Suzuki Xbee: the turbo is gone, and a quieter mild hybrid takes over

Suzuki has dropped one of the previous Xbee’s defining features after a major redesign — its turbocharged engine. In place of the 1.0-liter unit rated at 99 hp with a six-speed automatic, the crossover now runs a naturally aspirated 1.2-liter three-cylinder mild hybrid paired with a CVT. Output from the gasoline side falls to 80 hp, and torque drops from 150 Nm to 108 Nm.

On paper the swap looks like a step back, and the test drive partly confirms it. Around town the Xbee no longer picks up speed with the same urgency, and after slowing down on the highway it takes longer to return to cruising speed. The CVT amplifies the sense of drawn-out acceleration, especially between 40 and 60 km/h. What the car gains instead is a calmer character.

The author of the Japanese review compared the Xbee to an old Citroen GS: not much power, but once it’s up to speed it holds pace confidently, stays quiet and doesn’t wear the driver down on an ordinary trip. That’s a subjective take, but it captures the shift in priorities well — the model is no longer built for brisk acceleration, but for comfortable everyday driving.

The front-wheel-drive Xbee is rated at 22.8 km per liter on the WLTC cycle, roughly 4.4 l/100 km. The Hybrid MZ trim starts at 2,335,300 yen (about $14,300) in Japan, with the all-wheel-drive version starting at 2,500,300 yen (about $15,400). Suzuki also added adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, blind-spot monitoring and a seven-inch digital instrument cluster.

Not every change is an improvement. The nearly vertical windshield can make it hard to spot a traffic light mounted high overhead, the light-colored tachometer face isn’t the easiest to read, and Brake Hold has to be switched back on every time the car restarts. There’s also no longer the familiar triple-blink turn signal on a light tap of the stalk.

The Xbee hasn’t become faster or more eager, but it keeps its compact footprint, roomy cabin and recognizable looks. With the new engine, it has drifted even further from the traditional small SUV formula and turned into a city car for buyers who value quiet, comfort and a bit of personality over outright power.

32CARS.RU previously reported that Suzuki plans a city electric car priced under $20,000, arriving in 2027.