Car reviews

Introduction

The Suzuki Grand Vitara comes with bulkier styling and improved interior than its predecessor, the Vitara. It is offered as either a four-seater three-door, or a five/seven-seater five-door estate, the latter being the more practical option. The Grand Vitara’s off-road capabilities are excellent thanks to its low-ratio gearbox and high ground clearance. It’s a pity the same can’t be said for its on-road capabilities where the ride is bouncy and uncomfortable.

Exterior & Interior

The new Suzuki Vitara is chunkier than its predecessor and comes with a much improved interior. It is sold as either a short-wheelbase three-door or a long-wheelbase five-door estate. The three-door model seats four people and the back seats are difficult to get into. The five-door Vitara can seat three children or two adults at the back as there isn’t enough leg or shoulder room for three. There is also an added option of having two extra seats installed into the boot, turning it into a seven-seater but these seats are also only adequate for children. So, a Vitara is really a car for a family with five children. The boot space in the three-door version is fairly small, but can be increased by folding the back seats. The five-door model’s boot is a lot bigger with plenty of room. There are also several storage areas scattered throughout the cabin in - door pockets, a glove compartment and cubby holes. The quality of the trim isn’t the best, looking cheap and nasty, however, all the controls on the dashboard are well laid-out and intuitive to use.

Drive

The Grand Vitara is great off the road. Due to its ground clearance and low-ratio gearbox the car is able to tackle almost anything. It’s a different story on the road where the ride is bumpy and uncomfortable; the suspension transmitting even the smallest of bumps through to the cabin. There is a serious lack of grip in the corners. The significant body roll will have you crawling around the town at a snails pace just to feel safe. The large amounts of tyre squeal that you’ll generate will tell you to back off and lift the foot off the accelerator pedal. The Grand Vitara comes across as quite a confused car, it is a practical family car, but it doesn’t like driving around town. So really its practicality is generally lost as you are unlikely to take the whole family off roading.

Faults & Repairs

The engines in the Suzuki Grand Vitara are generally reliable, however, the electrics have proven to have a few faults as was experienced in the previous generation Vitara as well. When looking at buying one, make sure to check the undercarriage, the bumpers and suspension for any off-road damage. The Vitara does need to be serviced regularly - every 6000 miles, which will add to the cost of maintenance.