Review of the new Suzuki Grand Vitara range

Other makers may argue but Suzuki contends that its Vitara/Grand Vitara line-up offered the British market its very first compact 4x4. The range has been around on these shores in one form or another for over twenty years and sales have been strong by Suzuki standards. The current generation version has been particularly well received thanks to a tough, go-anywhere attitude that's missing from modern road-biased rivals.

Suzuki makes much, understandably, of the car's off road ability but the truth is that the majority of buyers in this sector just don't care. The few people that drive compact 4x4s off-road may well gravitate towards the Grand Vitara but there won't be enough of them to justify its existence. The car needs to perform on the tarmac as well and that surface, in its own way, can be just as much of a challenge. With a catalogue of rivals to content with, can the latest Grand Vitara deliver the goods?

The Grand Vitara is far more capable in the rough than a Toyota RAV4 or a Honda CR-V and it's not difficult to see why. The four-wheel-drive system is geared towards off-road rather than wet road traction and ground clearance is far better. The flipside of this is that the steering and chassis never feel so responsive on the road. The Grand is bouncy over the bumps, wobbly in corners and noisy on the flat. Strangely, however, it's still good fun to drive with a rugged charm that you find yourself growing to like.

"The Vitara has the kind of rough and ready old-school charm that's been bred out of modern compact 4x4s."

The 1.9 litre DDiS diesel engine is a little noisy at times but its combination of fuel economy and low down muscle make it the most desirable choice. It's a shame you can only get it in the five-door cars. The diesel takes 13.2s to reach 62mph from a standstill but the 2.4-litre petrol engine is rather more adroit when you drop the throttle, achieving an 11.7s time. No Grand Vitara is what you could call quick so the affordable 1.6-litre petrol unit might also make sense for some buyers. It's only fitted to the three-door car though.

There's something missing on this Grand Vitara. Previous versions of the car have carried their spare wheel proudly, mounting it on the tailgate in the style of a true off-road adventurer - but no longer. A facelift saw this feature removed in a bid to create a more 'urban' look. Nowadays, there's no spare wheel at all: just some tyre sealant and an inflation device. Ray Mears would not approve.

Unlike many models that come with a choice of bodystyles, the Grand Vitara is a very different proposition in three and five-door form. The three-door has a chunkier and more compact look that may appeal to fashion conscious buyers but this isn't an illusion conjured up in the design studio. The three-door Grand Virara is some 400mm shorter than the 4,575mm five-door car with 200mm of that taken out of the wheelbase. This makes it a lot smaller inside with limited rear legroom and a smaller boot. Family buyers should probably restrict their search to the more capacious five-door models.

The usual practical benefits of a 4x4 are evident in the Grand Vitara. Its high-riding design makes loading, unloading, entering and exiting easier while also improving visibility. The boot area is accessed through a large side-hinged tailgate that is lighter to use on today's models now that there's no spare wheel attached to it. There's a lot to appreciate in the cabin design if you appreciate the uncomplicated and user-friendly. The control layout is extremely straightforward and although the quality of materials is patchy, they are very sturdily put together. Some additional storage space would have been nice.

The range of models available is easy to grasp. The three-door car can be ordered in petrol guise only which helps to keep its prices down. There's the 1.6-litre 105bhp engine and the 164bhp 2.4-litre unit which is available as a manual or with an automatic gearbox. The 2.4-litre engine is offered with the five-door car too but along side it is the 1.9-litre DDiS diesel. There are SZ3, SZ4 and SZ5 trim levels with all models including electric front windows, climate control air-conditioning, front, side and curtain airbags, ABS with EBD, ESP stability control and a 6 CD stereo.

The Grand Vitara is attractively priced, with the three-door car coming in at the kind of money you'd part with for a well specified supermini. The five-door is around £2,000 more model for model but you do get a lot more practicality for that extra outlay. Rivals aren't too thick on the ground if you're looking for a 4x4 with similar pricing that can cope off-road as well as the Grand Vitara but there are numerous options if, like most customers, you prioritise road-going performance. Smaller crossover 4x4s like the Kia Soul, Nissan Juke and Mitsubishi ASX could be less rugged alternatives to the three-door cars. The five-door models go up against the Nissan X-Trails, Toyota RAV4s and Mitsubishi Outlanders but look affordable in that company.

Running costs have been pared back in recent times but proper off-road mechanicals and the reliance on petrol engines that keep upfront costs down means that the Grand Vitara isn't the most fuel efficient 4x4 out there. With a combined economy figure of over 41.5mpg, the 1.9 DDiS diesel is the best performer and carbon dioxide emissions of 179g/km are also reasonable but most rivals will do better. The 2.4-litre petrol engine can only return 31mpg but at least it only drops to 29mpg with the automatic gearbox fitted. The three-door 1.6-litre models split the difference with 34mpg economy and 195g/km emissions.

All Suzuki models are covered by Suzuki Shield, a three year/60,000 mile warranty and also by Suzuki Assistance which provides 24-hour UK and European roadside assistance, recovery and associated services for 36 months. Factor in a 12 year anti-perforation warranty and you've got belt and braces protection on the Grand Vitara.

The Suzuki Grand Vitara's inbuilt authenticity has traditionally allowed it to override many of its shortcomings. That should continue to be that case as buyers wanting an affordable compact 4x4 that can really cut the mustard off-road don't have too many choices open to them these days.

The Vitara has the kind of rough and ready old-school charm that's been bred out of modern compact 4x4s. It's less composed on the road than the majority of its rivals and fuel economy isn't great but sturdy build, functional design and a certain fun factor count in the Suzuki's favour. Equipment levels and pricing are clearly set to leverage an advantage over mainstream rivals that might seem more sophisticated and they should generate enough interest to keep sales ticking over.

TOP 5 GRAND VITARA DEALS

The results below show the top GRAND VITARA deals on buyacar

Suzuki Grand Vitara 1.9 DDiS SZ5 5dr diesel estate
Price £19,851 Read Grand Vitara Reviews	Save £3,349
Suzuki Grand Vitara 1.6 VVT SZ3 3dr estate
Price £14,039 Read Grand Vitara Reviews	Save £1,921
Suzuki Grand Vitara 2.4 VVT SZ4 5dr estate
Price £16,693 Read Grand Vitara Reviews	Save £2,547
Suzuki Grand Vitara 1.9 DDiS X-EC 5dr estate spec ed
Price £10,000 Read Grand Vitara Reviews	Save
Suzuki Grand Vitara 2.4 VVT SZ4 3dr Auto estate
Price £15,980 Read Grand Vitara Reviews	Save £2,375
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