Suzuki XL7

The Suzuki XL7 (styled as XL-7 before 2006) is Suzuki's mid-sized SUV that was made from 1998 to 2009. It was slotted above the Grand Vitara in Suzuki's lineup, and was also the last three row vehicle to be made by Suzuki.

Suzuki XL-7
Overview
Manufacturer	Suzuki (1998-2006) CAMI Automotive General Motors (2006-2009)
Production	1998–2009
Powertrain
Transmission	5-speed automatic

First generation[edit]

First generation
Overview
Also called	Suzuki Grand Vitara XL-7 (Europe), Suzuki Grand Escudo XL-7 (Indonesia)
Production	1998–2006
Assembly	Hiroshima, Japan, Bekasi, Indonesia
Body and chassis
Class	Mid-size SUV
Layout	Front engine, rear-wheel drive / four-wheel drive
Related	Suzuki Escudo Suzuki Grand Vitara Maruti Grand Vitara Chevrolet Tracker Chevrolet Vitara XL-7
Powertrain
Engine	V6 2.7 liter,185 hp (138 kW), V6 2.5 litre 116 kW (156 hp) and 213 N·m (157 lb·ft)Indonesia version
Dimensions
Wheelbase	110.2 in (2,799 mm)
Length	187.4 in (4,760 mm) (2002-06) 183.6 in (4,663 mm) (1998-01)
Width	70.1 in (1,781 mm)
Height	68.0 in (1,727 mm) 67.5 in (1,714 mm)

The first-generation XL-7 was a Suzuki design and was essentially a stretched Grand Vitara. It had a Suzuki-designed 2.7 liter V6 on a rear wheel drive-based platform with optional four wheel drive. When introduced, the XL-7 was the least expensive SUV available with 3-row seating in North America. The Suzuki XL-7 sold over 20,000 a year, and was awarded the Consumer's Digest Best Buy award. However, sales slowed as competitors came out with SUVs with more features, lower prices, better fuel efficiency and more powerful engines, such as the Toyota Highlander, the Honda Pilot, and the Honda CR-V.

1999–2000 Suzuki Grand Vitara XL-7 (JA; Australia)

A unique trait in the U.S. market in this segment, the XL-7 was available with 5-speed manual transmission, in both 5-person and 7-person variants.

Second generation[edit]

Second generation
Overview
Production	2006-2009
Assembly	Hiroshima, Japan Ingersoll, Ontario, Canada
Body and chassis
Class	Mid-size crossover SUV
Layout	Front engine, front-wheel drive / all-wheel drive
Platform	GM Theta platform/GMT193
Related	Chevrolet Equinox Pontiac Torrent Saturn Vue Opel Antara
Powertrain
Engine	3.6 liter, 252 hp (188 kW) V6
Dimensions
Wheelbase	112.4 in (2,855 mm)
Length	197.2 in (5,009 mm)
Width	72.2 in (1,834 mm)
Height	68.9 in (1,750 mm)

Introduced in November of 2006, Suzuki partnered with General Motors to build the 2007 model, now called XL7 (without the hyphen). It used the same unibody platform and many of the same components as the Chevrolet Equinox, Pontiac Torrent, Saturn Vue and Opel Antara but incorporated third row seating exclusive to the Suzuki. The second generation model used a version of the GM High Feature engine, built in Japan and shipped to CAMI Automotive in Ingersoll, Ontario, Canada, where the XL7 was assembled with the Equinox and Torrent, and also the second-generation Suzuki XL7 is Suzuki's second entry in the crossover SUV segment, after the second generation Suzuki Grand Vitara. Styling cues on the 2007 model include a chrome slotted grille and trapezoidal headlights.

The Suzuki XL7 of Nobuhiro Tajima at the 2007Pikes Peak International Hill Climb during the record breaking run

In May 2009, Suzuki halted production of the XL7 indefinitely due to low demand.^[1] Through May 10, 2009, CAMI Automotive Inc. had only produced four XL7s for Suzuki after producing more than 12,000 units the previous year. Suzuki engine designation N36A.