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The
Suzuki Grand Vitara is a bargain. Power windows, remote opener, four-wheel
drive, above average crash test scores, and a very functional interior filled
with nice storage bins and a nice seating position is
all excellent. The down side of this price sensitive buy is that it has low
resale, is impacted by side winds, only gets about 18 mpg in mixed driving,
clearly needs stiffer steering at high speeds and, if you tow or travel
loaded, it needs more power.
Mom's View: Driving this Suzuki is easy, but tiring. There is a fair
amount of tire and wind noise, the energy the engine produces is only
adequate, and it gets noisy over 4000 rpm. In reality, with its ladder type
construction and transfer case, this would be an ideal vehicle for those who
travel a great deal where roads are frequently encumbered with snow or debris.
Don't
get me wrong, I liked driving the Grand Vitara in town where it has good
forward and side vision and is very easy to park owning to its 35.4 foot
turning radius and 165 inch length. Very handy, indeed. Yes, the rear seat
room is limited, but Suzuki has thought of that and offers a "7" model that
offers more space. I would go with that model if I had a large family.
The one area I never like about SUVs, and this includes the Toyota RAV 4, is
that the spare tire is mounted on the rear door making it difficult to open
and close due to the extra weight of the tire, especially if the car is parked
on an incline. It also reduces rearward vision. Overall, I was satisfied with
the Grand Vitara considering the exceptional price and usability.
Inside, the Suzuki had a splendid array of storage space and a very upright
seating position with fairly comfortable seats. The instrument array isn't
frilly, and you aren't going to impress your friends with the moody plastic
covering the dash, but this is a work vehicle so think easy to clean.
Dad's
view: I would recommend you pass over the Grand Vitara and order the much more
spacious, powerfully, and equally off road capable Suzuki XL-7. The Grand
Vitara is handy enough, but there just isn't enough room for the price. The
XL-7 has a lot more to offer and the 183 horsepower engine is more capable
then the 165 horsepower unit in the Grand Vitara and it just costs just ten
percent more. You'll get that back at resale time.
Now, let's get serious for a moment. There is no shortage of SUVs that cost
around $35,000 starting with the class leading Ford Escape/Mazda Tribute. So
why consider the Suzuki? The answer is in the transfer case that makes this
import capable of serious off roading adventures. In addition, the
seven-year/100,000 miles powertrain warranty is exceptional.
Family
conference: The Car Family feels that Suzuki is going to bring some stellar
vehicles to the marketplace in the years ahead. They are going to want to make
a positive impression on the public. As such, these Suzuki products should be
the harbinger of more lush vehicles. As of now, these vehicles are niche
players with solid engines and sturdy chassis.
Written by The Car Family
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