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Ken Gratton5 Apr 2011
REVIEW

Suzuki Grand Vitara

There's simply nothing under $35,000 that will go places like Suzuki's versatile Grand Vitara

Suzuki Grand Vitara 2.4
Road Test


Price Guide (recommended price before statutory and delivery charges): $31,990
Options fitted (not included in above price): Metallic paint $475
Crash rating: Four-star (ANCAP)
Fuel: 91 RON ULP
Claimed fuel economy (L/100km): 9.9
CO2 emissions (g/km): 234
Also consider: Nissan X-TRAIL, Subaru Forester


Overall rating: 3.5/5.0
Engine/Drivetrain/Chassis: 3.5/5.0
Price, Packaging and Practicality: 4.5/5.0
Safety: 2.5/5.0
Behind the wheel: 3.5/5.0
X-factor: 4.0/5.0


About our ratings


Suzuki's Grand Vitara remains the outstanding offroader in the compact SUV segment. Drive it along a demanding track after taking the same route with any of its market rivals and you'll be immediately impressed by the ease with which the Suzuki accomplishes the task at hand.


This writer last drove the Grand Vitara two and a half years ago and nothing much has changed in the meantime. The four-speed auto transmission is still short-changed for ratios, but the steering column adjustment seems to be improved.


Powering the vehicle on test, the 2.4-litre petrol engine is a willing unit and will readily jump up into the higher rev range on kick-down. This is a symptom of the auto's lack of ratios as much as the engine's character. An extra ratio in the transmission would improve straighttline performance and help the Grand Vitara offroad as well. As it is, with just four speeds, downhill engine braking is practically non-existent offroad -- even in low range.


No wonder Suzuki is understood to have Hill Descent Control in the works for the whole Grand Vitara range later this year. The transmission is the Achilles heel of the Grand Vitara, and is the one significant qualification in any recommendation of the Suzuki.


Average fuel consumption, according to the trip computer, was 8.1L/100km initially, which seemed unusually frugal considering the mix of commuting and a little offroad driving the Grand Vitara had endured over the course of the week. After resetting the computer and driving briefly on a nearby freeway plus adding in some arterial-road commuting the next day the average had dropped even further -- to 7.4L/100km. Any doubt that the trip computer was accurate was largely dispelled by the fuel gauge, which showed the Suzuki had consumed less than half the fuel in its 66-litre tank for the week.


Steering feel in the Grand Vitara is very good by the standards of most compact SUVs, very few of them as capable offroad as the Suzuki. Steering response is also quite acceptable, although the handling offers significant levels of 'warning' understeer on the road.


Ride is not average softroader-smooth in everyday driving, but will absorb some hefty bumps off the road, without leaving occupants feeling bounced around.


The Bridgestone Dueller 225/70 R16 tyres fitted seemed to be a hard-compound tyre for longer life, but were relatively quiet on coarse-chip bitumen. At speed the chief source of noise in the Grand Vitara was the wind, followed by tyre noise. The drivetrain was inaudible at the open-road speed limit.


Off the road, the Grand Vitara is simply king of the hill among compact SUVs -- literally. A nearby track with a steep uphill section that has confounded every other compact SUV ever tried, posed no problem whatsoever for the Suzuki. There was a rutted section about 20 metres long that brought the Grand Vitara's forward momentum down to about walking pace, but the offroader just dug in a little longer and then proceeded on its merry way.


Prior to that it had pushed across a deep rut on an angle, with the right/front wheel raised... Other (compact) SUVs have also accomplished this, but few with the ease of the Grand Vitara.


Suzuki has really thought about what an offroad wagon needs to head into the bush. As examples: the doors hold open securely -- even on lateral slopes -- and don't require a lot of muscle to open them in the first place. The field of vision is excellent all around, the compact footprint allows easy passage through overgrown tracks, the tight turning circle is worth an honourable mention for those moments when the way ahead is blocked, and the ground clearance and short overhangs front and rear ensure that the Suzuki will go places few other SUVs of this size will.


From the driver's seat, the Grand Vitara is neat and orderly, but looks just a little spartan against some of its compact SUV competitors. The compensation lies in its well-conceived ergonomic design. Major instruments are easily visible through the right-sized steering wheel and all the switchgear for the final drive/traction control systems are placed handily in the base of the centre fascia, near the transmission selector.


While the interior looks much the same as we recall from 2008, the driving position seemed significantly improved in respect of the relationship to the wheel and the pedals. While the seats are trimmed in a hard-wearing fabric that will never win awards for being plush, the cushioning is both comfortable and supportive.


The Grand Vitara’s compact footprint doesn't compromise the interior room. While the rear-seat accommodation is not as roomy as in the Toyota RAV4, there is still adult-level headroom and kneeroom. Unlike the Toyota, the seats in the Suzuki seem slightly better suited to chunky western physiques.


For little tackers, the low waistline provides a good view of the scenery. There are no vents in the rear. Two fold-out cupholders in the rear of the centre console are some compensation.


The Suzuki’s aircon provides outstanding cooling, but practically to a fault. In the early evening of a 30-degree day, the air conditioning needed to be set at 24 degrees -- otherwise the airflow was simply too cold. Another virtue of the comfort and convenience features in the Suzuki is the adaptive volume of the audio system, raising and lowering volume as the ambient noise (road noise) rises with the vehicle's speed.


These creature comforts support the case that the Grand Vitara is not as utilitarian as new-car buyers often perceive. It's an excellent vehicle in so many other ways as well -- all it needs is a better transmission.


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Written byKen Gratton
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