Suzuki Hustler

Crossovers are becoming hugely popular worldwide even for caravanners who are taking on a holiday. Even though they look tough on the outside, they behave like sissies because they have no off-road capabilities that large SUVs do, well some can. Crossovers like the Tiguan, the CX-5, the Forester, the Korando, the Captur, the Koleos, there are so many crossovers all over the place but why would the motoring industry keep on making those? To add to that problem, Suzuki's making a new spin on a crossover category in a form of a kei car...

2014 Suzuki Hustler

This is the first ever kei-crossover from Suzuki, the leader of fuel-efficient kei cars in Japan, and it's called the Hustler. Quite weird to call it the Hustler, eh? Does it do the hustle like the song Do The Hustle? Eh...nope. Not quite.

But first...remember the Daihatsu Terios Kid? 15 years ago, this kei car was made to go offroad but for me, it's not quite being tested for off-road enthusiasts many because it's too small and kei cars aren't made for the job. Well, you can take it on the gravel and the snow but on the rocks, that's a big no for me. Even though it's a small kei off-roader, it's still fit for the holidays. Sadly though the Daihatsu Terios Kid is gone. It was discontinued last year because of numerous theories like its age or its poor sales.

Anyway, let's move on to the Suzuki's so-called kei-crossover known as the Hustler. Does this new kei-car really remind me of the late Terios Kid?

2014 Suzuki Hustler

Well at first glance, the Hustler may have a manly name but its design wasn't quite toughie because just look at it. It feels like the Toyota FJ Cruiser has been shrunken down to bite-sized chunks and I mean look at it, there's some bits from the Daihatsu Mira Cocoa! Eh? A Suzuki wearing some of the Daihatsu's exterior parts?! Yes, really! Look at the headlamps, don't they look familiar?

Well, whatever you do, don't even laugh at this baby crossover sold only for the Japanese market but in the meantime, I'm starting to laugh now. This kei-crossover is too humorous for me! It's like manliness and girliness all wrapped up into one! Oh dear! Anyway, enough laughing for me now. I still get all in a good mood for this curiosity. Anyway, what's on the performance side?

2014 Suzuki Hustler

For a compact packaging, the Hustler's no fool to me. It still behaves like a proper kei car even though it's a crossover in its own right. If you're a daily driver, the Hustler still knows the value of fuel efficiency because it features the same 660cc engine complete with SUZUKI GREEN TECHNOLOGY in the form of ENE-CHARGE and ECO-COOL respectively. Combine these fuel-efficient technologies with the CVT and you'll get 29.2kmpl as calculated by JC08 Mode standards. All seems to be fine but is there some way to enjoy the Hustler? How about the 5-speed manual gearbox? Please note, having a kei-crossover with a manual gearbox can be a bit too corny for me especially when it comes with the turbocharged 660cc engine, again, with SUZUKI GREEN TECHNOLOGY.

A turbocharged engine mated with a 5-speed manual gearbox? Sounds fun to me but if you want a little fun with the Hustler using that configuration, try something more of a big space. How about an abandoned construction lot or a deserted warehouse? That's going to be more fun if you try to mess around with the Hustler.

2014 Suzuki Hustler interior

Aside from making a lot of trouble in deserted areas, the Hustler is still a compact made for the holidays. I know, it's still made for people spending their weekends on the beach or in the mountains or camping or whatever outdoorsmen would do. On the inside, it's still roomy and space for about four people. Not quite a family car but it's still a good car if you want to take your mates out on your day off. Depending on the color variation, the dashboard and the seat lining matches the exterior color regardless of which color you chose.

Also, you can also have an option of a smartphone-integrated sat-nav complete with a rear-view camera on it just to add conveniences while driving a Hustler.

The speedometer kinda took the idea from the girls-only Alto Lapin because why? The speedo comes with some animation in the bottom. They put this just to make it look cute for the Hustler and it has four different animations such as HELLO!!, GO!, I'm READY, and GATE. I could imagine if that little green video game machine could be in that car making some cutesy stuff but no way. This is the real world and four cutesy animation stuff on the Hustler's speedo makes me...bored and annoyed.

So, what's the verdict? It depends on what people react on the Hustler but in case you're looking for the answer to my original question above, I'm afraid that's a terrible no because even though it's made for the weekends, the new Hustler will never going to make the grade similar to the late Daihatsu Terios Kid. It maybe deceased last year but I would rather go for it rather than the Hustler because...it's a bit too cutesy for its tough image. You know what I mean? But as a daily driver's car, the Hustler is not that bad after all even though its fuel economy surpassed the normal Spacia's by about 0.2kmpl.

The Hustler maybe a bit too cutie-patootie for it's image but it's still a likable car. It still has lots of character on it and it's more affordable than any other crossovers because the base model starts at around ¥1,048,950 respectively.

Available colors: Passion Orange White 2 Tone Roof, Summer Blue Metallic White 2 Tone Roof, Candy Pink Metallic White 2 Tone Roof, Phoenix Red Pearl Black 2 Tone Roof, Pearl White Black 2 Tone Roof, Steel Silver Metallic Black 2 Tone Roof, Cool Khaki Pearl Metallic, Urban Brown Pearl Metallic, Pearl White, and Bluish Black Pearl 3.

Photo: Suzuki Motor Corporation