Suzuki's new Grand Vitara expands 4x4 options

Suzuki’s latest 4x4 has increased the stakes in this highly-competitive segment by providing a good value and neatly-sized option for somebody who doesn’t want a heavy-hitter Pajero or Trooper. It’s likely to be another success in Ireland for a maker which has specialised in the smaller off-roader for some 30 years and in so doing has become the best-selling 4x4 manufacturer in Western Europe.

On first sight the curviness of the Grand Vitara is the main impression, making a nice change from the relative boxiness of its non-grand sibling. It is well done and avoids the styling trend of competitor makes which seem to have been dieted on steroids. Here we have a softer-looking car that won’t look out of place in a street of shopping boutiques and yet can do its muddy thing with the aplomb that has been a trademark of the marque from all the way back to the LJ series.

Because, make no mistake about it, this Grand Vitara is as tough as anything that goes off the highway. The new curves cover a traditional box-section ladder frame chassis and are also a computer-tested design that helps to provide an exceptional rigidity to the whole entity. The scruffing and scraping which are inevitable when working these things hard is also taken into account and the panels are made of high-tensile galvanised steel. There’s a strong underbody coating and the exhaust silencer is made of stainless steel.

There’s a new front suspension system using McPherson struts and coil springs with separate low-pressure gas dampers designed to allow a very long suspension stroke. In conjunction with a single lower wishbone and a stabiliser this provides for long wheel travel in the rough and precision on road cornering. The rear axle is a traditional rigid affair managed by separate low-pressure gas dampers and coil springs. There’s power-assisted rack-and-pinion steering and brakes are discs in front and drums at the rear.

Power for the Grand Vitara in Ireland is from a 2-litre turbodiesel with electronic diesel injection. The 88bhp unit has maximum torque at a nicely luggable level of 2,000rpm. The main transmission is through a manual five-speed box coupled to a ‘Drive Select’ 4x4 system which can be switched from 2- to 4-wheel-drive in high ratio while travelling at speeds up to 62mph.

There’s a little more room in the Grand than in the ordinary Vitara but the car is not substantially bigger. The view from the top is good though, with high seating positions. The plastic used in the dashboard assembly is of good quality though it’s dull enough to look at. The instrumentation includes a rev-counter, and a 4-speaker sound system allows Gaybo and Marion to travel well with you in even the most remote of locations.

Specification includes electric mirror adjustment and central locking as standard. Options available include aircon, ABS and an electric tilt-and-slide sunroof. Among the various storage spaces inside are trays under each of the front seats. Outside there are integral roof rails. The spare wheel is on the back door. (I have to point out the results of recent US research, though, which shows that vehicles with door-mounted spares involved in low-speed impacts suffer more expensive damage to their doors than do others.)

Keeping the Grand Vitara in the owner’s possession is helped by an integral transponder/immobiliser in the ignition system. There’s a three-year unlimited mileage warranty a free roadside assistance programme for the same period. The Grand Vitara doesn’t replace the ordinary Vitara but will sell alongside it.

On the road, the Vitara first showed itself to be a very pleasant and light-to-drive vehicle on both motorway and national route roads. It has a softer ride than the standard Vitara and on lesser roads this translates into rather more roll than I’d expected ... but nothing that gave me any worries about stability; everyone driving any 4x4 must remember that it is NOT an ordinary car and give due attention to highway cornering speeds. That said, the Grand Vitara is exceptionally car-like to drive and, being somewhat smaller than most 4x4s from the big manufacturers it doesn’t have the inherent clumsy feeling which many of those can have. Very much a car to live with en famille every day. The sweetness of the 2-litre diesel helps considerably, it is as smooth and unobtrusive as any I’ve driven and city work is absolutely no chore whatsoever.

Off the road that long-stroke suspension does seem to give the Grand Vitara the ability to climb out of the deepest ruts and over the gnarliest roots. But if you’re doing much of that kind of work you really do need something more than the tyres that come with it ... road is what they’re designed for, not mud-filled rut, and you could be left in spinning embarrasment waiting for a tractor.

Prices are £19,995 for the passenger version and a commercial van version version is £1,000 less.