LET THE showdown begin: Suzuki APV, Toyota Avanza 1.3, Avanza 1.5 and the Chevrolet Spin
(First in a series)
NO BAD ANGLE Chevrolet Spin clearly wins in the looks department as evidenced by its rear and front stance.
Their unique selling proposition is that they’re multipurpose, and their buyers know how “multi” this can be—from cramming in as many as nine warm bodies to squeezing in the biggest of those appliances or balikbayan boxes. MPV may stand for multipurpose vehicle or multipassenger vehicle, but they might as well be called multipurpose versatility.
The recent arrival of the Chevrolet Spin, however, adds the element of stylish looks into that mix. The attractive seven-seater small MPV from a brand with over 100 years of heritage and expertise in building motor vehicles even makes a go of it in the price department, falling squarely in the competitive P500,000-P900,000 ranges.
BOXY like a chest freezer, the Suzuki APV manual transmission is still fun to drive.
The sporty-looking Spin already looks like a small sport utility vehicle, cloaking its MPV-at-heart functionality. The dual-port front grille, and muscular and imposing lines give it a modern presence, while its stance and proportions, helped by a high belt-line and impressive side-lines, provide a commanding presence. The LTZ variants even come with standard roof rails, front/rear fog lamps and 15-inch alloy wheels.
The Spin also happens to be the most affordable family hauler in the Chevrolet lineup. The Covenant Car Company Inc. (TCCCI) seems to have hit a bull’s-eye here as far as its promise to price vehicles as close to the working class as possible. And that’s just as well, since the Chevy gold bow tie badge has also stood for the working class. The book “American Cars” even reprinted a 1939 colored ad with the copy: “You can’t equal Chevrolet performance at anything like Chevrolet’s low prices” and “out-accelerates any other low-priced car at street corner after street corner.”
THE MOST affordable Avanza is priced at P639,000.
The Spin boasts of a first-in-class diesel turbo engine and a six-speed automatic transmission with manual mode option for the gasoline variant.
The Spin also inspired Inquirer Motoring to range it against its popular competitors in an actual short spin (pun intended) in heavy traffic and in a highway run one busy workday afternoon earlier this month.
The Spin 1.5 Ecotec gasoline variant (with 6-speed A/T) was used, along with two Toyota Avanzas—a 1.3-liter and 1.5-liter AT—and an Inquirer-owned Suzuki APV 1.6-liter MT variant.
The ‘inside’ story
AVANZA 1.3 may have taken longer to reach highway speeds, but it was the most fuel efficient during the highway run.
The Chevy Spin offered the most stylish looking interiors and the best laid out dashboard console featuring Chevrolet’s signature dual-cockpit layout, accentuated by a two-tone instrument panel that makes for a premium feel. The instrument cluster housing a digital speedometer flanked by an analog tachometer added a touch of sportiness to the controls.
It offers Bluetooth connectivity and music device compatibility (for hands-free calls and wireless audio playlist shuffling). There are individual ventilation systems for the second- and third-row seats, and 32 storage areas for cups, folders, water bottles and small items.
THE AVANZA 1.5 has the best engine response versus the Avanza 1.3 and the Spin.
Still, there were some unconventional button controls (if you’re used to ultra-efficient Japanese control layouts) such as the headlight switch, door central locks as well as the four door locks (which, in the Spin’s case, involves the actual pushing and pulling of the inside door handle to lock and unlock, respectively). The driver’s ride height could be adjusted for a more commanding view of the road, but it means also adjusting the leg height. Raised high enough, it would make for an uncomfortable seating experience for short-legged drivers. The adjustment for the side view mirrors is on the “A” pillar on the left. And to ensure that you turn off your engines during fill-ups, the car key is required to open the fuel cap.
Though it looks like a toaster, or maybe a chest freezer, on wheels, the Suzuki APV provides the best driving height for an MPV. Having more of a van-type configuration, the engine of the APV lies directly beneath the driver seat. The radiator located on a separate space under the hood is innovative. We think that the Suzuki engineers really intended to place the radiator in front—separate from the rest of the engine—to avoid overheating, apart from the convenience of putting cooling fluids in an easy-to-access radiator.
AVANZA 1.5, like other Toyota vehicles, has 3-year warranty or 100,000 km, whichever comes first.
The Spin’s interior also tops in the noise insulation department, and there is noticeably less vibration and ride harshness compared to the APV and the Avanzas.
The driver seating height offered by the two Avanza units fits this author well. The controls are user-friendly that there should be no initial “control confusion” for a first-time Avanza user. Strangely, though, both Avanzas did not offer external power jacks (where the cigarette lighter used to be).
The barest of dashboard essentials belongs to the Suzuki APV, including its onboard entertainment amenities. In terms of interior space, though, the APV offers the most generous amounts. Again, the van-type configuration gives the APV the space advantage.
Curiously, the tire wrench of the Suzuki APV can be found underneath the hood, directly above the radiator and front engine bay. The Inquirer driver felt this wasn’t such a safe location, so he prudently removed it from its holder and moved it to a more secure location inside the van. Overall, the APV is a well-thought-out van. And coming from an automotive company specializing in small motorized transport, the APV is in its element when it comes to fuel-efficiency and practicality.
APV provides the best driving height among MPVs.
The Spin provides the best well-cushioned and most comfortable seat material compared to the APV and the Avanza. None of the four used leather seats, so the tropical heat doesn’t accumulate in the seats.
Row 3 space analysis
In our opinion, the last passenger row of an MPV, the third row, should be a major purchasing consideration. In this light, we employed the services of our 6-foot photographer to gauge the roominess of the third-row seats.
After the squirming and squeezing to all the third-row seats of the four MPVs, it was determined that the Suzuki APV offered the most spacious third row. Our photog’s head and knees did not make contact with the vehicle’s ceiling and second-row backrests, respectively.
In the third-row seats of the two Avanzas, our photog’s knees came in contact with the second row backrests. It was an even tighter fit with the third-row seats of the Spin, as the photog’s knees made quite a deep impression on the second-row backrests, forcing them to be inclined forward. Our conclusion was that the Spin offered adult seating just for five, while the two extra seats at the rear would really be fit for kids.
Behind the wheel
Driving the Spin felt like a padre de familia driving the brood to a picnic. It felt the most solid and stable to drive among all four. But it would be more of a Sunday drive—sluggish during stop-and-go traffic. During highway runs, however, the Spin accelerates fairly well and holds out its own at cruising speeds.
Among the three MPVs with automatic transmission, the Avanza 1.5 brought about the best engine response. The Avanza 1.3 had some difficulty reaching highway cruising speeds (90 kilometers per hour and above). The engine noise at 3,000 revolutions per minute can be quite stressful for the driver.
The APV’s manual tranny performance more than made up for its boxy looks. The fun-to-drive factor brought on by the 1.6-liter MT and its short-row transmission could be enough for us to forget, albeit for a while, that we were crawling in 5-kph traffic. Despite this unit’s rather deep-set clutch pedal (some minor adjustments might fix that), we loved the way that it seemed to relish the first or second gear starting jumps, making the driver feel for a split second that he or she wasn’t in a mini-MPV, but in a Swift (!).
Thirstiest of them all
For the rough fuel consumption test, the MPVs’ tires were inflated to a uniform 35 pounds per square inch. The four drivers changed vehicles in definite intervals to minimize variables in drivers’ styles. For both city and highway runs, we relied on the automatic “stop fill-up” of the pumps to determine the quantity of fuel consumed.
For the city drive (which included idling times), the Suzuki APV yielded the most fuel-efficient consumption at 14.82 kilometers per liter, followed by the Spin at 6.40 kpl; Avanza 1.5 at 5.16 kpl and Avanza 1.3 at 4.70 kpl.
During the highway run, the Avanza 1.3 yielded the most fuel-efficient consumption at 14.77 kpl, followed by the APV at 7.22 kpl, the Spin at 6.70 kpl and the Avanza 1.5 at 6.42 kpl.
Prices, warranties
The prices of Avanza, which is offered in three 1.3-liter variants and two 1.5-liter variants (manual and automatic transmissions), range from P639,000 to P877,000.
Toyota offers a 3-year warranty or 100,000 kilometers whichever comes first. It has 41 dealerships nationwide.
SIX-FOOTER legroom rear test: The APV (bottom left) wins in this department versus Spin (top left), and Avanza (right). Photos by Eugene Araneta
The Suzuki APV 1.6-liter offers the following SRPs: Type 1 (1.6-liter manual with single aircon and power steering) at P565,000; Type 2 (1.6-liter with manual and automatic, captain’s seats, dual aircon and antilock brake system), from P745,000 to P820,000.
Suzuki offers a 3-year warranty or 100,000 km, whichever comes first. Suzuki has 28 dealerships nationwide.
The Spin variants’ prices range from P838,000 (for the 1.3-liter turbo diesel LS and 1.5-liter LTZ gas engine) to P908,000 (1.3-liter turbo diesel LTZ).
The Spin is covered by a 5-year warranty and 3-year free 24/7 roadside assistance. Chevrolet has 19 dealerships nationwide.
(Next week: The costs of owning these MPVs)
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