Suzuki Across plug-in hybrid interior, dashboard & comfort
The shapes and materials won’t win awards but their construction might, and the Suzuki Across is well equipped. Infotainment lags the best in class, though
Suzukis further down the range can feel a little cheap inside, but that’s not the case in the Toyota-based Across. You couldn’t call it a particularly luxurious environment – some other brands have the edge when it comes to the feel of their materials and innovative design – but it’s certainly a functional one.
Like Toyotas since time immemorial, it feels like it has been constructed to last; rattles and squeaks are conspicuous by their absence. It’s comfortable, too, with good adjustment for the driver and plenty of space for all the passengers, while the hybrid drivetrain’s relatively low noise (particularly when running in electric mode) makes this a pretty quiet environment as well.
Suzuki Across plug-in hybrid dashboard
No surprises here – the driving environment in the Across is basically identical to that of the RAV4, short of the badge in the centre of the steering wheel. That’s no bad thing, however, as while there’s not a great deal of design flair to be found, it’s as well built and logical as can be.
The steering wheel is pleasingly chunky, as are the controls for the heating, and while the infotainment display looks even more incongruously perched than such units usually do, its high position puts it within easy reach. The instruments are clear also, with the usual Toyota swinging energy dial and distinctive blue needles in evidence.
Equipment, options & accessories
There's no choice of trim levels for the Suzuki, with every car getting a generous standard spec level that encompasses heated leather seats, a leather steering wheel, LED headlights and adaptive cruise control, plus a plethora of active and passive safety technology to keep you on the straight and narrow.
An update in April 2022 saw the normal USB ports switched for more modern USB-C connectors, while at the same time, Suzuki switched all of the interior lighting to LEDs.
Infotainment, apps & sat nav
Toyota has recently dropped its longstanding resistance to adding Android Auto and Apple CarPlay smartphone connectivity to its in-car infotainment systems, and this has carried over to the Suzuki Across, which features a nice nine-inch dashboard screen for controlling most major features. Like the Toyota equivalent, though, it’s far from being the most intuitive such system to use, with a clunky interface.
