Back on the gas and on to the finer details of the delivery. The Suzuki is fuel injected but the response isn't 100 percent perfect, and it can lag just a bit on pickup with a hard hit of throttle. But the delivery in sporty situations is almost enough to loft the front end, it just takes some added body English or a well-timed bump. The automatic V-belt transmission is basically seamless in putting the power down, and you don't think about it one bit. On deceleration, Suzuki has the best feel of any automatic transmission, applying just the right amount of engine-braking for controlled slowing or to set up a slide. It is never erratic, does not let free and never does anything unpredictable. It makes letting off the gas fun (did we actually say that?).
The suspension-with 6.7 inches up front and 7.7 inches in the rear-is plenty for any work and keeps the ride fun for play. There is enough stiffness to keep the King up in the stroke and ready for a bigger hit, and also allows you to get a feel for the ground underneath. It is not mushy and can feel a little stiff to some. When taxed it can handle some abuse, but you have to take care; this isn't a sport quad by any stretch of the imagination. But in being independently suspended in the rear it can keep a smooth line on off-camber bumps. Additionally, the stiffness lets this quad keep its composure in the turns with minimal sway.
+ Packs a power steering...
+ Packs a power steering punch that helps the total package work like never before.
- Fuel injection mapping could be better, especially at the price.
= This Suzuki would make anyone who owned one happy, especially if you work and play with it.
Throw her in low range, lock the differential in four-wheel-drive and you can crawl in about any direction that isn't defying the laws of gravity. Throttle control and the ability of the transmission to deliver the power smoothly is a strong point. It is easy to move all over the King to keep traction and from flipping or tipping, but the quad is on the tall side. Tough in some sideways situations but it is good from a ground clearance perspective. And the power steering will not help when you lock the wheels into boulders or pinch the front down against a tree. After all, it is not advertised as a jackhammer! When you do get into a spot, remember there is plenty of power in the motor to get you out, just take notes on how you got there.
Overall comfort is pretty high as all the controls are just where they need to be. The bar is a little higher than in the past resulting from the additional power steering components that ride high on the steering tube. The additional weight it adds is claimed to be 13 pounds, but Suzuki dropped that weight by lightening up some other pieces and by eliminating the recoil starter. The claimed weight, ready to ride, is 672 pounds. The brakes are strong, and lever effort is progressive to the stopping power. The seat is padded just right, and it seems to do a lot of work that the suspension isn't, a great match for sure. The front and rear racks are sturdy and minimalist enough to keep out of the way while still having the cargo capacity when needed. They even have a waterproof fender compartment with close to three liters of capacity. And speaking of capacity, the King hides 4.6 gallons of fuel in a low-slung gas tank, so the nearly 30 pounds of fuel has a lot less effect on the quad's handling.
Coming from a family line that took work seriously and found its niche in recreation, the KingQuad has a place in a lot of riders' hearts. For sure the $8699 price tag is a big hurdle, but you're getting just about every feature found on 4x4 trucks on these quads now. For sure the addition of power steering just furthers this Suzuki's purpose as a great all-around machine.