The new Grand Vitara, if you look closely, stands apart from all previous Suzuki models. Its appearance hints at Mitsubishi Pajero — especially in the massive bumper and wide front wheel arches. The rear, in turn, echoes the Jeep Grand Cherokee. Despite this, the car looks solid and proportionate.
Despite its compact exterior dimensions, the SUV is quite spacious inside and comfortably seats five. The front seats pleased with developed lateral support, and the rear seat backrest can change its angle — a nice option for passengers. The trunk, however, does not impress with its volume, but folding the rear seats solves this problem.
The quality of materials in the cabin is high, but practicality suffers. For instance, the seats are upholstered in two types of fabric, and the central insert with a mesh structure is a real curse for the owner: dirt gets into it so that not every vacuum cleaner can handle it. So, perhaps it makes sense to pay extra for leather.
The door cards are trimmed with soft plastic with fabric inserts. The front panel, however, is made of a different material — it is harder and more prone to scuffs.
The instrument cluster resembles the one in the Mazda3: three silver "wells" with dials for the speedometer, tachometer, and temperature gauge. There are minimal numbers and divisions, but they are somehow hard to read — perhaps due to the massive bezels of these "wells."
Visibility, on the other hand, is a pleasure. Large glazing and well-adjusted mirrors add driver confidence. The spare wheel cover partially obscures the rear window, but it hardly affects visibility.
On the move, the car feels very nimble, which is a big plus in city traffic. Although with a 140-horsepower engine, acceleration dynamics could be livelier. The rear suspension is now independent, multi-link, instead of the previous rigid beam. The frame has been replaced by a unibody with an integrated subframe.
The short wheelbase and stiff suspension provide very sharp handling. The sculpted steering wheel is informative but transmits vibrations along with effort. The Grand Vitara confidently holds its line, doesn't wander, and doesn't sway. However, this comes at the cost of ride harshness: you drive like in a sports car — you feel every bump in your back. This chassis tuning and permanent all-wheel drive are an ideal combination for dirt roads, packed snow, or thick grass.
For serious off-roading, this Suzuki is, of course, not designed. There are too many unprotected plastic elements, and a trip into the wild could be simply dangerous. Special mention should be made of the all-wheel-drive system.
The three-door version with the less powerful 1.6-liter engine received a lighter and more compact transfer case model 4H. On our five-door car with the two-liter gasoline engine, the all-wheel drive allows finer adjustment of differential locks. In both cases, electronics simplify working with the differentials, automatically adapting to the surface type. This is achieved through sensitive reaction to wheelspin, as on slippery roads: the system dampens the difference in rotation speed between the front and rear axles. The computer also prevents too abrupt acceleration, preventing skids. When all-wheel drive is engaged, torque is distributed between the axles in a 47:53 ratio.
The design of the deformable front part of the body has been refined for better passive safety. The car has already appeared at dealers. The five-door version with a manual transmission starts at $29,300, with an automatic — $1,600 more. The three-door version is priced at a minimum of $25,300.
Pros and cons
+ Spacious cabin, excellent handling.
– Stiff suspension, poor sound insulation.
Technical specifications of Suzuki Grand Vitara
Body – 5-door wagon
Number of seats – 5
Curb weight, kg – 1580
Gross weight, kg – 2070
Dimensions, mm:
- length – 4470
- width – 1810
- height – 1695
Wheelbase, mm – 2640
Maximum speed, km/h – 175
Acceleration time to 100 km/h, s – 12.5
Fuel consumption, l/100 km:
- city cycle – 11.6
- highway – 7.6
- combined – 9.1
Fuel tank capacity, l – 66
Engine:
- type – gasoline
- displacement, cm3 – 1995
- power, hp at rpm – 103/6000
- torque, Nm at rpm – 183/4000
Transmission – manual, 5-speed
Tire size – 225/65R17
Suspension:
- front – McPherson type
- rear – independent, 5-link
Brakes:
- front – disc, ventilated
- rear – drum
Steering – power-assisted
Price, $ – from 29,300