Suzuki APV
SUZUKI Philippines—the carmaker responsible for such no-nonsense vehicles like the Samurai, the Vitara, the Esteem Wagon, the Jimny and the Grand Vitara—has launched a truly sensible compact wagon designed and engineered to meet the wide range of needs of the typical Filipino family. The APV, or the All Purpose Vehicle, is Suzuki’s latest solution to most people’s problem of regularly hauling an entire group of passengers and their indispensable cargo without having to get a space-consuming and gas-guzzling big SUV or van.
The APV has been ingeniously designed to appear compact on the outside but also to provide ample space inside. Despite measuring a mere 4,155 millimeters in length, 1,655 mm in width and 1,855 mm in height, this vehicle boasts an impressive interior length of 2,815 mm, interior width of 1,360 mm and interior height of 1,200 mm, thanks in large part to a modern-looking snub nose that results in a short front overhang of only 700 mm. Pair this with an equally short rear overhang of only 830 mm, and you have one well-balanced and stable vehicle either on the straights or on the bends.
The compact exterior dimensions, coupled with a short turning radius of only 4.9 meters, guarantee exceptional maneuverability while negotiating tight spaces or parallel-parking on busy streets—something huge family vehicles fail to do.
The APV’s high ground clearance of 180 mm places the air intake at a high position, giving every member of the family peace of mind during the rainy season, when flash floods are part and parcel of Metro Manila driving.
The APV is powered by either a 1.5-liter or a 1.6-liter 16-valve in-line-four gasoline engine, both competent to pull a vehicle that accommodates eight passengers. These eight passengers will delight in the vehicle’s four hinged doors—as opposed to the traditional sliding door common in most passenger vans—which bestow the APV a car-like feel to it during occupant ingress and egress.
A global strategy model of Suzuki, the APV will be marketed in many different countries—particularly in Southeast Asia—which means that it has to be built and equipped in such a way that it can effortlessly tackle widely diverse road conditions. The APV thus sports a proven and dependable suspension layout: MacPherson struts in front and rigid axle and leaf springs at the back. This suspension design is still the most efficient one for load carrying without sacrificing ride comfort and refinement.
Finally, the all-new APV is engineered not just for performance and ride quality. It is also thoughtfully designed for safety. The vehicle’s body construction boasts Suzuki’s innovative Total Effective Control Technology (TECT), which directs impact energy away from the cabin occupants in case of a collision. The front nose, while short, actually acts as a buffer to dissipate the force of impact. For better passenger protection, the APV is equipped with deformation-resistant side-impact beams, making the vehicle safe not just in frontal or rear collisions but also in lateral ones.
If you’re in the market for a no-nonsense versatile family vehicle, the Suzuki APV certainly deserves serious consideration. For an affordable, compact package, you can drive home a stylish wagon that takes “mobile living” to a whole new level.
Suzuki Philippines is a direct subsidiary of Suzuki Motor Corporation, a well-respected vehicle maker from Japan that was first founded in 1909. Suzuki now employs nearly 15,000 workers around the world and sells its products in more than 190 countries. The company’s current annual sales volume globally is over 1.9 million units, more than even those of Mitsubishi, Mazda and Subaru
