Suzuki specialists managed to pull off an interesting trick: people queue up for their cars, and the vehicles fully live up to expectations. Every model of the brand attracts attention, and in our realities, SUVs are especially interesting.
True, there are skeptics who call the Grand Vitara nothing more than a "crossover," and they don't even realize how wrong that opinion is. Last year, the car underwent a facelift. The grille and front bumper changed, and the color palette became wider. But the truly important changes are hidden under the hood. The main new feature is a six-cylinder gasoline engine with a displacement of 3.2 liters, producing 233 horsepower. The engine impresses with its torque and will surely delight off-road enthusiasts. Such a power unit needs appropriate brakes, so the Grand Vitara 3.2 got disc brakes on all wheels.
Still doubting that this is a real SUV? Then take a look at the transmission. The Grand Vitara 3.2 is a rare representative of its class with permanent all-wheel drive. Moreover, it features a low-range gear and a center differential lock. And if that's not enough, there are hill descent and ascent assist systems. No finicky electronics—a classic setup for tough conditions and decent ground clearance.
Let's briefly return to the engine: its peak torque of 291 Nm is achieved at 3200 rpm. It doesn't quite reach the figures of a diesel of similar displacement, but these numbers still deserve praise.
On asphalt, the Grand Vitara with the big engine feels confident, especially pleasing is the acceleration dynamics: 9.3 seconds to 100 km/h is an excellent result for a car weighing nearly two tons. True, if you indulge in "low-altitude flights," fuel consumption may disappoint. But if you ease off and don't press the pedal to the floor, the appetite becomes quite reasonable—around 11 liters per 100 km.
Don't expect fiery handling from the Vitara: the high center of gravity hasn't gone anywhere. However, if the driver makes a mistake in a corner, the stability control system will come to the rescue, intervening smoothly and timely.
It turns out to be an amusing situation: even the owners themselves don't fully realize the potential of their cars. More and more often you hear: "I bought a Vitara for my wife, and for myself for fishing I'll get something more serious." The irony is that this "more serious" thing will almost certainly get helplessly stuck on the first bump, desperately spinning its wheels. And the Grand Vitara will calmly, with samurai dignity, glide past, gently rocking from side to side.
KNOWLEDGE CENTER
The main instruments are hidden in "wells," so on a sunny day their readings are perfectly readable. Secondary information is displayed on the screen at the bottom of the speedometer.
MADE WHERE?
The gasoline V6 3.2 is a development of the GM concern, and the Japanese got it as one of the results of close partnership with the American giant. The engine has quite decent characteristics and performs well both on the highway and off-road.
Manufacturer's data
ENGINE
3192 cm³, gasoline, V6, 233 hp at 6200 rpm, 291 Nm at 3200 rpm
TRANSMISSION
Automatic, 5 speeds, all-wheel drive
DYNAMICS
max speed — 200 km/h, acceleration 0-100 km/h — 9.3 s
DIMENSIONS (mm)
length — 4500, width — 1810, height — 1695
FUEL ECONOMY
average consumption — 10.6 l/100 km