2005-2011 Suzuki APV Reviews

Pros: eight seats in a very slim car.
very quiet interior.
excellent sound system (especially in the GLX model)
2 air conditioning fans.
VERY wide foot room especially in the 2 back rows.
bouncing back seats making it easy for any one to climb or use the back seats
modern look and nice colors.
good shooting forward from zero.

Cons: Fuel consumption: no more than 14 km /1 liter. (Very high)
Very slow when going up mountain. you need always to kick-down or down gear.

Overall: I love my APV, I intend to keep it. it is very useful for everyday driving, and relaxing as well, but it lacks power (especially when in ountain and AC is on). it nearly stops. Fuel consumption should be better (135 km / 20 Litres on mountain), 160 km / 20 litres in straight city sea level.

Pros: I've been using the APV, X-grade 1.5litre 5MT, since Oct 2004. I live in Indonesia, so there's only one engine option in here. No 1.6 litre version, but there is 4AT version. Fuel consumption is around 1 litre for 8,1Km (in traffic jam, a common thing in Jakarta especially working hours) to around 10Km (highway/toll road). Aircon is in ON position! Gear ratios are nice, it can accellerate from 0 to 100 Km/h in around 13,2 seconds (driver only, 1 person). Good enough compared to mini car like Honda Jazz 1.5 i-DSi 5MT version which takes 13,4 seconds. Other van/minibus cars usually takes more than 15 seconds or more - like Toyota Innova 2.0 (look for Innova 2.7 which is 10 seconds or less!) No hassle when going uphill although I use 1.5 litre, at least when loaded with 5-person+light baggage - aircon is ofcourse ON. Not yet tried in fully loaded (8-person). Stability is also better than my previous van/minibus car. I can drive 120-125km/h in fast cornering, which I usually dares only up to 80km/h. So it's very good suspension IMO, despite its towering high body :-) All using standard spring+shocks. Look for Monroe Sensa-Trac shocks for better handling. Suzuki Swift 1.6 GTi (= Swift Sport 1.6 4-door in Japan) use this shocks as standard equipment! Rear stabilizer bar/anti-roll bar would be another step to go if you prefer more.If you prefer roomier interior than more expensive Innova, APV is the way to go. Interior length is around 24cm longer here (check that, you'll be surprise - since APV is cheaper than Innova).
high seating position, very good driving view. Brisk acceleration for van car. Good stability.

Cons: Needs back mirror or rear camera or back sonar sensor.Might need RECARO seat for driver due to lack of lumbar/thigh support!

Overall: .

Overall: my family and i had a very bad experience with our suzuki APV............scary.......this is very ironic since they are positioning thier APV to be a family wagon and yet my family almost got hurt and now is still traumatized. mere sight of our suzuki apv at home gives my children the creaps! my children now call our APV "A Possessed Van"

it's been 3 months and they still dont want to refund.........all they are saying is that per their investigation, the car has no defect............but all evidences show the car freaked out! ( we have lots of photos, videos, and a police report) they don't want to make an official statement..........our company lawyers had been demanding since day 1........they can't even provide a theory at least............is this a sign of guilt? now they are asking for a free repair and a meeting..........what for?

here is a copy of my original letter to my suzuki dealer .......read on and warn your loved ones............


January 8, 2007


MR. RIZALINO ALCANTARA
Service Manager
Suzuki Auto Shaw Mandaluyong
Mandaluyong City, Metro Manila (FAX NUMBER 7256505)

Dear Mr. Alcantara:

I availed of a car lease benefit from my company, China Bank Corporation last April 2006. My wife & I chose your Suzuki APV, because of its reasonable price and value for money features. We decided that this will be the vehicle that my wife will be using everyday to bring and pick up my children to and from their school in Assumption Antipolo.

My Black APV GLX unit was delivered to my home on May 4, 2006.

During my 5,000 km change oil last October 30, 2006 (km reading 5,653) my car was declared fit for travel.

Yesterday, January 7, 2007, Sunday, at 11:00am, my wife and children boarded our APV parked inside our garage (my four children seated at the 2ndrow & my wife was at the driver’s seat). With the transmission at “P” and the hand brake on, my wife started the vehicle without stepping on the gas. Upon ignition, the car instantaneously went into very high revolution and started taking a very strong reverse motion, contrary to the “P” & the hand brake. In just a split of a second, the car bumped the right side of our gate post, creating big damage on the right fender, right side mirrors, and a broken right front wheel tire rod. It moved the vehicle from a stationary position to about 5 meters to the main road. If not for the car hitting the big gate post, the car could have ran all the way to the main street creating more harm to property including crossing vehicles.

The trauma was so much that my wife & children were hysterical! The car acted like a possessed vehicle with a mind of its own! Imagine if this happened while my wife & children were on the hilly streets of Antipolo! Imagine if one of my children or any of my house help were somewhere at the back of the vehicle! Imagine if this happened during a school dismissal in Assumption Antipolo with children walking left & right!

My wife had been a non-professional driver for almost five years already and was never involved in any automobile accident. She is also very familiar driving several vehicles which we own like Isuzu Trooper (automatic) , Isuzu Hi-lander Xtrm (manual), Starex Van (automatic), & Chevrolet Optra (manual).

Looking at the skid marks clearly left by the incident on our garage, it was very obvious that there was a struggle within the car’s functions. With the transmission at “P” position and hand brake on, a sudden surge of very high revolution at reverse motion upon ignition will definitely lead to an accident and threat to life & property.

This incident is definitely a major vehicle malfunction which is unforgivable! At 8 months and at 7,784 km odometer reading, a brand new vehicle is never expected to perform this way, and jeopardize the life of my family! Your Suzuki APV placed the lives of my loved ones in danger and by no means shall I leave this incident unsettled.

With this, I am demanding that Suzuki Auto Shaw Mandaluyong retrieve my APV and refund me (thru my employer China Banking Corporation) the full purchase amount of the vehicle immediately and without any delay.

Please see attached police report, and pictures of the incident & vehicle.

I am expecting an immediate resolution of this issue. Otherwise, I will be forced to bring this to a higher level.




MR. EMMANUEL V. TANDOC
Assistant Vice President
China Banking Corporation

Overall: I own (from new) a 2oo1 Suzuki Carry Van and can not fault any aspect of it's design...Love it. Now, resently puschased an APV. Fuel consumtion advertized at 8.1 lt/100km 50/50 hyw/city. I have tryed my best but cannot get under 10.2 lt/100km, and am averaging 11.5. Another point is NHV, (Noise/harshness/vibration). If the engineers attempted to minimise this, they failed!!!

Overall: My last work van was Hiace Great van but this time chose smaller APV on recommendation. Fuel consumption is excellent,the best yet. Power steering on this one is light and all round views makes this a pleasant work van. I got tints, paintprotect, and free sign writing plus $500 fuel card. All for $20000.00. It may not have the finish interior wise of the HI ACE but its good enough for me. A pleasant van to drive very zippy

Overall: spaceous but poor engine capability. its like driving a huge and thirsty turtle. looks really are decieving. poor interior materials used.