Consumer Union magazine 1988 Samurai SJ413 stability test rigged to tip

I think most of us are aware of the Samurai SJ413 stability test in America by the Consumer Union magazine which caused sales to drop and ultimately Suzuki pulling out of America altogether.

These videos show that the SJ413 actually pasted the test with flying colours, the CU magazine rigged the tests so that the SJ tipped.

Bear with the first video it has no sound for a few seconds at the beginning.

I had a SJ410 in the early eighties. It didn't handle like a sports car! I do remember it was a lot of fun. Left hand drive from Belgium (no official UK imports then).
Chris

Yes i looked into this not long ago. Total hatchet job on suzuki, and totally malicious.

True 4x4 enthusiasts in the US know the score though, and overwhelmingly they love the suzuki brand and the sheer amount of love for the new gen 4 on every jimny video is staggering.

This was a sad period in history.

Andy2640 wrote: Yes i looked into this not long ago. Total hatchet job on suzuki, and totally malicious.
True 4x4 enthusiasts in the US know the score though, and overwhelmingly they love the suzuki brand and the sheer amount of love for the new gen 4 on every jimny video is staggering.
This was a sad period in history.

Your right Andy, It was all back in the 80's when Japanese cars were starting to take a large portion of the American home market. It looks like a stich up to try and kill them off.