SHORE

HEWS AJ

oe
ar

SPORTING a restyled nose, the subcompact Suzuki Esteem Wagon is now avail-
able with an optional 122-horsepower 1.8-litre four-cylinder DOHC engine. As
before, the Esteem Wagon combines the versatility of a roomy cargo area with a
fun-to-drive character and excellent fuel economy. Test drive the Esteem Wagon

at North Vancouver Suzuki, 1695 Marine Drive, N.V.

WHILE the Suzuki
Swift and Suzuki
Vitara/Grand Vitara
(formerly Sidekick) are
familiar to Canadian
car-buyers, the Esteem
is a relatively unknown
automobile,
This may have something to
do with the fact that tie
Canadian-built Swift and Vitara are also sold as the

Chevrolet Metro/Pontiac Firefly and the Chevrotet Tracker,
while the Japanese-builr Esteem is soid only at Suzuki deal-

ives Suzuki

Larger than the Swift, but smaller than say, a Honda
Civic, the Esteem sedan has a fi fticient 1.6-Htre four-
cylinder SOHC engine; a fully independent suspension that
provides nimble, fun-to-drive handling; and a comfortable
modern interior that seats four, maybe tive passengers.

Esteem Waygo ave a standard 1.6-litre engine and a
new, optional 1.8-litre four-cylinder DOHC engine with
28% more horsepower,

Both were given a rounder, restyled nose and larger,
brighter headlamps in 1999.

Suggested retail prices for 1999 Esteem sedans range
trom $13,995 to $17,995 while Esteem Wagons range from
$14,695 to $19,695.

Competitors for the Esteem include the Ford Escort
Wagon SE ($16,395, to be discontinued in 2000), Saturn
SWI and SW2 Wagons ($15,493-$18,765); Hyundai Elantra

TOMOTIVE

wagon a ha

Wagon (815,595-S18,845), Daewoo N
($16,995-S18,995), and the new 2000
(price yer to be determined). All of these wagons, except the
Escort, are larger than the Esteem, but are usually priced

Friday, September 17, 1999 — North Shore News ~ 41

GUIDE

st

ra Wagon
ord Focus Wagon

higher when optional equipment is added.
ésteem Wagons are available in two trim levels: GL and
My fully-loaded test vehicle, a GLX with the larger
1.8-litre engine was priced close to $20,000, but well -
equipped GL wagons usually run between $26,000 and
$18,000
trong points are a roomy cargo
cl efficient engines, nimble handling, ”
and ease of driving in the city.
Its weak points are comparatively minor: no tilt steering