracle is this? Closed surprised glances from neighboring cars. A crowd of curious at a standing car. People saw Suzuki X-90.
Three years ago, Suzuki pretty shocked the entire world automobile public, releasing a double hybrid of a jeep and a convertible under the mysterious X-90 index. Catalogs are characterized as a walking car for outdoor activities. The well -known Suzuki Vitara in the short -stained version became the donor for this unusual hybrid. It was from him that the engine, transmission, suspension, steering and brake system were shorter, all the main nodes and assemblies were taken. Strictly speaking, from the technical side it seems to be nothing unusual and especially new. The uniqueness of the car is that it is not suitable for any of the existing classes.
Walking topless. Strictly speaking, this is not a convertible. A body of this type is called Targa. The roof consists of three main parts: two removable elements made of reinforced glass, and a narrow a continuous jump, which connects the framework of fixed wind and rear glasses.
 
Getting rid of this roof is extremely simple. The operation is quite possible for a delicate female handle: it is enough to turn the lever above the door and the glass square is easily extracted from its nest. It is also easy, literally in one movement, returns to its place. True, there is still some risk in the case of a sudden rain: a place for the roof removed is provided in the trunk, but it, oddly enough, does not open from the cabin. This is a matter of practice and dexterity. For those who are annoying too bright light and who prefers the air conditioned fresh air, additional dense opaque curtains are provided. They are attached from the inside to the removable elements of the roof.
 
Gentlemen set. Walk so comfortably and to be easy and safe. And what is required for this? Roll hydraulic power, two front airbags, air conditioning, cruise control, electric windows, central lock and radio with the ability to connect a CD changer. Everything mentioned is present. The standard set also includes fog lights and adjusting the angle of the main ones. It is only strange that there is no electric mirror electric drive. And if the car is undivided by yours, do you often have to regulate them?
The rejection of the rudimentary rear seats provided simply an unexpected scope for the only pair of riders. For them, comfortable and ergonomic seats, easily adjusted to almost any growth and dimensions. A simple and understandable location of the governing bodies also does not cause any difficulties. The decoration of the salon and the upholstery of seats from waterproof dense fabric are very practical and executed according to the laws of the SUV genre in which case all this is perfectly laundered.
However, women who like to carry with them many small things and things, the X-90 will somewhat disappoints, except for the modest glove compartment and two round cup holders between the seats, there is no place for them.
In the trunk there is a bagel-west. The remaining place with more than is enough for a pair of road bags with marching occasions. In the case of urban shopping, everything is packaged. Why more? We will transport a bulky junk on a cab.
FIGHTER. For the X-90, only one engine option is provided with a 1.6-liter sixteen-plastic. Why more? The car is small, light, and 97 horses are enough for him. Unfortunately, the numbers characterizing acceleration, unfortunately, were not found anywhere, but according to the sensations and how many people who want to caching from the low start remain behind, it is somewhere in the range of 11-12 seconds. up to a hundred. Automatic 4-speed checkpoint does not give special reasons for accusation of thoughtfulness. Moreover, it has a special Power mode, the inclusion of which significantly adds to the renewal and exacerbates the reaction of the machine to the gas pedal. It has a direct meaning in a city where sharp accelerations are often necessary. But on the highway, a shutdown of the increasing gear is very helpful.
The fact is that its transfer number is very small 0.74. This, of course, has a positive effect on fuel saving, especially at a speed of more than 100 km/h, but negatively affects the dynamics, especially on protracted rises and when overtaking as a result of insufficient torque at low speeds. The position corrects the button on the checkpoint selector an instant transition to the transition below: the speed increases and the machine is actively rushing forward, even without pressing the gas. And we got out again on the free straight line, pressed the button and continue to go in a calm economical mode.
A short base and a high center of gravity impose typical speed restrictions and maneuver. It holds the road well, but you should not get involved in speed after about 120 km/h an unpleasant feeling of instability, the machine becomes very sensitive to the side wind and especially to the air flow from oncoming trucks. It is not surprising that the maximum possible speed is forcibly limited to 140 km/h. Then it is simply dangerous. Well, the city and trips to nature, and not the racing along the tracks, fit into the general concept of the machine.
The suspension also does not contribute to hobbies of speed. In general, it is quite comfortable, but with some reservations. The car is very good with off -road, but on uneven asphalt the car is made too jumping. The short base plays an important role here, which is generally and almost always characterized by the so -called goat. Yes, and on off -road it is better to go calmly to the poor passenger (or passenger) will have to be bad, since during all these jumps there is simply nothing to cling to, the pens are absent as a class. You risk in the end it is hopeless to ruin your entire picnic.
TRAMP. Outside the asphalt, the X-90 is fully consistent with the Fighting Samurai traditions of the Suzuki family. Full -wheel drive, lowered, everything is like adults. Why, for example, walking mushrooms, you can go. Poster over the coppice and the field to the deserted corner of the beach, which is clean and not pledged with numerous motorized vacationers please. To climb on an impressive sandy dunes in order to arrange a base on its top is easy. If only the sand was not too loose and there was no citizen with a camera, which would demand to fix the car at the moment when it passes a risky sandy parapet. In the latter case, it will already be problematic to move problematically on the abdomen. And there are no air with two wheels diagonally thresh the air diagonal inter -cool locks. Nobody canceled the rules of driving on off -road. Never dwell on dubious areas!
Sometimes you can have fun well: you had to see the face of an elderly villager, collecting hay on the outskirts of the village, when a bright scarlet car got out of the forest, from a decent steepness of the slope, and the man sitting in it politely asked how to go to the lake. The words stuck in the throat, and the answer was only a weak gesture with his hand. The lake turned out to be not far from just two ravines, and it took place the final for checking the walking abilities of the X-90. The coveted island from the shore separated a shallow strip of water with a hard sandy bottom: on it we found such a welcome rest from the exhausting July heat.
Ego leader. The X-90 completely and fully complies with the purpose and meaning that are laid down in it. A brilliant, easy to control, maneuverable and quite comfortable urban little car, which has good abilities to drive where the road was ordered by all the rest except jeeps, of course. And if you return to the topic of selfish cars raised by us in the May number of autopilot, then Suzuki X-90 is undoubtedly its quintessence. The very fact of possession of them can say a lot about the nature and style of life.
I would buy such a car to my wife, and you?
 
Text Andrey Timofeev, photo Alexey Ilyin
 

Source: "Autopilot"