Suzuki Carry

The cabin of Carry is simple but very well thought of. The automaker moved the shift lever from the floor to the dashboard to increase legroom and the full-cab layout also puts the wheelhouse behind the cabin to offer extra legroom for both the driver and the passenger.

Talking about storage? Carry has a lot of that in its cabin. It has an instrument panel upper and lower box, cup holders. It is also equipped with an Electric Power Steering and sliding driver’s seat. As for the ventilation, it features a manual air conditioning system with heater.

For the entertainment system, the Carry is equipped with an AUDIO 1DIN MP3 AND AM/FM AUDIO, antenna, speakers, USB port, and a 12V accessory socket for charging phones. Sun visors, assist grips, and cabin lights are also present in the inside of the cabin.

There is nothing so special about Suzuki Multicab/Carry’s exterior design since it always comes simple. This is very obvious through its sloping to flat front fascia with squared layout components like the windshield, large headlamps, and trapezoidal all-black front grille.

However, the bed of the truck is where all the magic happens. With a length of 2,565 mm and a width of 1,660 mm, Carry’s large-size bed makes it easy to haul long objects as well as wide ones; while with a height of 1,160 mm to the top of the cab, even tall cargo fits on the bed. It also has low bed height which is 750 mm to 1110 mm that makes it easier to load and unload cargo without straining your back. The 940 kilogram payload capacity, including the driver and the passenger, is truly impressive for a truck that is just almost half a million pesos.

Other exterior features include 22 rope hooks, an angle post that prevents the cargo from banging against the cabin, and 3-side access gates which have large handles for easier locking. 

Since this is a car that can carry a lot of loads, its suspension must be working really good. It is equipped with a heavy-duty McPherson strut for the front suspension that provides good performance while retaining toughness. The suspension frame employs a pillar structure with an L-arm to provide a high level of lateral rigidity.

As for the rear, the leaf-spring, rigid axle rear suspension is rugged enough to handle the extra-large hauling capacity and reduces vertical displacement when fully loaded. The 5-leaf-spring mechanism is placed over the axle housing to provide additional road clearance.

In addition, because of the cab’s short wheelbase layout, it has a minimum turning radius of 4.4 meters. This is ideal for getting in and out of tight work environments without having to make unnecessary 3-point turns.

Another small detail yet very important about the carry is that because of its short wheelbase and the ramp breakover angle, it offers plenty of clearance over obstacles and bumpy roads. So, less jumpy rides.

The Suzuki Carry is still powered by the same 1462cc 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol K15B engine that can churn up to 97 horsepower at 5600 and 135 Nm torque at 4400  revs per minute. As per Suzuki’s website, the 1.5-litre engine has been optimized for use on a work vehicle. Lightweight and fuel-efficient, it delivers ample output power and torque over the entire range, ideal for hauling heavy loads, while saving on fuel costs. Its mill is mated with a five-speed manual gearbox and remarkable at tougher road conditions.

The braking is handled by ventilated discs in the front and drum in the rear. There is not so much unique with the braking system of the Carry as it is not also equipped with Anti-Lock Braking System, Electronic Brakeforce Distribution, and even Brake Assist.

Among its safety features are the galvanised steel plates where the entire bed was made to avoid corrosion and rust. Also, the engine air intake is placed in a high position under the cargo bed to allow slow travel through water levels as high as 30 cm during floods. Moreover, its front bumper and headlamps are placed 353 mm higher to minimize the risk of damage when driving on rough roads.

Other standard safety features included are steering lock, immobilizer, seatbelts, front and side-impact beams.

When it comes to loading capacity and toughness, this truck is a definite winner. Given the price tag, it becomes more practical for business owners who are price conscious but at the same time are looking for a decent truck to deliver their goods. Some aspects that Suzuki can consider when they revamp this truck is probably the safety and tech features. This would definitely earn Suzuki Carry a bigger spotlight in the compact truck class.