Ten Point Test


Auto Trader Ten Point Test rating: 72%

The Suzuki Vitara has been around since the 1980s and practically invented the small and fun 4×4 niche.

Twenty years later, can the evolutionary Grand Vitara still cut it? We took it out and about in sunny South West London to find the answer.

1. Looks 7/10

The five-door Suzuki Grand Vitara looks exactly how you would expect; chunky, solid and fitted with big 17 or 18-inch wheels. It still has the charm of the original, but it’s not as modern to behold as the Ford Kuga. In keeping with off-roader tradition there is a full-sized wheel mounted on the rear door. Buy the short wheel base version and you have a unique car – it’s the only three-door SUV currently on sale.

2. Looks inside 7/10

The Grand Vitara has a functional dash which is well laid out and easy to operate. Multi-function controls like the heater controls which you can turn to adjust minimise the clutter of buttons found in some other vehicles. The dials are clear and easy to read and the only disappointment is the silver-effect trim, which feels a bit cheap.

3. Practicality 8/10

The large rear door gives access to a wide load bay which can be increased in size from 398-litres to 758-litres by folding the rear seats down. With a tow bar fitted it’s possible to tow a 750kg unbraked trailer and a 1,700kg braked trailer.

4. Ride and Handling 7/10

Small SUVs are often called soft-roaders, but this Grand Vitara isn’t as wallowy as 4×4s of old. Drive it briskly and it’s well behaved with less body roll than the previous model. The gearchange is not as slick as the best SUVs. Good suspension articulation and a low-range gearbox make the Grand Vitara highly competent off road.

5. Performance 5/10

We drove the newest five-door Grand Vitara model, fitted with a 2.4-litre petrol engine producing 167bhp and 166lb/ft of pulling power. It accelerates from 0-62mph in 11.2 seconds and has a 112mph top speed. Suzuki has worked hard to make it a quiet engine, but it’s still fairly noisy when you accelerate hard. Also available is a 1.6, 2-litre petrol engine and 1.9-litre diesel which would be our choice of motor, thanks to its mid-range pulling power and lower running costs.

Suzuki Grand Vitara slide show

6. Running Costs 7/10

The 2-litre petrol model returns 32mpg, while the diesel can achieve an average of 38.2mpg. All Grand Vitara derivatives are in tax band F, with an annual cost of £210.

7. Reliability 9/10

Proven technology and a good reliability record mean there are few causes for concern. Read what owners think about the Suzuki Grand Vitara on Drive the Debate.

8. Safety 7/10

The Grand Vitara achieved good results in Euro NCAP crash testing and was awarded four stars. Standard safety kit includes ABS and a full complement of airbags.

9. Equipment 7/10

The equipment grades have recently been revised to SZ3, SZ4 and SZ5. All models get remote central door locking, six CD changer, steering wheel audio controls, tinted glass, trip computer and roof rails. The SZ4 gets front fog lamps, 17-inch alloy wheels and a stereo upgrade. Range-topping SZ5 spec cars get privacy glass, electric sunroof, stereo upgrade, map reading lights, High Intensity Discharge (HID) headlights and 18-inch wheels.

10. X-Factor 8/10

Rugged looks and good quality engineering mean the Grand Vitara still deserves to sell as well as it did to fun seekers in the original model’s heyday of the 1980s.

Key facts

Model tested: Suzuki Grand Vitara 2.4 SZ4
On the road price: £15,750
Price range: £14,750 – £18,700
Date tested: October 2008
Road tester: Andy Goodwin