Suzuki Across review

Drivers of all shapes and sizes are well catered for in terms of head and leg room, and there’s full electric seat adjustment with a memory recall function, as well as adjustable lumbar support to help with back comfort on longer journeys. The large centre armrest is also a real boon.

The driving position is typical SUV, and is set high up to give you a commanding view over the road ahead, this being helped by windscreen pillars that aren’t so thick that your vision is badly affected at roundabouts. The rear screen is wide and deep, too, but while the rearmost side windows give you a clue towards what’s over your shoulders, there’s still a thick rear pillar on each side of the rear screen that obscures potential hazards when reversing. Fortunately, the Across comes with enough aids to ease the task of parking in tight spots; front and rear parking sensors are standard, as is a rear-view camera. Another welcome feature is the Across’ bright LED headlights. 

Most of the materials on the upper surfaces look smart and feel relatively plush. As such, the Across feels more upmarket inside than the rival Honda CR-V, which is tarnished by a greater amount of hard, shiny plastic and obviously fake wood trims. The chunky switches on the dashboard have a slick action, and the rubberised finish of the air conditioning controls add to the car’s rugged SUV appeal. If you’re searching for the visually spectacular, though, the plug-in hybrid Peugeot 3008’s striking interior makes the Across’ appear a mite staid. The Mazda CX-5 is also classier inside and feels more solid, too, as does the Land Rover Discovery Sport.