Suzuki XBEE (2026MY Minor Change)

First launched eight years ago, the Suzuki XBEE (rhymes with Crosley) compact crossover has received a major facelift for the 2026 Model Year, keeping this baby crossover fresh for more adventures.

2026 Suzuki XBEE

Starting at 2,212,100 Yen plus additional costs, the massive update on the Suzuki XBEE is all about reintroducing Suzuki's compact crossover with a different approach. Although it's still the XBEE Japanese motorists are familiarized with, the facelift features a revamped front face and revamped taillights. 

2026 Suzuki XBEE interior

The interior has been significantly updated with leather-like panels and a two-tiered center console for a compact car feel. The redesigned instrument panel and door trim enhance the SUV's quality while promoting a spacious layout. Additionally, the HYBRID MZ upgrade package includes water-repellent fabric seats, a unique color scheme, a head-up display, and LED room lamps.

2026 Suzuki XBEE

The pre-facelift's 1.0L engine was replaced by the same 80PS Z12E three-cylinder 1.2L DOHC engine from today's Swift, connected by the new WA06D electric motor. Now mated to a CVT gearbox, which is a disappointment for anyone who misses the fun of the pre-facelift model, fuel economy is now 22.8 km/L for FF models.

FF models now feature similar stuff from the 4WD models, such as sport mode, snow mode, grip control, and hill descent control, along with active cornering support to minimize sag. Damping adhesives enhance ride comfort, handling stability, and quietness.

The new XBEE features advanced safety capabilities, including millimeter-wave radar and a monocular camera, to detect vehicles and pedestrians. It features the Dual Sensor Brake Support II for collision mitigation, adaptive cruise control with full-speed tracking, lane keeping assist, and lane departure prevention. Additional features include active cornering support, a blind spot monitor, and a 7-inch color meter display, a first for Suzuki in Japan.

The major facelift for the 8-year-old Suzuki baby crossover, the XBEE, may have sacrificed some of its fun-to-drive charms in the name of fuel efficiency, but in the end, it never lost its common sense as a user-friendly compact crossover that deserves to be driven daily.

Available Colors Mystic Blue Metallic Black Tough 2-tone, Pure White Pearl Black Tough 2-tone, Burning Red Pearl Metallic Black Tough 2-tone, Caravan Ivory Pearl Metallic Black Tough 2-tone, Mystic Blue Metallic White 2-tone Roof, Caravan Ivory Pearl Metallic White 2-tone Roof, Tough Khaki Pearl Metallic White 2-tone Roof, Cool Yellow Metallic Gun Metallic 2-tone Roof, Frontier Blue Pearl Metallic Black 2-tone Roof, Pure White Pearl, Super Black Pearl, Mellow Deep Red Pearl, and Tough Khaki Pearl Metallic.

Photo: Suzuki Motor Corporation

Suzuki XBEE

With the crossover market continuing to expand through astronomical heights, seems that a small Japanese car company like Suzuki isn't lagging behind when it comes to following today's motoring trends. Sure, they have crossovers like the Escudo, the SX4 S-Cross, the Ignis, and the kei-crossover known as the Hustler. Now, looks like Suzuki added another one to their crossover portfolio and this one's somewhat interesting.

2018 Suzuki XBEE

2018 Suzuki XBEE

Yes, this is Suzuki's Christmas present to the motoring public, it's a new crossover compact car and it's called the XBEE (pronounced cross bee). If the XBEE looks somewhat familiar to you, consider this; it's somewhat a mashup between the Hustler on the front and the Ssangyong Tivoli Air on the back, making this a crossover that is too hard to describe what's what.

2018 Suzuki XBEE interior

2018 Suzuki XBEE interior

On the inside, the XBEE is nothing beyond ordinary except for the cylindrical dashboard that looks like it came from either a Mini or a Mustang but whatever, questionable dashboard aside, the interior's pretty rugged indeed for the adventurous of few and customers can choose one of three accents on their waterproof seats such as yellow, orange, and ivory. With the waterproof seats which are as smooth as a crocodile's skin, it has decent space on the back that fits through all kinds of situations. You can fit from 525 to 1,305mm of boot space depending on the seat variation, which is very ample for a compact crossover of this size.

2018 Suzuki XBEE

The XBEE may be a little crossover but the little K10C 1.0L petrol engine has some zest to this nippy little rascal. The engine may be from the Baleno and so is its 6-speed automatic transmission but it's been given an Integrated Starter Generator linked to a Li-ion battery capable of reaching 22kmpl of fuel efficiency based on JC08 Mode standards and it's not just the nippy little engine and its fuel efficiency measure that benefits the XBEE, it's the HEARTECT platform that promises a lighter and more rigid ride very decent by Suzuki crossover standards.

For 4WD variants, the XBEE comes with four driving modes such as SPORT, SNOW, GRIP CONTROL, and HILL DESCENT, something akin to Suzuki's Euro imports such as the Escudo and the SX4 S-CROSS.

The XBEE is also the next to incorporate the SUZUKI SAFETY SUPPORT first introduced on the recently launched Spacia. It comes with a Lane Departure Warning, Driver Detection, High Beam Assist, Road Sign Recognition, and an advance car departure notice function. omnidirectional monitoring camera that can detect both sides of the car and an around view monitor, Emergency Stop Signal, Hill Hold Control, Dual Sensor Brake Support, False Start Suppression Control, backward erroneous start suppression function, and ultrasonic sensors in the rear bumper to detect obstacles behind the vehicle.

Price? The XBEE starts at 1,765,800 Japanese Yen, which is more expensive than the Ignis and the Hustler but more affordable than the Escudo, making it a bargain boomer in its own right, especially when it wants to make some negotiations with rivals such as the Honda Vezel and the Toyota C-HR. Sure, the XBEE may be the big brother of the Hustler but it can do some good things a compact car can do in its free time. Whether you can drive this one at work or in the middle of your day off, every day is an adventure for the XBEE. Man, I hope that sums it all up about the XBEE. Better wrap it up before some Third World gooks sniff their way on this latest Suzuki crossover.

Photo: Suzuki Motor Corporation