Suzuki Grand Vitara Review

2008 Suzuki Grand Vitara Luxury SUV Shown

The Suzuki Grand Vitara is a small SUV that attempts to deliver the often mutually exclusive attributes of off-road ability and on-road comfort. In its first generation, the Grand Vitara featured a trucklike chassis, V6 power and low-range gearing. The new model has a similar powertrain but features a body structure that blends car and truck chassis designs.

Due to a variety of shortcomings, the original Grand Vitara did not achieve a great deal of success in the U.S. marketplace. The current model is greatly improved, however, and would be a good choice for a consumer interested in a comfortable and affordable compact SUV that can be used for typical daily urban purposes in addition to occasional recreational jaunts on dirt trails.

Current Suzuki Grand Vitara

The current Suzuki Grand Vitara represents the model's second generation and has been available since the 2006 model year. This compact SUV has seating for five passengers, V6 power, a long list of standard features and available four-wheel drive with low-range gearing.

There are three styles available for the Suzuki Grand Vitara: base, XSport and Luxury. Even base models are pretty well equipped with features like automatic climate control, full power accessories and side and side curtain airbags. The XSport has a few additional items including keyless startup, while the top-line Luxury has, well, luxurious upgrades like leather seating.

Like most other compact SUVs, the Grand Vitara features a carlike unibody chassis for improved body rigidity, handling and safety. Suzuki has attempted to differentiate it, however, by incorporating a ladder frame design into the unibody structure. The company says this enhances the vehicle's off-road and towing abilities.

The Suzuki Grand Vitara is equipped with a 2.7-liter V6 engine that's capable of 185 horsepower. A five-speed manual is standard on the base model, while a five-speed automatic is optional. Luxury and XSport versions have that automatic as a standard feature. A four-wheel-drive system with low-range gearing is available for all trim levels.

In editorial reviews, this Suzuki SUV has earned favorable commentary for its long list of standard features, attractive price and above-average abilities when taken off-pavement. Downsides mainly revolve around the engine, which our editors have found to be noisy and lacking in power at highway speeds and when carrying or towing large loads.

Changes have been minimal since this generation's Grand Vitara debuted. Most notably, there was a midlevel Premium trim that was available for 2006 and '07.

Past Suzuki Grand Vitara Models

The original Suzuki Grand Vitara debuted for the 1999 model year and lasted through 2005. It served as a replacement for the Sidekick, Suzuki's previous compact SUV. There was also a "regular" Vitara -- the difference between the two was that the Grand Vitara came with a V6 engine and more standard equipment and was available as a four-door body style only.

In its first year, the Grand Vitara was the only small SUV for the U.S. market equipped with a V6 engine. Upon release, this 2.5-liter V6 made 155 hp. Other distinct design elements included a trucklike chassis and low-range gearing on four-wheel-drive models. The main trim levels were either two-wheel-drive JS or four-wheel-drive JLX. There were also "plus" versions that came standard with antilock brakes and alloy wheels. In 2000, a plush Limited model was released that featured, among other luxuries, leather seating. In 2002 the V6 gained 10 more hp, and in 2003 Suzuki simplified the trim levels to be known simply as 2WD and 4WD.

Though many of its specs looked good on paper, this Grand Vitara's shortcomings quickly became apparent in editorial reviews. The V6's output lagged behind many competitors' four-cylinder engines; ride quality was poor over rough pavement; and the interior was short on comfort and space. For the most part, shoppers interested in a used SUV should look elsewhere.

SELECT A SPECIFIC SUZUKI GRAND VITARA MODEL YEAR*

* Edmunds.com maintains vehicle data as far back as 1990.