In Queen’s classic anthem “Another One Bites the Dust,” singer Freddie Mercury sings of an opponent’s downfall while being backed up sonically with a slamming bass line. “Another one bites the dust/dum-dum-dum/And another one’s gone/And another one’s gone/Another one bites the dust.” In this day and age, Mr. Mercury could have easily been referring to the calamitous sales decline of large SUVs in this country. And the latest victim? The Suzuki XL-7.
The Suzuki XL-7 was never a class leader among seven seat SUVs. It was, however, just that little bit more manageable in size when compared to its seven seat brethren like the Nissan Pathfinder and Toyota Highlander. Sales last year were about 27,000 but this year they are on track to fall by at least ten thousand units. Therefore the head honchos at Suzuki decided it was time to pull the plug on the unpopular SUV. Another one bites the dust, indeed.
So what can Suzuki do with its spare manufacturing capacity at its Canadian plant that built the XL-7? Suzuki already plans on focusing more on sales of its highly competent SX4 All Wheel Drive hatchback and sedan. To be honest, the SX4 with all wheel drive has pretty much all the off road capability most Americans will ever need.
What else do we recommend Suzuki do? Why not use this opportunity to tool up your extra manufacturing capacity to build an American Suzuki Swift? The Swift is essentially a half price Mini Cooper—fun to drive with style in spades. It even trumps the Mini by having a usably sized cargo compartment. Can you say Honda Fit beater? Where the Fit is all bulbous and frumpy, the Swift is taut and sexy.
Our view? In another one of Freddie Mercury’s timeless songs with “Queen” he sang of somebody finding him “Somebody to Love.” Well, Suzuki, it is about time you brought us the Suzuki Swift. In other words, it is time you brought us a “Suzuki to Love.”