Suzuki Grand Vitara: Ready To Speed Like A Horse

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Turning all the automobile conceptions upside down, Suzuki launched the sports utility vehicle 'Grand Vitara' back in 2006. Grand Vitara is an offspring to the mother model Vitara which made sparks on the roads in 1999. While a better all-rounder, it was still riddled with two marginal engines and an outdated interior, and ever since Suzuki shoved seven seats down its throat, it's been choking. With the Grand Vitara there's no more cheaper regular Vitara, no more silly 4-cylinder engine and no more live rear axle. Grand Vitara is by all means grand with supreme performance and stylist design.

The new Grand Vitara is far sleeker than the previous one, with crisp lines that recall the latest from Land Rover. Wheelbase is up by half a foot and overall length by nearly a full foot. As a result, it's now about the same size as a Ford Escape or Jeep Liberty, and significantly larger than a Hyundai Tucson.

For the shortest drivers the manual height adjuster will render a great help. It is pretty easy to get in and out of the car. With the specially designed seats the driver will that he is clearly sitting much higher off the road than in a car.

Features

2.7 liters engine with 185 horsepower, and 184 pounds-feet of torque makes the car to speed like an angry horse. Even when the car moves at full speed the control is excellent. The height-adjustable driver's seat is comfortable and has plenty of rooms for legs and heads. The rear seat is mounted even higher than the front seats. Compared with the Vitara the wheel base is increased in the new Grand Vitara. Cargo volume is 24 cubic feet with the rear seat up, and 69 with it folded. the spare tire is mounted on the side-opening tailgate, so it does not rob interior space. Vitara comes with a styled instrument panel with satin finishes. Even the base model gets an MP3-compatible, XM-ready CD player with 4 speakers; the other three models add a 6-disc changer, two tweeters, and a subwoofer. The notes come out a bit flat, but punchy; the faceplate is organized well.

The center stack shows a perfectly-designed radio and a stylish, easy-to-use automatic climate system plus a hooded clock, temperature display, and trip computer sitting up top. The side vents are the click-twist type that's now in vogue, and there are three power outlets spread out between the dash and cargo area. Well-designed armrests, cup holders, storage spaces, seats, and friendly-pull door handles leave little to complain about. Automatic headlights are a nice standard feature.

The new Grand Vitara comes in four levels of trim. Aside from the difference in 4WD systems and the unavailability of a manual transmission on the upper two models, petty differences distinguish the trims.

The main drawback could be inconsistent material quality, with cheap gray plastic lining too many surfaces like steering wheel, dashboard, console, doors, speakers etc... and a discount-rack steering wheel. The controls on that wheel have no nighttime lighting, and too many adjacent bumps and ridges make them hard to distinguish by feel.

Grand Vitara lacked much in the way of safety equipment. Not any more. Even the base 2006 trim has six airbags and stability control standard. These features are increasingly common among compact SUVs, but are still admirable in such a low-priced vehicle.