The adjective "small" may describe Suzuki's share of the automotive market, but fewer of Suzuki's vehicles fit the description these days.
Consider the 2007 XL7, a rather grand sport utility vehicle that can transport seven passengers and their cargo without excessive compaction.
While the first generation XL7 arrived as a stretched version of the Grand Vitara off-roader, the second offers even more capacity while riding on the chassis of a car.
That combination of car chassis and SUV body qualifies the XL7 as a "crossover" vehicle, a growing class based on the reality that few drivers actually take their SUVs off road.
While traditional SUVs feature truck-based sinews, the crossovers ride more like cars while lacking the off-road endurance of their ancestors.
The XL7's dimensions grew 2.2 inches in the wheelbase, 9.8 inches in overall length, 2.1 inches in width and 0.9 inch in height.
More significantly, the XL7 gained 67 horses in the engine bay, increasing from a 185-horsepower V6 to a 252-horsepower, double overhead cam V6 harnessed to a five-speed automatic transmission.
Even with the 36 percent increase in power, the XL7 lost only 1 mile per gallon in fuel efficiency with all-wheel-drive and 2 miles in front-wheel-drive.
The XL7 Limited, priced at $27,949 includes seven-passenger seating and adds fog lamps, rear spoiler, upgraded roof racks with silver-colored rails and cross bars, aluminum lower bumper valances, AM/FM/CD/MP3 XM Radio-ready audio system with seven speakers.
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