Motorshow Trend – A New Definition for the SUV

We used to call them off-roaders or "wagons on stilts". We also called them all-terrain vehicles, since they deal with tarmac as well as the rough. This label was given simply because they are boxy, aesthetically not as exciting as a sleek sports car, and have high ground clearances that sometimes pose a problem when bends and corners appear. Add to the fact that they tended to be fuel-guzzlers, it was not significantly popular during its early days. However, these "wagons on stilts" became popular simply because they were spacious, and the fact that one can haul the whole family out for trips. And most importantly, they don’t look like vans or commercial vehicles.

But now, the term SUV (for Sports Utility Vehicle) has been re-defined. It’s a whole different story these days - design-wise, SUVs are now streamlined and curvier, and most of them are pleasing to the eye from every angle. In other words, SUVs of today are becoming more stylish, and everyone wants to be seen in one. This once niche market segment is now so competitive that a new model is introduced at least once in every six months. It is obvious that consumers are opening up – and why not, as being able to have a higher and better view of the road gives the driver a commanding drive.

The significant introduction of the SUV parade at the Singapore Motorshow 2006 consist of the Mazda CX-7, Honda CR-V, Nissan Qashqai, Ssangyong Actyon and Subaru Tribeca, These new SUVs are poised to make an impact in the local sales chart.

Honda, with the CR-V, will definitely give its direct competitors a good run for their money, looking at the interest it garnered at the Motorshow. Available in either 155bhp 2.0L or 170bhp 2.4L i-VTEC engine mated to a 5-speed automatic gearbox, it promises power on demand. Worth mentioning is the well-built interior that shows a mark improvement over its predecessor. SUV converts are expected to look this way.

Fans of turbocharged SUVs will surely salivate at the sight of the newly launched Mazda CX-7. From a certain angle, the CX-7 might look like a ballooned-up RX-8, and that is in no way bad at all. It inspires opinion, and if you were to partake in a conversation with a graphic designer, it will surely go on for hours. The spacious interior matches the impeccable build quality, and these two will be among the major selling point of the CX-7. And not forgetting the 2.3L turbocharged engine! Mated to a 6-speed auto box with manual selection mode, the CX-7 pumps up a potent 235 bhp. How’s that for an SUV?

Ssangyong’s new Actyon is the sort of SUV you should get if you’re a daring person who wants to stand out from the all-too-ordinary crowd. But no matter how aggressively sporty its outlook is, the Actyon is more of a metropolitan mean machine than a gymkhana charmer with the vibe it gives out – kudos to the design team. Boot space is among the biggest in its class, something that is becoming a rarity these days. Although it churns out only 150bhp, rest assure that the Mercedes-Benz derived 2.3L 16-valve engine will not run out of breath easily.

Tribeca is no African tribal group, but the new 3.0L SUV by Subaru named after that hip and fashionable district in New York City. Like that strong but quiet boy next door, it has a menacing front grill that will potentially scare off other tin boxes hogging the fastest lane of our expressways. Powered by a lightweight horizontally-opposed Boxer engine paired to a 5-speed auto box, the 250bhp Tribeca has the ability to reach the century sprint mark in only 9.7 seconds – record-breaking enough for an SUV in this class. Its strong body structure will definitely do a good job of protecting the occupants.

Yet to be officially launched, the Nissan Qashqai is a unique concept that gives a dual role in design and execution offering a mix of urban qualities with off-road toughness. If we’re talking about rules of proportions and shapes, the Qashqai seems to be doing something more conveniently right, even if the Rasheen of yesterday comes to mind. Expected to be in the same league as the Korean Tucson and Sportage, the well-equipped Qashqai should demand a slightly higher price tag when it arrives on our shores next year. News has it that the local version will come with a 2.0L 4-cylinder engine mated to a 5-speed autobox.

Credits: Azfar Hashim