I’m in the all-new five-door Grand Vitara this week, a compact SUV that can really go off road. The new car features a combined ladder chassis and body where the outgoing model had a more ‘agricultural’ separate chassis and body. The result hasn’t compromised rigidity one bit. All round independent suspension including a new rear multi link set up makes the car pretty refined on the road too.
The range starts off with a three-door petrol fuelled 1.6-litre ‘VVT’ (106bhp/€25,495) that is aimed at the soft roader market. It’s built on a shorter wheelbase and has a permanent four-wheel drive. Suzuki knows that this version will be bought by people who want to stay mainly on the road so it lacks the five-door’s lockable centre differential that is a must for serious off-road work. The five-door is available with either petrol or diesel power. The two-litre petrol (€31,995) pushes out 140bhp while the 1.9-litre ‘DDiS’ diesel (€34,995) will be the one to go for if you need a workhorse (it can tow 2,000Kg).
New models always seem to be bigger in every dimension and the Grand Vitara doesn’t disappoint. It’s longer and wider but the roofline has been lowered without impacting on headroom thanks to the monocoque design. The resulting look is one of solidity and squatness. Head on the Grand Vitara really looks smart and chunky. The body is muscular without being in your face aggressive. The only exterior concession to its four-wheel drive origins is the spare wheel mounted on the back door. It is a door, by the way, (hinged on the driver’s side) and swings out, not up!
The interior overall is much bigger. The design of the dash and instrumentation is fresh and logical. There is a little too much black plastic and fabric for my liking. The steering wheel features the CD stereo controls, and the driving position is pretty good, but I would like more lower back support. Japanese cars in the past have often failed to provide substantial seating designed to cosset Western proportions.
On the go the cabin is ‘hush’ quiet. I may have a two-litre engine under the bonnet but under acceleration the car feels a bit sluggish. The ‘all new’ four-wheel drive system has a high and low ratio gearbox that also features a neutral setting. There is no transfer lever, just a simple rotary switch with illustrations of the drive you require.
Launched eight years ago, the Suzuki Vitara proved a big hit and there have been over 6,000 sales. In 1997 it got a new lease of life with the introduction of diesel power. The diesel, while a little rough, did exactly what it said on the tin. The new car is a vast improvement on a decent workhorse.
Over 21,500 SUVs will be registered by the end of 2005 (two-thirds of them passenger models) so there is a big market for off-roaders. But if you want to avoid dirty looks from city folk you should get one of these. It’s an honest and relatively cheap SUV that isn’t going to destroy the environment.
Michael Sheridan
