Super TestCar reviews - Suzuki - Grand Vitara - rangeSuzuki modelsOverviewSuzuki's chunky new Grand Vitara delivers a stirring drive and keen pricing31 Aug 2005 IT started with a trickle and now, excuse the pun, it’s a swiftly flowing stream. Suzuki’s Swift is leading a renaissance at the small Japanese car-maker. The company is selling more than 600 a month and the diminutive Mini Cooper-esque small hatch has met with rave reviews. Now it’s the Grand Vitara’s turn. Using a similar interior design theme to the Swift – easily legible instruments, nice chrome highlights and quality switchgear – the Grand Vitara’s interior is wrapped in a new, up-to-the-minute chunky body that’s bound to eat into Nissan X-Trail, Toyota RAV4, Honda CR-V and Subaru Forester sales. That just leaves the V6 engines of the Mazda Tribute, Hyundai Tucson and Kia Sportage and some head-to-head price points. Like its predecessor, the range-topping GV boasts a peaky V6 engine, albeit with more power, along with a 2.0-litre five-door variant. Both offer a proper low-range for off-road work. Suzuki expects to find about 460 buyers a month. However, the Grand Vitara’s drive experience is a revelation and like the Swift, the sales expectations could be a tad conservative. Model release date: 1 September 2005 to 1 July 2008 All car reviewsAlfa Romeo Abarth Alpine Alpina Audi Aston Martin BMW Bentley Chevrolet Chery Citroen Chrysler Dodge Cupra Ferrari DS Ford Fiat FPV Foton GWM Great Wall Holden Haval HSV Honda Hyundai Hummer Isuzu Infiniti Jeep Jaguar Lamborghini Kia LDV Land Rover Lotus Lexus Maserati Mahindra McLaren Mazda Mercedes-Benz Mercedes-AMG Mini MG Nissan Mitsubishi Peugeot Opel Proton Porsche Renault Ram Rover Rolls-Royce Skoda Saab SsangYong Smart Suzuki Subaru Toyota Tesla Volvo Volkswagen Previous modelThe first Vitara burst on to the scene in mid-1988 and offered non-4WD buyers the first true civilised light-4WD alternative. It boasted spunky styling, a car-like cabin, peppy performance and appealing high-seating position. All of this struck a chord with buyers. The 55kW 1.6-litre single-cam four-cylinder engine was an honest performer and the separate chassis and part-time rear-to-4WD system with an integrated two-speed transfer box helped with off-road duties. The coil spring front and rear suspension proved reasonably car-like in the way it drove too. Developed with the cooperation of General Motors, the Vitara initially arrived in two body styles – a three-door five-seat hardtop and a two-door four-seat soft-top – in base JX and well-equipped JLX guises. A 2.0-litre V6 joined the fray in mid-1995 along with a new model that was bigger and offered dual airbags. The bigger Grand Vitara models rolled in from 1998, and Suzuki phased out the 1.6 wagons late that year. |
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