Our test vehicle was outfitted with four-wheel drive, but I did not test it off-road. The clutch pedal moves smoothly and easily so does the shifter. But you need to be aware of the Sidekick’s capabilities when, say, merging into traffic on an interstate. In most instances, you will not have to alter your driving habits to conform to the vehicle’s lack of power. With only 95 horsepower available, thefive-speed does a better job of getting power to the wheels than does the optional four-speed automatic. That can make acceleration sluggish and passing slower traffic nearly impossible. I found during last year’s test drive that the optional automatic transmission drains too much power from the Sidekick’s 1.6-liter, 16-valve engine. I am convinced this is the way to go if you buy this vehicle. Our test Sidekick came outfitted with a five-speed manual transmission. And it can be a to-drive city vehicle if you get it equipped the right way. Now that that baggage has been unloaded, here is the bottom line: The Sidekick is a decent value. The Orlando Sentinel was its last stop before being retired from Suzuki’s test fleet. It had more than 3,000 miles on the odometer. The 1994 Sidekick was not a factory-fresh tester, nor was it given any special treatment. This week’s test Sidekick – though still a long way from perfect – was in far better condition than last year’s vehicle.Ĭuriously, the gas-cap door on this week’s vehicle still did not open when I pulled the release lever under the driver’s seat. In any case, after driving a 1994 Sidekick, I believe Suzuki is right. I know that the vehicles placed in an automaker’s test fleet can take tremendous abuse at the hands of overzealous auto writers. Suzuki officials said my 1993 test vehicle did not fairly reflect the Sidekick’s quality, and they wanted to know if I would give it another chance. And the gas-cap door refused to open, leaving me stranded at the gas pump with a mob of fuming motorists queued up behind me. I reported that numerous interior panels were loose. Suzuki’s public relations personnel were in a damage-control mode because the vehicle I tested and wrote about was falling apart. headquarters in California after I test-drove a 1993 Suzuki Sidekick four-door last year. I received a frantic call from Suzuki’s U.S.
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