Maybe real small children or a couple baby seats would work in back, but that's about it. The rear door also is just that, not a hatch. It opens out in back, which seems awkward if hauling anything for much of a distance. And while I found the quality of the Suzuki to be quite good in most cases, there was an annoying squeak from somewhere up front, under the dash I believe. It was hard to pinpoint but became more noticeable on some of our particularly bumpy streets.
Gas mileage is pretty good for a ute.
The EPA says to expect 17 mpg city and 20 highway. Overall, I'd say this is Suzuki's finest effort to date and a good drive at a reasonable price in the sport-ute market. However, if you really want seating for seven adults or moderate-sized children you'll probably have to shell out the extra dough and get something a little larger. Appeared in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel on Feb. 28, 2001. Journal Sentinel Inc. All rights reserved.