Suzuki Grand Vitara goes suburban

THE Suzuki Grand Vitara’s dual-range transmission gives it better off-road ability than most of its compact SUV competitors, but that hasn’t stopped Suzuki releasing a limited-edition version aimed directly at city-dwellers, dubbed the Grand Vitara Urban.

Available now with extra standard equipment including alloy wheels, rear parking sensors and Bluetooth hands-free phone connectivity, the Grand Vitara Urban has a drive-away pricetag of $31,990 – $1000 more than the entry-level five-door Grand Vitara 2.4 ($30,990 plus on-road costs) upon which it is based.

Suzuki Australia general manager Tony Devers said Grand Vitara had always been recognised for its outstanding off-road credentials, but was just as comfortable in the “urban jungle”.

“Suzuki invented the compact SUV segment and we know that our customers appreciate the space and grace that can be found in every Grand Vitara model,” he said.

“The Grand Vitara Urban takes all those attributes and adds the convenience of Bluetooth and rear parking assist – features we know customers look for in a city car that combines the best of both worlds.

“Suzuki has smashed another myth with the Grand Vitara Urban proving you can have the best of both worlds at a price you can afford.”Suzuki says the Grand Vitara’s hands-free phone system, which is integrated into the vehicle’s standard sound system, allows multiple Bluetooth-enabled phones to automatically connect to the system, supports a voice activation function and can answer, initiate, disconnect, redial and place on hold phone calls via the steering wheel.