Suzuki Carry Pros & Cons
Pros
- Fuel-efficient and has low emissions
- Value for money
- Roomy and well-ventilated
Cons
- Engine is underpowered
- Bouncy when not loaded
- Lacking in safety and convenience features
Overview
The Suzuki Carry is a range of compact utility vans and trucks that has been in production since 1961. Now on its eleventh generation, it has been marketed under different model names in various countries. In the Philippines, the Carry has been widely used as a mini delivery truck, shuttle service, school bus, and patrol vehicle, among others. Many small business owners rely on the Carry to haul and deliver goods.
The Carry is a product of Japanese automobile manufacturer Suzuki Motor Corporation. With presence in more than 190 countries, the organization maintains a comprehensive lineup of motorized vehicles, including cars, all-terrain vehicles, motorcycles, and marine engines. It also manufactures special and industrial equipment.
Features
In the Philippines, the latest iteration of this model is called Super Carry, and it is available in three variants: Utility Van, Cargo Van, and Pick-up Truck. The Utility Van has a base price of PhP580,000, while the Cargo Van and the Pick-up truck cost PhP539,000 and PhP489,000, respectively. The Super Carry Utility Van is powered by a 0.8-liter two-cylinder DDiS turbocharged diesel engine that boasts of great fuel-efficiency. Attached to a five-speed manual transmission, it delivers up to 32 horsepower at 3,500 revolutions per minute (rpm) and 75 Nm of peak torque at 2,000 rpm.
For the brakes, it uses ventilated disc on the front and leading and training drum with LSPV at the rear. Its suspension configuration places MacPherson strut with coil spring at the front and rigid axle with leaf spring at the back.
As an entry-level utility vehicle, the Super carry does not pack additional safety nor driver-assist features.
Performance
The Super Carry is an extremely fuel-efficient vehicle, with consumption reportedly averaging up to 22 km/L. One contributor to this is the lack of an air-conditioning compressor to pull the engine down, as the vehicle does not come with air conditioning as standard. There are no dashboard cutouts for air conditioning, so most owners just open the windows for ventilation or use portable battery or USB-powered fans. Using a small Euro 4 diesel engine also means it has low emissions. With its small engine, the Super Carry is obviously underpowered. It shows decent acceleration at low speeds but not so at higher speeds.
Because of the use of rear leaf springs, the rear end of the car tend to be bouncy over rough surfaces. Steering is heavy at first but becomes more manageable once the vehicle achieves a steady speed.
All things considered, the Super Carry is a vehicle that one can confidently bring to a wide range of driving and road situations. It has good self-centering on highways, and its generous ground clearance of 175mm allows it to easily drive over road obstacles and floods. Its size and shape make it an easy car to drive in packed city streets.
Exterior
All trims have compact and narrow bodies. The Super Carry Utility Van measures 2,255mm in length, 1,545mm in width, and 1,630mm in height. The Cargo Van is much bigger as it stands 3,785mm long, 1,562mm wide, and 2,230mm tall. The Pick-up Truck variant is as wide as the Cargo Van, but is slightly longer at 3,800mm but shorter at 1,883mm. The Utility Van and Cargo Van's rear cabins have almost the same dimensions – 2,255mm in length, and 1,545mm in width. The Cargo Van is slightly taller at the rear, however, at 1,410mm, while the Utility Van measures 1,249mm in height.
The Utility Van is designed to carry both people and cargo. As such, it has a 70/30 split rear door so that it is easier to load cargo as well as passengers. The Cargo Van, on the other hand, features a 50/50 split full swing rear door. Aesthetically speaking, exterior styling of the all trims is plain and straightforward. This vehicle was obviously designed with function over form as mantra.
Interior
The interior of the main cabin is the same across all trims, and it mirrors the simplistic styling of the exterior. Apart from a plain-looking instrument cluster, there was nothing else on the dashboard except for a long, rectangular upper tray, 12V accessor socket, and a few pockets to hold loose things. There is a space provided at the center should the car owner decide to add an infotainment display.
The main cabin accommodates up to two occupants. There is ample leg room for both driver and passenger so they that they stay comfortable during long rides. The driver's seat may be slid and adjusted according to his/her preference. It has good ventilation. The windows are made of thick glass fiber heat shields to keep temperatures inside manageable.
The Utility Van's second cabin can take in up to 10 more passengers. Seat rows are side-facing and may be split and folded 50/50 on both sides to provide more space for cargo if needed. Four glass windows that slide to open and close provide adequate ventilation and lighting on both sides. The rear door also has two smaller windows.
