THE Grand Vitara uses a conventional off-road suspension design with an independent front end using MacPherson struts with coil springs and lower wishbones, and a live-axle, five-link coil-spring layout at the rear. The result is a compromise system that works well on and off-road but is not the best in class in either category. The ground clearance is good at 195mm and the wheelbase, while longer and more comfortable than two-door models, still shows some signs of fore-aft pitch.