Other goodies that jumped out at me included an optional automatic climate control system featuring a ventilation system

Other goodies that jumped out at me included an optional automatic climate control system featuring a ventilation system with micron air-filtration. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press)

with micron air-filtration. It's a three dial setup, or at least it looks like three dials. In reality the circular cluster of buttons at centre can hardly be rotated, but the design of all three together is attractive and all controls feel as upscale as the rest of the switchgear.

Just above this is a fully-integrated audio interface, and when I say fully-integrated I mean that the product planners didn't just take audio head "B" and stick into the centre stack, just like they do with every other C-segment vehicle in their lineup, but rather Suzuki allowed its design team to create one of the most stylish centre consoles in the business. And its not just a run-of-the-mill system either, with AM/FM/CD/MP3/WMA XM Satellite radio-ready compatibility and the aforementioned steering-wheel-mounted

A fully-integrated audio interface features AM/FM/CD/MP3/WMA XM Satellite radio-ready compatibility and steering-wheel-mounted controls in standard trim. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press)

controls in standard trim, plus the availability of an in-dash six-disc CD changer with seven speakers when moving up to JLX and JLX-Leather models.

Speaking of different versions there are four trim levels to choose from, starting with something new for 2006, the $24,495 entry-level JA model. If you've paid attention to 2005 model year pricing, you'll notice that the JA is a thousand dollars less expensive than the $25,495 needed for the previous entry-level JX, not a bad deal for budget-minded buyers. The new JX, however, retails for $26,495, a thousand more than last year's iteration. Higher up the food chain, the new JLX will run you $28,995, about $200 more than last year's JLX, while the new JLX-Leather package tops out at $29,995.