By Aurelia Mbokazi
Being a motoring journalist is a huge flex, but it can also be a disadvantage.
One week, there is a premium SUV in your driveway. The next, something with more power than you could ever responsibly use on a public road. Then come the cars with giant screens and enough technology to make you wonder whether you are driving the car or the car is driving you.
Sometimes I ask myself: if I had to buy a car next week, with my own money, what would I choose? More importantly, what could I realistically afford?
Because buying a car is only the beginning. There is fuel, insurance, servicing, tyres and the monthly instalment, all competing for the same salary.
Which brings me to the Suzuki Across. During my time with it, I had an aha moment. It brought me closer to answering that question.
Space matters
When you have teenagers with long legs, school bags and shopping, space matters. My children are already tall and approaching adulthood, yet four of us travelled comfortably without feeling cramped. The Across feels substantial without becoming cumbersome.
Looks matter too. No one wants a car that announces their bank balance before they arrive – especially if it’s on the side of the scale. Even when you are watching every cent, you still want to feel proud of what you drive. The Across gets that without being pretentious. It looks confident and classy, because practical and affordable should not mean apologetic.
Keeping it simple
Inside, it does not overwhelm you with technology for technology’s sake. The screen isthere, along with useful features and connectivity that is simple to understand. Being a1K, a shorthand for someone ‘born before technology’, I appreciate a car that does notrequire me to first go on YouTube just to turn on the air conditioner. I want to get in,connect my phone and drive.
The Across gave me exactly that. Smartphone connectivity was quick and easy, while the dark interior materials appealed to my practical side. It is a cabin designed to believed in.
On the road
I was not expecting a performance car, and it does not pretend to be one. What I liked was how easily it handled ordinary life: moving through Johannesburg traffic, carrying passengers and dealing with constant stop-start driving.
Its 1.5-litre petrol engine is supported by mild-hybrid technology. It simply got on with the job without lagging or feeling strained. And sometimes, that is all you need.
Easy on fuel
Most of my daily life happens within roughly 12km of home. Work commitments, meetings, shops, family responsibilities and the usual Johannesburg running around. In this economy, fuel consumption matters to me. Suzuki claims 5.3 litres per 100km and, during my time with the Across, I came close to that figure, hovering just below 6 litres per 100km.
The City Deep test
Once a month, I head to the fresh produce market at City Deep to buy vegetables, fruit and grains in bulk. The large boot swallowed boxes, bags and trays of eggs, with ample space left for more with no drama and no careful rearranging.
Then there are Johannesburg roads, where avoiding potholes can feel like an advanced driving course. Here, the elevated driving position was especially useful, giving me a better view of the road ahead.
The cost
The range starts at R349,900 for the manual GL, with the GL automatic at R372,900and the GLX automatic at R464,900. That is not chump change. But we also know how expensive new cars have become these days.
For me, the Across makes a strong value-for-money case. It won me over by being sensible without looking basic.
The range also comes with a four-year/60,000km service plan and a five-year/200,000km promotional warranty.
