Suzuki Grand Vitara 2.0

Sometimes the best way to reinvent a classic is to reinvent its recipe, as the new Grand Vitara shows

What's New
If you were the sort of hairy-chested man in possession of a wardrobe crammed with leopard-print loincloths and a habit of swinging tree-to-tree on jungle vines (metaphorically speaking) the original Suzuki Vitara was just the sort of car for you.

Effectively Suzuki's answer to Land Rover, the Vitara married chunky looks with serious off-roading gear, including low-range gears for crawling down steep slopes and then clawing back up them.

Some 16 years on, we have an all-new Grand Vitara, which sticks to the same recipe, but delivers it in a far more refined package.

Much of this has to do with its construction. Most Sports Utility Vehicles (SUVs) are now essentially jacked-up cars with all their mechanical components bolted to a main floor. But authentically jungle-faring examples of the breed are typically built with their bodies mounted onto a tough, independent frame.

The Suzuki is something of a Frankenstein of these concepts, with a Unibody floor that integrates an off-roader's frame underneath it. This has resulted in a combination of car-like behaviour and off-road ruggedness.

Along with the updated mechanicals, there's a new zing to the Vitara's styling, too. It mixes the right amounts of aggression and ruggedness with simple shapes and distinct lines, resulting in an eye-catching package that oozes toughness without being visually imposing.

Although 2.7 V6 and 2.0-litre four-cylinder versions are available, the latter will likely be the volume seller here. It's this version that The Highway took for a drive, and even though it forms the base model of the range, it is comprehensively equipped: an integrated sound system with steering wheel controls, front fog lamps, a digital fuel consumption gauge and electronic switching between 4x4 modes are all standard.

How it Performs
Given how the Grand Vitara is no tiny tot, it's surprising to find the 2.0-litre's 140 horses coping well. In fact, the acceleration has a satisfying urgency to it as long as you're willing to rev the engine.

You'll hear about it when that happens however, while the normally smooth-shifting four-speed auto allows itself to get ruffled. But unless you're in a major hurry, the Suzuki is capable of making calm progress.

The new car's handling is exemplary, with none of the steering vagueness or wallowy body control you'll find in other true-blue SUVs. Instead, there's a very respectable amount of accuracy to the steering, and though the mud-plugging tyres don't offer huge levels of on-road grip, the Vitara can be hustled in and out of bends with unexpected aplomb.

Ride quality, too, is excellent considering the beefiness of the Suzuki's suspension and its high ground clearance.

But that's entirely within the car's character, and perfectly complements the fine interior. As with the latest Swift, the Grand Vitara shows how Suzuki has gotten the knack of good, modern interior design. It presents occupants with a nicely-surfaced and gorgeously clean dashboard, with all major controls laid out in an attractively simple manner.

The use of silver finishing lends the dash just the right amount of contemporary flash, and the Vitara's cowled instruments wouldn't look out of place in an Italian coupé. As for the amount of space on offer, the Suzuki is anything but coupé-like.

Effectively a big box on wheels, the Grand Vitara boasts large amounts of passenger space, with an especially generous helping of room for the people relegated to the rear.

How it Stacks Up
Like the Grand Vitara itself, the main competition hails from Japan. Honda's CR-V has been a strong, steady seller, and for good reason. Its car-like manners and refinement make it a top-notch choice for buyers who want the looks and high seating of an SUV, but who never venture onto terrain more tricky than the ramps of a multi-storey carpark.

The Suzuki is now able to match those manners, though, while being able to satisfy the serious mud-plugging enthusiast with its proper off-roading credentials.

Nissan's X-Trail, though powered by a 2.5-litre engine, is similarly-priced, and offers a vast cabin like the Vitara. Opt for one and you'll have to put up with mushy steering response, though.

As things stands, then, the Grand Vitara seems like the best available compromise between real off-roading ability and on-road refinement. It's perfect, in other words, if your closet is mainly filled with neckties and business clothes, but also has the odd loincloth somewhere in the back.

Technical Specifications

MODEL Suzuki Grand Vitara 2.0 ENGINE Engine: 1,995cc, 16V in-line 4 Max Power: 140bhp @ 6,000rpm Max Torque: 183Nm @ 4,000rpm TRANSMISSION 4-speed automatic TOP SPEED 170 kmh 0-100km/h 13.2s