All-new for 2007, this latest XL7 is longer, wider and more powerful than the previous model.If its look seems faintly familiar that's because it's based on the same platform as the Chevrolet Equinox and Pontiac Torrent models from GM, though it shares no sheetmetal with them.The XL7 is assembled in Canada alongside the Equinox and Torrent.The XL7's V6 engine is built in Japan, however.

As with other crossover utilities, the XL7 offers a much smoother ride on the highway than truck-based SUVs.All-wheel drive is available, improving traction and stability in foul weather and on dirt or gravel roads.With one of the most powerful engines in its class, the XL7 offers decent acceleration performance yet it delivers reasonable fuel economy.It's aided by its smooth-shifting five-speed automatic.

For 2008, Suzuki offers a new, more affordable base model; while adding a sunroof and other items to the list of standard equipment on the Luxury and Limited versions.

The base XL7 comes with a five-speed automatic transmission with Manumatic manual override.Standard features also include remote keyless entry; power windows, door locks and mirrors; tilt steering wheel; cruise control; trip computer with driver information center; auto on/off headlamps; black roof rails; 16-inch alloy wheels; privacy glass; overhead storage compartment; air conditioning with automatic climate control; and an AM/FM/CD stereo system with six speakers.

The XL7 Premium adds floor mats and 17-inch alloy wheels.Interior trim is woodgrain or satin-nickel, depending on upholstery color.More significantly, buying the Premium model allows you to choose seven-passenger seating and/or all-wheel drive.All three-row, seven-passenger XL7's feature Nivomat load-leveling rear suspension, rear cargo under floor storage, and rear air conditioning with separate controls.

The XL7 Luxury adds leather seating surfaces, power driver seat, heated front seats, and brushed aluminum-look trim on its bumper valances.For 2008, a sunroof, a six-CD changer, and leather-wrapped steering wheel with integrated audio controls are standard as well.

The XL7 Limited adds fog lamps, rear spoiler, upgraded roof racks with silver-colored rails and cross bars, auto-dimming rearview mirror, 17-inch chrome wheels, Pioneer premium AM/FM/XM/CD/MP3 audio with seven speakers (including subwoofer), touch-screen navigation, and a remote starter.(XM Satellite Radio requires a subscription.) A DVD entertainment system with wireless headphones may be substituted for the sunroof and navigation at no cost.A new rear-vision camera ($649) is also available, and exclusive to the Limited.

The only other factory option is pearl white paint ($200), which is available on all models, even the base.

Safety features that come standard on all XL7 models include driver and passenger front airbags, side-curtain airbags for all rows of passengers, anti-lock brakes (ABS) with electronic brake distribution (EBD), electronic stability control (ESP) with traction control, and a tire pressure monitoring system.

Although the XL7 has the same wheelbase as the Chevrolet Equinox and Pontiac Torrent its overall length is nearly nine inches greater.Some of this increase in length is in the front, giving the vehicle an unusually long hood line.

The rear three-quarter view of the XL7 is the most awkward angle.It has a heavy D-pillar that slopes down from the roof line, leaving a relatively small third-row side window.The one-piece rear tailgate has an exceptionally curved window that tends to accentuate the bulk of the vehicle.

The front bumper is cleverly built in to the front valence with the center portion painted black to make it appear smaller.The rear bumper is also painted black, but it appears hefty.

The XL7 is built on a platform known as Theta that was designed for use as an SUV and is sold only in North America.All the vehicles are made in Canada at a factory that is jointly owned by Suzuki and General Motors.

In five-seat configuration, the XL7 provides a decent amount of interior space in both rows of seats.Indeed Suzuki claims the leg room in the second row of seats is the most generous in the segment.

There is plenty of cargo area behind the rear seats of the five-passenger models.

Getting in and out of the rear seats is easy, an added benefit to the XL7's long wheelbase.The rear wheel well is located behind the seats, allowing for a wide door opening with no intrusion from the wheelwell.

Those who opt for the third row of seats will find there is limited cargo space behind the rear seats when they are in use.However, they split in half and can be folded down to provide a flat surface for cargo carrying.

Compared to some third-row seats offered in other midsize SUVs, the XL7's are relatively comfortable.There is actually enough depth and leg room that a person nearing six foot can sit back there for more than just a few miles.However, because of the small rear side windows it's fairly claustrophobic sitting in the far rear.As with most SUVs, however, the seating is far from being as comfortable as that found in any minivan.

Naturally, the center row of seats fold down for cargo carrying.Unusually, the front passenger seat can also be folded down providing a really long, but far from flat, surface for carrying long pieces of lumber or a ladder or surfboard or what-have-you.

The dashboard is a relatively simple affair, with an easy to see instrument pod in front of the steering wheel containing three gauge clusters.The center stack has a high mounted gearshift lever with window switches mounted alongside.The climate control knobs are well located, as are the radio controls.

A rearview camera is offered on Limited models, and it's available with or without navigation.That's because instead of integrating with the navigation screen, the Suzuki camera uses new technology to display an image on an otherwise-invisible screen on the left side of the rearview mirror.According to Suzuki, this enables drivers to back up while looking where they would naturally look: at the mirror.The thinking is that this makes it easier for the driver to monitor the mirror itself, the view through the front windshield, and the view over his or her shoulder; all of which are more difficult to see while peering down at a display screen in the center stack.When the XL7 is in Park or Drive, the rearview display disappears, and the rearview mirror looks normal.The mirror display is not nearly as effective as the large dash-mounted displays, however, and we prefer the dash-mounted variety.

The previously optional remote starter is now standard on Limited models.The system operates from nearly 200 feet away, and not only starts the engine but also the climate control system and, if the outside temperature is below 41 degrees F, turns on the driver's seat heater as well.

The XL7 shares its basic design with the Chevy Equinox and Pontiac Torrent, and its engine is derived from the 3.6-liter dual overhead cam V6 that powers the premium Equinox Sport and Torrent GXP.For reasons which are not clear to us, however, Suzuki rates its version of this engine at a more modest 252 horsepower and 243 pound-feet of torque, compared with the 264 horsepower and 250 pound-feet claimed by the two GM divisions.Still, the XL7 engine is considerably stronger than the 3.4-liter pushrod V6 that's standard in the Equinox and Torrent, which rates only 185 horsepower and 210 pound-feet.

We found performance in the XL7 to be quite adequate, at least in a straight line.The five-speed auto shifts gears smoothly but the engine is somewhat noisy.The transmission includes a manual shift feature.We found it somewhat disconcerting that the selected gear does not show up on the marking beside the gearshift lever itself.The only readout is located in the center of the instrument pod.

As we turned on to a freeway on-ramp and accelerated, we discovered the front-drive XL7 we were testing suffered from some torque steer.(Torque steer is a phenomenon that occurs on front-wheel-drive vehicles and is experienced as a gentle tug on the steering wheel under hard acceleration.)

Presumably the all-wheel-drive models do not suffer from this, though we were unable to verify this because we only managed to snag a few minutes in an AWD model while driving on a very short off-road course, which was so mild that it could be traversed in a small front-drive sedan without any problem.However, we found the ride to be very smooth over this unpaved course.The XL7 is not designed for serious off-roading.

The all-wheel-drive version is intended to provide added security while driving in adverse weather conditions.If you can afford the extra $1,600 for the AWD option, we'd recommend it as it makes the vehicle a better all-rounder.

We were pleased to find the steering felt better in the XL7 than in the Chevrolet Equinox we last drove.Upon checking the specs we discovered why: the Equinox has electrically powered rack-and-pinion steering while the XL7 gets more traditional hydraulic powered rack-and-pinion steering.Judging from our experiences with electric steering, this still seems to be a case where the old is better than the new.Our only complaint is that the turning radius is too big, which is not conducive to parking in tight parking lots.Handling is what one would expect from a large and somewhat heavy SUV: It needs respect while cornering.

NewCarTestDrive.com correspondent John Rettie test drove the Suzuki XL7 near San Diego.