MKFM Review – Suzuki ACROSS Plug-in Hybrid - MKFM 106.3FM

Friday, 25 June 2021 12:19

She’s driven petrol, diesel, electric, and now MKFM’s very own Jeremy Clarkson (Lia from the MK Breakfast Show) puts the Suzuki ACROSS Plug-in Hybrid to the test. Read her full review here…

When I first arrived at the new Milton Keynes Suzuki in Wolverton, I spotted the Suzuki Across on the forecourt and felt like a kid on Christmas day with a new toy to play with. It looked robust yet sporty, sleek and striking, accessible yet sophisticated and I could not wait to take it for a spin over a long weekend.

Lovely Gary from Milton Keynes Suzuki showed me the ropes, without going into too much detail about the vast features, and off I went.

My inner child immediately wanted to start playing with all the buttons on the dashboard to see what they did. With a very responsive 9-inch multimedia touchscreen, Apple CarPlay heated seats, dual climate control, quality upholstery, and heated steering wheel (very fancy) this car boasts a premium finish.

Considering the Suzuki ACROSS is a confident and capable SUV, with state-of-the-art E-Four 4-wheel drive as standard, which means genuine 4x4 performance, I was amazed at how quiet and easy to handle the vehicle was on the H&V roads of MK. With one of the longest electric-only driving ranges of any Plug-In-Hybrid, able to cover up to 46 miles on zero emission electric only power, combined power output 306 HP, teamed with a powerful 2.5-litre petrol engine producing 182HP alone, it’s no surprise Suzuki call the ACROSS ‘Your Intro to Hybrid’. During my experience the car was was averaging 199mpg, which really illustrates the benefits of a hybrid car. This car is the perfect steppingstone toward the electric vehicle revolution while providing the peace of mind on long journeys that you won’t have to stop to charge the battery and is the perfect solution for motorway driving.

Although I understand the advanced technology of the hybrid engine is what I should spend more time talking about in this review, I want to take a moment to appreciate the boot of dreams. Not only could you fit a small football team in there (please don’t try that at home) it also has a hands-free foot sensor to open the boot – see video below! Even after four days of having the car the novelty did not wear off. Perfect for a shopaholic, busy mum or technology show-off.

I also loved the advanced safety features which provided me with confidence to drive a larger car including: Pre-Collision System (collision warning & automated braking), Lane Tracing Assist including steering assist, Dynamic Radar Cruise Control, Blindspot monitor and Rear-cross-traffic alert.

Milton Keynes is the perfect place to drive electric and plug-in vehicles. MK has invested heavily into paving the way for electric motoring. It now has over 300 public charge points for drivers as well as offering free parking at most of them whilst you’re plugged in. I utilised the free charge and free parking available at the MK1 Shopping & Leisure Park. With around 70% of electric vehicle charging happening overnight at your home, government grants allow you to install a simple-to-use Homecharge very affordably. There are also government grants available to enable you to charge at work, which can make it more affordable for your workplace to get a charge point installed.

If you’re looking for a new family car or are ready to level up your driving experience and fancy a test drive of the Suzuki ACROSS Plug-in Hybrid pop into the new dealership at 300 Stratford Road, Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire, MK12 5RS, call 01908 224 234 or visit their website for more details here.