Suzuki Across long-term test: report 3

The car Suzuki Across 2.5 PHEV E-Four E-CVT Run by Will Williams, senior photographer

Why it’s here To see if plug-in hybrid power can suit someone who covers lots of miles, yet still remain as practical and appealing as a conventional large SUV

Needs to Carry all my camera gear and still have room for my family, while also lowering my running costs and functioning as a mobile office when needed

Mileage 8500 List price £45,599 Target Price £45,599 Price as tested £45,754 Test economy 64.0mpg Official economy 282.4mpg  Options selected Type 2 charging cable (£155)

3 November 2021 – Outward bound

A recent break in beautiful Herefordshire was a perfect opportunity to test the family-hauling ability of my Suzuki Across.

The SUV rose to the first challenge admirably, swallowing all our luggage and even letting me close the boot compartment cover to hide it out of sight.

Space inside the car was fairly tight with my son, my wife and our babysitter (Grandma) onboard. However, the Across proved a comfortable long-distance cruiser and we all arrived feeling fresh.

It was also practical for exploring the countryside. The large wing mirrors and good visibility made it easy for me to negotiate all those rural roads, and the accurate steering helped me preserve the car's bodywork from the many tractors we encountered while driving along the narrow lanes.

The cottage we stayed at during our family break had almost everything we wanted, including a hot tub and the village pub nearby – but it was missing an electric car charger. Luckily, there was a supermarket in nearby Hereford with free Pod Point chargers, so we could charge the Across while we shopped.

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