Suzuki had two options when it came to the evolution of the S-Cross, a vehicle which even Suzuki New Zealand accepted was a little challenged in the styling department. We (Kiwi consumers) liked it, but we didn’t like it as much as Suzuki thought we should.

But this time, Suzuki got it right – it’s very easy to appreciate everything Suzuki has done with the new S-Cross.
Vitara and S-Cross have the same AllGrip AWD system, and they share the same 1.4-litre BoosterJet turbocharged engine, though the S-Cross demands the more refined diet of 95 RON petrol, but this just adds to the fun factor on gravel, as I found out.

I’ll come to that shortly, but I have learned that to really appreciate excellence in SUVs, you DO have to take them out of the concrete canyons. You’ll be surprised at what they can do.

Also, although SUVs are family-focused vehicles, DO take at least one trip on your own, to enjoy the serenity of a solo drive. You’ll be surprised at what it does for your soul.  

And that explains neatly why I am writing up the JLX AWD 1.4-litre BoosterJet turbocharged, six-speed auto S-Cross – from my ‘temporary office’ at Haruru Falls just out of Paihia, in the Winterless North.

I left Auckland at 1.30 on the Friday and surprisingly, met northbound rush hour just out of Orewa – seemed everyone else had the same idea to get out of the Auckland weather.

I was working to a 5.15 arrival, but that was on the S-Cross’ inbuilt sat nav which to be fair, had no idea what stops I was going to make.

This included a snack stop at BK’s Sushi bar in Kaiwaka (it was the novelty of a sushi shop in Kaiwaka that got me – nice avocado sushi though), then one at Wai-pee (Waipu – but I was drinking a lot of water) and then rush hour big time at Whangarei, which got me to Paihia just as the sun was kissing the western horizon (romance time for seniors on the beach).
Friday night is a quiet time at Paihia main centre, which suited me fine. I passed through town and checked into my ‘digs’ – Riverside Lodge – to find I was the sole occupant of a comfortably huge YMCA-type establishment – perfect!

A massive communal kitchen and dining area, and a comfy double room with fridge, TV, most of Sky and an attached bathroom. Not exactly five-star, but for $76 a night, it was positively princely accommodation for me, myself and I.

Oh, and don’t worry about alarms, the Colonel Sanders mob will handle that for you – Riverside is home to at least three live ‘n loud quarter packs of KFC.

I decided on visiting Paihia for dinner and in deference to my ongoing bills, decided a kebab was a better choice than Zane Grey’s restaurant. Kebabalicious is on the waterfront, and you can admire the impressive neon display of the pricier restaurants over the water for free.

A few essential supplies from Countdown (closes at nine, so be careful) and it was back to the lodge to open up my new Northland office in the common room.   

The next morning (bright ‘n early, thanks to the nine-piece quarter pack outside), I was off to Russell, home to Hone Heke’s cutaway flagpole and the first capital of New Zealand – or is it?

I boarded the car ferry at Opua – tickets, $16 one way for a person and carriage – and enjoyed the ‘crikey, we’re there already trip’ across the harbour. I’m sure it took longer when I was younger…   

Exiting the ferry, and heading up towards Russell, there’s a sign on the left pointing to NZ’s ‘real’ first capital. Welcome to the little known Okiato Point, complete with a sign and everything.

Once you’ve seen it, there’s not much point in staying and besides, I was on a mission to photograph the S-Cross outside Russell’s premiere hotel.
Unfortunately, the hotel faces back to Paihia with a service lane between it and the beach, leaving the photo op location as Russell’s local, low-key boat-ramp – not great – so I went to Flagstaff.

Flagstaff gets a bit of a bum rap thanks to the temptations of cafes and food at Russell. Most will probably not bother to get to the hill itself and that’s a shame.

It’s taken me 40 mumble mumble years to get here, but what a view! Worth the boat trip for sure!

I made my way down the other side of the hill and found well, not much but some flash houses and yet another boat-ramp actually; but it proved there is more to Russell than meets the eye.

I decided to check out something I passed on the way, two Naval-type objects at the gates of Orongo Farm – a conning tower and a ship’s radar array. Hard to miss them. But Orongo Farm is also home to something of a golf course…    

After my little game, I made my way back from Opua and back towards Paihia, but at the top of the hill, I spotted a side road which I’d never ventured onto.

This being an adventure story, I checked the fuel, most of a tank – 400+ kms, as well as a 7.1 l/100km fuel reading, and decided to take the road ne’er travelled.

I came to a sign about a kilometre in, advising this was a winding road, not suitable for long vehicles or caravans (very accurate!) and then another sign suggesting caution, gravel (AWD, so I don’t care).

The S-Cross and I forged ahead to encounter said gravel – little more than my turnaround berm at home – and I continued at my 70 to 80km/h pace, wondering what I had just committed myself to.

And then I came to my third road sign – a foreign one to Aucklanders – 100km open road speed, heh heh heh – on gravel!! A challenge? Oh, most definitely!

I set my seat properly, gritted my teeth and channelled my inner Emma Gilmour (rally driver with a long association with Suzuki) – though I did leave the S-Cross’ AllGrip dial selector in Auto.

Now this may sound a little wussy, but I knew enough to not use Suzuki’s ‘’I’ll get you out of anything" ‘Lock’ mode and the Winterless North location suggested ‘Snow’ mode was just downright silly.

I suspect Auto mode was mostly in Sport over the next 30-odd kms of forest-clad, gravel ridge road at about five hundred feet above Paihia.

I only hit the magic 100km/h a couple of times, the rallying endorphins were in overdrive to the point that I couldn’t tell you what was playing through the Android Auto system, but the hills were alive with the sounds of “yeehaw!’’

This is – without any doubt – the best way to get to Paihia. If Dad is a red-blooded driver at heart, and you happen to be in an immensely agile and capable AWD SUV like a Suzuki S-Cross, this is the best Father’s Day roadie ever!

Erosion has cut some good vehicle unbalancing trenches across the camber-variable ‘dual lane’ freeway, and yes, the locals know all about this fine piece of back country highway, so a hot Suzuki with a lot of Emma and a little Prudence is the formula for fun. But oh, my Lord, it IS FUN!

This gravel paradise links Opua to State Highway 10 and – as if designed by a professional racer – slows you through a leafy glade to settle you down just before you hit the tame tarmac of SH10.

And at this point, you pause to reflect on the fun you’ve just had and that should get you thinking about being a bit more responsible on the road with other users.

Good to know Suzuki has your back, with a comprehensive range of safety features, including adaptive cruise control with stop/go, lane departure warning, blind spot monitoring, rear cross traffic alert, weaving alert, seven airbags and the expected ABS brakes, electronic stability control, hill hold control and Suzuki’s intrinsic body design.

Turn right at the intersection to take you to Puketona Junction, hook another right at the roundabout and try your luck with the café on the left if you’re of a mind. Or keep going to go through Waitangi to get to Paihia, just in time for dinner.

Choices abound, but the Pizza Shack on Marsden Road does an awesome seafood pasta and garlic pizza bread on the side. Be hungry though, servings are beyond generous!
In fact, the following day, I skipped breakfast and checked out of Riverside on a grey, foggy morning. I was heading home, from Paihia by way of Portland.
Yes, Portland. Not Portland Oregon – the S-Cross is great, but it can’t swim – Portland in the Whangarei District. I’ve driven past the turnoff to Portland more times than I can count and always wondered where it went.

Now I know. It goes to the village of Portland, home to New Zealand’s largest cement manufacturer. In the right conditions you can look down from the ridge to see a country setting right here in New Zealand that is so reminiscent of a North American mid-west settlement, it’s uncanny.

So, a five-hour local trip in a Suzuki S-Cross can take you to –seemingly – entirely new countries! I might try for Scotland next, if I can get an S-Cross somewhere near Dunedin.

That’s not a bad way to end a getaway story, highlighting as it does, the all-new Suzuki S-Cross – the SUV that’s built to travel.