Suzuki Samurai
A riddle--what vehicle was dirt cheap, mechanically simple, had a 60-horsepower 4-cylinder engine, and is world-renown for its off-road performance?
The answer: The original World War II-era Jeep ... and the Suzuki Samurai.
The Suzuki Samurai was, at least on paper, the perfect off-road vehicle for its time in the 1980s. The closest thing to competition it had was the Jeep Wrangler, which was significantly more expensive and significantly less fuel -efficient. Its low price point and comparatively frugal fuel consumption led to initially high sales, with more than 47,000 sold in its first year. The Samurai seemed destined to do to the American SUV market what the Toyota Hi-Lux did to the American pickup market.
Sadly, unlike the original Jeep, the Samurai was built during the beginnings of the 24-hour news cycle and hyperlitigation that we've come to enjoy today. Consequently, in 1988, when Consumers Union, the company behind Consumer Reports magazine, declared that the Samurai "rolls over too easily" and rated it "not acceptable," the Samurai's fate was sealed in the same sorry, hype-filled dustbin occupied by the likes of the Audi 5000CS. Sales dropped like a stone, Suzuki sued for damages, and the rest is history.
When addressing the Suzuki Samurai, it is key to remember what it was and, equally importantly, what it was not. The Suzuki Samurai was, first and foremost, a pure SUV. It was designed to do one thing--go off-road--and it did that very well. Dimensionally, it was nearly identical to a World War II military issue Jeep; the Samurai was only four inches longer, an inch and a half narrower, and had a virtually identical wheelbase. Consequently, it possessed many of the same advantages that the original Jeep possessed off-road--it was light enough to not sink in the mud, and it was short enough to not get easily high-centered.
Equally importantly, just like the original Jeep, it was cheap enough and easy enough to fix that you could bounce around and break it with a good conscience. This earned the Samurai a well-deserved reputation as an exceptional off-road warrior. To illustrate that point, the world record for highest altitude achieved by a four-wheeled vehicle was once set by a Jeep--it was then subsequently broken by a Samurai.
That said, while the Samurai shared many of the strengths of the
original Jeep, it also shared many of its weaknesses. Thanks to its
rock-hard suspension, the Samurai was an extremely rough ride on
pavement. The 1.3-liter engine, though fuel-efficient compared to its
competition, was also extremely anemic; getting a Samurai up to 65 mph
took almost Monza Wagon-like
patience and guts. In exchange for proper ground clearance, the Samurai
was exceptionally top heavy, which gave it that world-infamous handling
in tight, sudden turns.
Ultimately, the Samurai became the Don Quixote of SUVs, serving as the last true, inexpensive, purpose-built SUV in a time when monsters had already been vanquished and a new age of reason was dawning. Even as an anachronism, though, it was an especially useful one, climbing windmills and rescuing fair mud-bogging maidens like none other. Its like shall be forever missed.
Both of the Samurai pictures came from Flickr user ilb17's impressive collection.
--David Colborne
Wayne B on June 28, 2011 at 04:07 PM
I adore my almost stock 1988.5 Suzuki Samurai. One of my favorite pastimes is driving it on tight twisty mountain roads, on my way to off-road it. It handles great in my opinion, as long as you keep it slow and smooth. It is also our trip-vehicle of choice.
The Samurai actually handled better and was less top-heavy than most other vehicles in its class. Consumer Report's professional test driver commented on its great handling before a non-test driver editor hopped in and intentionally tried to roll it, but never got beyond barely lifting it onto two wheels.
Other vehicles, most notably the Bronco II, were more top-heavy and tipped more readily, but those were not called out by a Consumer Reports that had gone gunning for an upstart importer.
http://www.aim.org/aim-report/aim-report-a-black-eye-for-consumer-reports/
ben on August 06, 2011 at 05:24 AM
want to buy a suzuki samurai very urgent
Andrew on August 13, 2011 at 04:55 PM
I have an 87 samurai and it is the most amazing car ever built. Aside from the jarring ride and the lack of power I love everything about it. I am about to sell my 5.0 I have in the garage (it's been there since I've gotten the samurai) so I can buy another samurai. I wish we had the ability to buy a new one in the states. I spent some time in Europe and they are everywhere over there. Not to mention you can get a diesel that gets 40mpg easy. Hear me Suzuki, bring the samurai back to the states!
Andrew on January 25, 2012 at 06:51 PM
I have an 87 Samurai. It is the most extraordinary vehicle I've ever owned. I love it. I want more! I live in the city and my old carbureted truck gets between 20 and 25mpg and it fits anywhere. You can drive them down the sidewalk! Besides the use I get out of it, the reliability and ease of maintenance, the fun it is to drive and how cute it is there is something else about it that makes it special. It's a classic. Like the BMW E30 (had two) or the corvette (someday) or even a super car like a Lamborghini or Ferrari the Samurai is special. Probably more so in the US because the rest of the world still has them in production. Suzuki, bring us the Samurai. I think if the Samurai/Jimny/Sierra was reintroduced in the US market it would do well. Also, the CR report was dead wrong. I've taken pretty hairy corners at a pretty high rate of speed in my Samurai. Not once did it lose footing (when it was dry, I've slid in the rain a few times but you just let off the gas and everything is fine). At this point I'm thinking about purchasing my next Samurai and putting a VW diesel in my current one. I've even been in an accident in it. My first accident ever, and it held up great. Nothing puts a hurting on a crumple zone like a ladder frame chassis truck. Voltron roller skate. That's why we all need two.