Suzuki’s $8,400 Kei Van Still Has Crank Windows, But It Also Has A Manual

The Suzuki Every rarely makes headlines outside Japan, which is a shame, because it’s the kind of cheap, genuinely useful city van that most Western markets simply don’t offer. For the new model year, Suzuki has handed its popular kei van a light cosmetic and tech update, enough to keep the box on wheels current with local safety rules.

The visual changes are concentrated up front. A redesigned bumper and a thicker grille soften the base model’s plainly utilitarian face, and the Join trim adds a chrome insert above the grille for buyers who want a little more presence on the road.

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The Every Wagon is the version that bothers with appearances. Darkened headlights, a more aggressive bodykit, larger grille, sharper bumper intakes, deeper side skirts, and a roof spoiler set it apart from its plainer siblings. Alloy wheels replace the steelies, retractable side steps are on the options list, and Majestic Deep Gray Pearl Metallic joins the color palette.

Suzuki Every J Limited

The adventure-packed Every J Limited flagship trim also gets the restyled front bumper, finished here in glossy black to match the hubcaps, mirrors, pillars, door handles, and Suzuki badges that mark the special edition.

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The J Limited carries over its outdoorsy decals, exclusive paint choices, and the accessory catalog that turns the cabin into a credible base for camping trips and weekend escapes.

Digital Cluster And Improved Safety Gear

Inside, Suzuki has gone with an all-black theme that should hide stains better than lighter alternatives. The analogue dials give way to a digital instrument cluster, now standard across the range. Buyers can also option a 9-inch infotainment display with built-in navigation, a new 360-degree camera, and a heated steering wheel.

Safety equipment has been improved with the Dual Sensor Brake Support II system featuring upgraded radar and monocular camera systems. The ADAS suite also includes Adaptive Cruise Control, Active Lane-Departure Prevention, and parking sensors on both ends.

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Another hidden upgrade is the addition of a specialized damping mastic sealer between the roof panels to actively suppress booming noise and cabin vibrations. As with its predecessor, the kei van remains available in two-seater and four-seater versions with flat folding rear seats.

The cargo bay now gets standard LED lighting for night work. Suzuki says the 3,395 mm (133.7 inches) long van can swallow 40 standard Japanese beer cases, or two child seats alongside a pair of strollers. The entry-level PA trim keeps its manual crank windows, partly to hold the price down and partly because fewer moving parts means fewer things to fix across a long fleet life.

Manual, 4WD, And Turbo Options

Suzuki Every and Every Wagon

The Every rides on a mid-engined layout closely related to the recently facelifted Carry and Super Carry kei trucks. It is also mechanically identical to the Nissan Clipper Van, Mitsubishi Minicab Van, and Mazda Scrum Van, all of which received the same round of upgrades.

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Power comes from a 660cc three-cylinder, offered in two non-electrified states of tune. The naturally aspirated version produces 48 hp (36 kW / 49 PS) and pairs with either a five-speed manual or a CVT. The turbocharged unit bumps output to 63 hp (47 kW / 64 PS) and is CVT-only. Both can be had with rear-wheel drive or part-time four-wheel drive.

Suzuki also sells a fully electric version called the e-Every, but it is a different animal entirely. The EV is a rebadged Daihatsu e-Hijet Cargo and Toyota Pixis Van BEV, riding on its own platform rather than sharing bones with the combustion Every.

Pricing And Rivals

The lifestyle trims tend to hog the spotlight, but the bottom of the Every range is where the real story lives. A PA trim with rear-wheel drive and a manual gearbox opens the lineup at ¥1,343,100 ($8,400) in Japan, which is about as much van as money can reasonably buy.

Step up from there and the cheapest 4WD lists at ¥1,475,100 ($9,300), while the most affordable turbocharged variant starts at ¥1,775,400 ($11,200). The adventure-flavored J Limited turbo 4WD asks ¥2,132,900 ($13,400), and the top-spec Every Wagon PZ Turbo Special with the high-roof body crests the range at ¥2,264,900 ($14,200).

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The unrelated and fully electric Suzuki e-Every starts at ¥3,146,000 ($19,800), which is more than double the price of the base combustion model.

In its home market, the Every faces its badge-engineered siblings from Nissan, Mitsubishi, and Mazda, plus the Daihatsu Hijet Cargo and Attrai, the Toyota Pixis Van, and the Subaru Sambar Van triplets.