The name Vitara came to the automotive world exactly 30 years ago. It was then that Suzuki “caught the wind”, realizing that the market was in dire need of a compact SUV with a passenger body. But our hero today can hardly be called a real SUV. But it can definitely be considered the last generation of Vitara to date, which has earned the love of many Russian car enthusiasts. Well, from love to hate...
This car had many names. In its homeland, Japan, it was called Escudo, in the USA - Sidekick (by the way, this word means not only “side kick”, that is, mowashi-giri in the Anglo-Saxon version, but also “friend”, “spine” - in in general, buddy, and of course, in American slang) or Geo Tracker.
There is also a Russian trace in the history of Vitara: it is not for nothing that the VAZ museum contains a prospectus with a photograph of the new product, presented to Pyotr Mikhailovich Prusov, the creator of our Niva, with the inscription: “To the Godfather of our car.” Some journalists even agreed that Prusov allegedly accused the Japanese of plagiarism. Sorry, I don’t believe in such nonsense. Well, Pyotr Mikhailovich knew perfectly well that, from a design or technical point of view, there was nothing in common between the Niva and the Vitara/Escudo/Sidekick, except the very idea of a light SUV with the comfort of a passenger car.
One way or another, the car gained worldwide popularity, was produced in a great variety of variants and lasted on the assembly line for 10 years. In 1998, a generational change occurred, and the word Grand appeared before the Vitara name.
Suzuki Grand Vitara ‘1998–2005
The life cycle of this model turned out to be somewhat shorter: firstly, the era of crossovers was coming, and against the background of competitors, the connected front axle and dependent rear suspension looked like a terrible anachronism, and secondly, the “bathhouse soap style” (aka “snowdrift” style) was finally went out of fashion. In a word, in 2005 the next generation was born, with a design that was completely in line with the trends of the times. But there are certain discrepancies with its number: some count it back to 1988 and the very first Vitara and consider it the third, others call it the second generation of the Grand Vitara model.
Suzuki Grand Vitara ‘2005–08
In fact, it doesn't really matter whether it's second or third. It is important that the model has undergone truly revolutionary changes. From a design point of view, the first two generations were traditional frame SUVs of the “universal” type with independent front and dependent rear suspension and part-time all-wheel drive with a plug-in front axle. The third (or second) Grand Vitara received permanent all-wheel drive with a reduction gear in the transfer case and a locked center differential, the rear suspension became independent multi-link, and the frame became integrated.
The model featured a fairly wide range of engines: petrol fours with a volume of 1.6 liters (106 hp), 2.0 liters (140 hp) and 2.4 liters (169 hp), 3. 2-liter V6 (233 hp) and 1.9-liter diesel (not officially supplied to the Russian Federation, but such examples can be found on the secondary market). They were paired with either a five-speed manual transmission or a four- or five-speed Aisin automatic transmission.
To some extent, the car found itself in a unique niche created by itself. On the one hand, structurally it was a real SUV. At the same time, it differed from most representatives of this class in its compactness, and therefore lower price. On the other hand, in terms of overall body architecture, size, and ground clearance, the Grand Vitara competed mainly with crossovers, differing favorably from them in cross-country ability, reliability of permanent all-wheel drive and the absence of a clutch that tends to overheat in difficult road conditions.
As a result, from the very beginning of sales in Russia, the Grand Vitara became the company’s main volume-generating model in this market, and every year our fleet of these cars was replenished by 10-15 thousand units. This situation was undermined by the crisis and a sharp increase in the exchange rate: Suzuki never acquired its own assembly production in Russia, and the successor to the hero of our story, the new Vitara, has not yet found its buyer, finding itself at the very bottom of the sales ranking. Last year, 3,492 of these cars were sold, and Deputy General Director of Suzuki Motor Rus Takayuki Hasegawa, in an interview with our publication, considered this a serious achievement... However, the good old Grand Vitara not only remains a completely mass-produced car, but also enjoys a certain popularity in the secondary market. So why do owners love the Grand Vitara, and what causes their justified criticism?
HATE #5: “IS HUMILITY BEAUTIFUL?”
The Grand Vitara has a reputation for being modest, utilitarian and unpretentious - a kind of workhorse. The model is of no interest to the workers of the whistle and striped stick, nor to the hijackers. But the interior of the car is just as modest and utilitarian! The panel is made of hard plastic, and where there is hard plastic, “crickets” readily start there. Not always, but they start. The glove box and visor mirrors are not illuminated. The dashboard is simple to the point of archaic. There is an on-board computer, but its modes are switched using “stumps” directly on the dashboard, to access which you have to stick your hand through the steering wheel. Accordingly, it is not recommended to do this on the go...
The vast majority of copies sold in Russia do not have a touch screen media system as a class, but only have the most ordinary radio, and its sound is rated either as “disgusting” or, at best, as “nothing at all.” The device does not have an input for a signal from an external source (however, it can play MP3s from CDs). In general, many people advise throwing out the stock “head” and speakers immediately after purchase, if the previous owner did not do so. And this even applies to the “expensive version with a screen” version... However, if in childhood a familiar bear stomped on your ears for a long time, and today you are used to listening to “news” radio stations like “Business FM” on the road, then the quality of the “music” should not worry you will.
Dashboard Suzuki Grand Vitara ‘2012–present
But the fact that the seat upholstery can be either black or black in combination with another black will definitely annoy you. All this Japanese asceticism and minimalism does not seem very appropriate for a car that does not at all fit into the “very budget” category.
LOVE #5: “NOT BE BORN BEAUTIFUL, BUT BE BORN HAPPY...”
In fact, very few Grand Vitara owners rate their car as “beautiful,” but almost everyone speaks positively about its appearance.
Suzuki Grand Vitara ‘2012–present
Indeed, Suzuki designers managed to create an image “out of time and space.” The car, born 13 years ago, does not seem seriously outdated even today. At the same time, the model is distinguished by, so to speak, fantastic gender and age universalism. Behind the wheel of the Grand Vitara, a young mother with children, a fan of some extreme sport, a manager in a business suit, and a pensioner with seedlings and fishing rods look equally at home.
The spare wheel hanging on the fifth door caused some criticism, and in 2010 it was moved under the floor of the luggage compartment. By the way, not everyone liked this: it turned out that many liked the “spare wheel”, located “like a real jeep.”
In general, Suzuki designers have their own philosophy: “We don’t care about fashion trends in auto design, we just make cars to move in space, and we do them well!” And who doesn’t like it - the market is full of beautiful ones...
HATE #4: “AND YOU, FRIENDS, NO WAY YOU SIT...”
Ergonomics is a statistical science, so the workplace of a car is always best suited to a person with a certain “average” figure. But people are all different... And many Grand Vitara owners complain that the seats are hard, that adjusting the steering column only by tilt angle does not allow you to choose the optimal position of the driver's seat: either your feet do not reach the pedals, or the steering wheel blocks the instruments, and that on a long journey they feel tired after 4-5 hours behind the wheel.
Some lack lower side support, causing the right leg to come into contact with the hard edge of the center console - what is colloquially known as a "beard". You have to keep your leg tense, which, as you understand, does not improve comfort. Owners struggle with this problem in different ways: some put a pad on it, some glue foam rubber to the edge, but this does not radically solve the problem.
Dashboard Suzuki Grand Vitara ‘2012–present
The “self-lowering” driver’s seat is even more inconvenient: the mechanism for fixing its vertical adjustment is indeed insufficiently reliable, so within three or four days the seat drops to its lowest position, which, as you understand, is not necessary for everyone. And here, too, comes the time for technical creativity: someone tightly welds the gear of the adjustment mechanism, someone drills an additional hole and counters the position of the seat with a bolt, someone fixes the mechanism in the lower position, but raises the chair to the desired level using spacers.
But the rear seats have backrest tilt adjustment, which, in principle, makes the level of comfort for rear passengers acceptable. But many consider the rear sofa not very comfortable, and travel lovers complain that the interior transformation scheme does not allow organizing a full-fledged sleeping place in it.
LOVE #4: “I CAN SEE EVERYTHING FROM ABOVE...”
What no one has any complaints about is visibility, especially to the rear. Many brands equip their crossovers with side mirrors that are more consistent with a purely passenger car. The Grand Vitara's mirrors are of quite a decent "off-road" size, do not distort the distance to objects, and are electrically adjustable and heated. At the same time, the aerodynamics of their bodies are such that they hardly get dirty while moving, relieving the driver of the need to constantly go out and wipe them with a cloth. This is especially true in our “salty” winters, when sticky muck flies from under the wheels, and washer consumption is comparable to gasoline consumption.
Owners like the interior mirror somewhat less, since it is covered by both the headrests of the rear sofa and the spare wheel cover. This casing itself protrudes back beyond the dimensions of the car and requires special attention when parking.
As for the forward view, then, as a rule, everyone is happy with everything, and only a few picky people mention that the A-pillars still block visibility in sharp turns. But everyone praises the light - both near and far.
HATE #3: “LEFT, LEFT COME IN!”
The owners are not too pleased with the car’s capacity. This does not mean passenger capacity - in any case, four adults get into the car without any problems (although many consider sitting in the back row inconvenient). The main criticism is caused by the trunk volume, which for the five-door version is 398 liters, and for the three-door version it is only 184 liters!
Interior of Suzuki Grand Vitara ‘2012–present.
For comparison, the trunk of the good old Niva VAZ-2121, which was said to have no trunk at all, can accommodate 320 liters of luggage. What is 184 liters? A few bags from the supermarket will fit in there, of course. But in order for a family of four to go on a trip in a Grand Vitara - well, at least on vacation to the south, and take everything they need with them, the car will have to be equipped with a luggage box on the roof. Naturally, this will worsen the aerodynamics and increase the already low fuel consumption.
Plus, the rear door of the car opens to the side. But the car is Japanese, so the door opens in Japanese, blocking the approach to the trunk from the sidewalk.
LOVE #3: “WE WILL GET IT ALL…”
At least four out of five Grand Vitara owners consider cross-country ability one of the main advantages of their iron horse. True, here you need to take into account that finding hardcore jeepers in the vitar crowd is by no means an easy task. Most of the owners of this car switched to it either from passenger cars or from classic crossovers, against which the Grand Vitara can really seem like a real tank.
However, the most sensible of them give a very accurate assessment of the model’s off-road potential: going to the dacha, fishing, driving to the village to visit relatives along a broken dirt road - this is welcome, with all the pleasure, but more serious tasks are not up to it. The Grand Vitara is a city car, which should have bumpers in place and bags from Auchan instead of a hijack in the trunk. This is neither good nor bad - it's a fact.
Firstly, 200 mm of ground clearance is not that much. I sat the car on its belly in arable land, a muddy meadow or in virgin snow - and that’s it, a shovel won’t help, you need to run after the tractor.
You shouldn’t venture into deep fords either: the breathers of the bridges are located only about ten centimeters above the bridges, so the chance that the gearbox cooling in the water will suck in a lot of water with a mud suspension through it is quite high. In the best case, you will have to change the oil in the gearbox, and in the worst case, you will end up with repairs costing from 40 to 60 thousand rubles.
Many people believe that nothing can be done to permanent all-wheel drive if it skids even for a day. Alas, this is not so... Transfer case seals really don’t like heavy loads, so if you wallow in clay for several hours or decide to “drag a hippopotamus out of the swamp” - in the sense of helping out a stuck comrade, then most likely the seals will leak , and they will have to be changed. And there are three of them in the transfer case, and only one can be changed without removing the box, and replacing the shank oil seal requires its complete disassembly.
Plus, it’s worth considering that the rear towing eye is made and attached to the side member in such a way that under heavy loads it begins to “float” and, when unbending, can reach the edge of the bumper and even crush it.
In a word, you need to remember that the Grand Vitara is an SUV with the soul of a crossover, and you shouldn’t force it to jump over its head and do something for which the car is absolutely not intended. It can easily drive across a snow field following a snowmobile rut or overcome a washed-out country road where cars do not poke their noses, but to turn into a real off-road conqueror it lacks not only the “tanks are not afraid of dirt” sticker.
HATE #2: SHAKED IN A SMOKY CAR..."
When preparing this material, I read at least a hundred and a half reviews of Suzuki Grand Vitara owners about their car, and literally in almost every one you can find references to excessive suspension stiffness. Some people are quite happy with this rigidity, others are ready to put up with it, but there are also those who mention it among their main shortcomings.
On a rough road, the Grand Vitara with one driver happily performs the “hop-hop” dance, and its owner literally feels every hole and every pebble with his entire body. Some hint of a smooth ride appears only when fully loaded, preferably also with luggage, but this is just that: a hint. A typical review goes something like this: “I recently traveled to Belgorod and back, 1,400 km. The car shook my soul! Moreover, these are not my personal feelings - all four people in the car said so. It’s annoying that it’s the small joints on the asphalt that are transmitted to the body. Once the quality of the road surface deteriorates, you get the feeling that you are driving on a washboard...”
LOVE #2: “I ROLL QUICKLY ON CAST IRON RAILS...”
However, the stiffness of the suspension also has a positive side: even its most ardent detractors confirm the Grand Vitara’s very good handling.
The car really holds its trajectory very well, not paying attention to individual irregularities or longitudinal rutting. Of course, the Grand Vitara does not steer as sharply as “driver” cars, but there is no sign of any rolls, swaying or “catching” the trajectory. Everything is simple, reliable, and, importantly, very predictable. Compared to its frame predecessors, which were very rolly and couldn’t really drive on ice and gravel roads at all (well, perhaps only at a speed of 50 kilometers per hour), the Grand Vitara grips the road very tenaciously at high speeds, corners well, and on the ground it allows the use of rally techniques.
The correct operation of the stabilization systems also makes its contribution (especially in icy conditions), which, by the way, is automatically turned off when a lower gear is engaged and the center differential is locked, and is automatically turned on again if the speed exceeds 30 km/h. But ESP never turns off completely, so if you want to go out on the ice in winter and play around, play around and let the car skid, then you are unlikely to succeed: ESP will fight skids in all the ways it knows.
The Grand Vitara and its owners generally feel good in winter: the car starts without problems even in severe frosts, is able to park in snowdrifts, behaves well on slippery roads and does not freeze the driver and passengers. The only annoying thing is the lack of heating for the steering wheel and windshield.
HATE #1: “HE EATS AND DOESN’T EAT, DOESN’T EAT BUT EATS!”
Regarding the assessment of the dynamic characteristics of the Suzuki Grand Vitara, as they say, “the opinions of scientists are divided.” Some claim that everything is fine, especially in city traffic, but others whine that “the car doesn’t move at all.” And everyone unanimously criticizes the “vintage” four-speed automatic transmission - both for its thoughtfulness and for its reluctance to switch to higher gears on time. One of the forum comedians described the situation like this: “It accelerates not quite nauseatingly, but only up to 100 kilometers per hour. Next comes retirement and relaxation.”
At the same time, the most common topic for snorting at the car is fuel consumption. In particular, the combination of a two-liter engine with an automatic transmission is often criticized, but it was this that accounted for the lion's share of sales. This is understandable - as I already said, many owners switched to Grand Vitara from compact cars, so they got used to completely different numbers. For those who have driven heavy SUVs, consumption of about 14 liters in the city and 10 on the highway seems quite acceptable.
BUT THE DRIVING MANAGEMENT DEPENDS ON YOUR HABITS, AND MANY NOTE THAT IF YOU “FLY” AND PUSH THE PEDAL WITH YOUR SOUL AT EVERY TRAFFIC LIGHT, THEN CONSUMPTION CAN GO UP TO 18-20 LITERS, BUT IF YOU DRIVE CALMLY, IT’S UNLIKELY WILL EXCEED 12 .
The situation is aggravated by insufficient sound insulation of the engine compartment. More precisely, in normal modes it does not cause any particular delight or serious complaints, but when overtaking, when during kickdown the box switches from fourth gear directly to second, the noise level instantly rises to the “frightening” level.
LOVE #1: “THIS IS SUCH MUSIC, SUCH IS ETERNAL YOUTH..”
And yet, the collective mind considers endurance and reliability to be the main advantage of the Grand Vitara. The car does not have many congenital problems.
For engines, usually two-liter, the timing chain stretches after 150 thousand kilometers, especially if the owner does not keep track of the oil level. The mechanism of the attachment belt tensioner roller often fails, so experienced aircraft owners recommend always having spare belts and rollers with you.
At the turn of 40 to 100 thousand km, the neutralizer in the exhaust system may “die”, and its death manifests itself in a very strange way: the Check Engine lights up on the panel (which is natural) and the cruise control stops working (but this is no longer clear).
The front stabilizer bushings “run out” very quickly, and many complain that they have to be changed almost every 15 thousand kilometers - that is, with every maintenance.
There are problems with the silent blocks of the levers, which, alas, only change together with the levers. The power steering tube requires replacement every three to four years due to wear at the points where it is attached to the body. There are also a number of typical breakdowns, but... this entire history is very extended over time, so the overall cost of owning a car turns out to be quite acceptable, the reviews do not resemble price lists for repairs with a total six-figure sum, and the roads are full of examples aged 10-12 years, still in quite a vigorous state.
There is a phrase on the Internet: “Suzuki cars cannot be loved, they can only be driven.” So they go. As one of the owners wrote, “Frost, heat, heat, smoke from fires, a country road, a dirt road, a grader, a snow-covered highway, a village or a city... They jumped and went where they decided, and not where they could drive. Of course, without fanaticism." Why without fanaticism? Yes, because fanaticism does not go well with eternal youth.
Not every SUV combines three qualities at once: excellent cross-country ability, high build quality and an affordable price. One of these was the Suzuki Grand Vitara, but, unfortunately, the car is no longer produced. A driver who chose this SUV over competitors such as the Toyota RAV4, Nissan X-Trail or Honda CR-V could not only save several thousand dollars, but also get a real SUV with excellent chassis - suspension, engine and transmission.
The legendary generation will be replaced by a new one, which has nothing in common with the previous one. Since 2015, Suzuki Grand Vitara can only be found.
History of Suzuki Grand Vitara
The Vitara line was first introduced in 1988. By releasing this model, manufacturers wanted to become the founders of a new class of cars - compact SUVs. They actually managed to be the first to introduce such a classification, but from a technical point of view, AvtoVAZ did it earlier with their Niva. The design features of the Vitara bring it closer to ordinary SUVs: a separate frame and connected front-wheel drive. At first, the new Suzuki model could be classified either as a bad crossover or as a parody of an SUV.
About a quarter of a century later, the Grand Vitara was redesigned under pressure from competitors who were ready to push the car out of the market. Manufacturers made the body load-bearing, and front-wheel drive was connected through a center differential, which worked constantly. In addition, the lower number of transmission gears turned out to be a very advantageous solution compared to the others - the Grand Vitara became very competitive.
In different countries, the car is known as the Suzuki XL7, Grand Nomade and Grand Escudo (the versions with three doors and a short body did not have the “grand” prefix). It has been produced this way since 2005. It is noteworthy that the Vitara shared a common chassis with some General Motors cars, but from a design point of view these cars were very different.
Properties of a used Suzuki Grand Vitara
It should be borne in mind that the specific ones completely depend on its operating history. It is impossible to find two identical models. Each Grand Vitara will have its own consequences of use by the previous owner. One way or another, the car has a number of common features that unite the entire Grand Vitara line.
Now the greatest demand exists for the third generation of SUV from Suzuki. It combines excellent driving properties and high quality, while having an affordable price. Thus, copies of the Grand Vitara, which were produced from 2005 to 2014, are the most desirable among the entire series. Cars 5–7 years old can be found on the secondary market at prices ranging from 400 to 900 thousand rubles.
On the Russian used car market, American and Russian versions of the Grand Vitara are most often found. European options, as a rule, are rare, but they are also more expensive, which negates the availability of the model. Their condition speaks in favor of European configurations. The Russian version, which we used, is usually of lower quality, which is due to the constant exposure to salt on the roads in winter. At the same time, most Americans are characterized by a careless style of operation - they fill the Grand Vitara with cheap oil, and then drive it for several years. Due to such use, the condition of the vehicle deteriorates. In addition, such an ailment cannot be corrected by flushing the engine.
Engine
During sales, the Grand Vitara was equipped with four gasoline and two turbodiesel engines. The weakest of all had a volume of 1.6 liters and 94 horsepower (most often installed on the three-door version), while the most dynamic engine had a volume of 2.7 liters and a power of 173 horsepower. With. (installed only on the five-door version). It should be borne in mind that when purchasing a Grand Vitara on the secondary market, the driver will be deprived of the opportunity to choose an engine, so he will have to be content with what is available.
More powerful Suzuki engines allow you to quickly gain speed from the start, but they also consume a lot of fuel. One of the properties of the Grand Vitara's chassis system is that when driving on a slippery road, a powerful engine coupled with a short wheelbase makes the car slide. This is especially unpleasant for an SUV.
As for operation, all Grand Vitara engines are reliable and durable. Of course, their condition must be maintained by qualified and timely maintenance. As a rule, a Suzuki driver is forced to clean the radiator and change antifreeze when the mileage counter reaches another 60,000 kilometers.
Most often on the market you can find a Grand Vitara equipped with a two-liter gasoline engine with a capacity of 140 hp. With. The engine is relatively unpretentious and can be powered by 92-octane fuel, but it is clearly not enough to reach the full speed of a one and a half ton SUV. During dynamic trips around the city it is approximately 15 liters per 100 km.
Transmission
Regardless of the engine, the Grand Vitara was equipped with both a manual and automatic transmission. This means that any combination of engine and transmission can be found on the secondary market. The mechanical version is characterized by “tight” shifting into reverse gear - you have to take a short pause before the system, which does not have a synchronizer, allows you to shift. The automatic transmission has no complaints about shifting and copes well not only with movement, but also with the transportation of large trailers.
The disadvantage of the Grand Vitara’s transmission is the “part-time” system. The front axle is rigidly connected, which allows you to use all-wheel drive only on slippery roads and for a short time. So, the Suzuki front axle must always be in a disabled state. When choosing a used model, you should pay attention to this - if the engaged drive is accompanied by shocks, it means that the gearbox is “killed” and it is better not to buy the car.
Suspension
The suspension of the Suzuki Grand Vitara is excellent for use in Russian conditions. Even on a used car, it needs repairs no more often than every 80,000 kilometers. However, there is still a small drawback - the front stabilizer mounts need to be changed every 25,000 kilometers. Their life expectancy cannot be increased even by installing original units.
Body
In five-door versions of the Grand Vitara, the trunk door occasionally sags. The reason for this is the heavy spare wheel. This problem can be corrected with a simple adjustment. Also, over time, the engine fan fails. You can either repair it or buy a new one - such expenses occur no more than once every 2 years. These small flaws are not critical, so the Suzuki body is highly reliable.
Equipment
In the minimal version of the Grand Vitara you can find quite good functionality: six airbags, which, together with the rigid body of later versions, provide reliable protection, climate control, anti-lock braking system and central locking.
The most equipped version, in addition to everything, has ESP, curtain airbags, cruise control, a built-in computer with navigation, power steering, xenon/bi-xenon and fog lights, leather upholstery, full power accessories and a media system.
Bottom line
Each driver must answer the question of whether to buy a used Suzuki Grand Vitara individually. Many car enthusiasts consider this SUV model to be a family model and purchase it for the corresponding needs, but there are also fans of extreme driving who. One way or another, for its price, the Grand Vitara provides the buyer with excellent cross-country ability and high reliability. The disadvantage is the part-time transmission, which is not the best choice for a real SUV. If this is critical, then you should take a closer look at the more expensive Toyota RAV4, Nissan X-Trail or Honda CR-V.
We list the “weak points” of one of the simplest and most reliable Japanese all-terrain vehicles, based on the experience of its owners, and recommend what to look for when choosing such used cars.
Honest Rogue
The second generation Suzuki Grand Vitara is one of the most striking examples of a simple, reliable and fairly high-quality car, which honestly earns the money paid for it year after year. The combination of qualities that are important for buyers of crossovers and SUVs, such as high cross-country ability, reliability, unpretentiousness and adequate cost, have made this all-wheel drive model a bestseller of the Suzuki brand in our country.
And thanks to the presence of a reduction gear and a rigid locking of the center differential in the absence of a classic frame, the Grand Vitara is a unique car in design among modern crossovers. “Grand Vitars”, supplied to the Russian market exclusively from a plant in the Japanese city of Iwata in Shizuoka Prefecture, have been in stable demand throughout the 11 years of sales.
Every year the model sold out in circulation from 10 to 15 thousand units. And sometimes more. Having not lost its consumer qualities with age, Suzuki Grand Vitara continues to faithfully serve its original owners. And the safety margin of this rogue, combined with the low price of maintenance and repairs, makes it a rather attractive offer on the secondary market.
Best the enemy of the good
The “second” Grand Vitara replaced its predecessor of the same name in 2005. Its prototype, called "Suzuki Concept-X2", was presented at the international motor show in New York. The black five-door concept, created in the spirit of the new corporate philosophy "Way of Life", was in many ways similar to the eventually produced production car. Under the hood of the prototype was a 185-horsepower 2.7 V6 gasoline engine from the previous generation of the model, paired with a 5-speed automatic transmission. But unlike its predecessor, the new product had permanent all-wheel drive and a frame integrated into the monocoque body instead of the traditional ladder type.
The new generation of the model for the first time combined the body design features inherent in frameless crossovers, as well as a transmission with a center differential lock and lowering, like a full-fledged SUV. By the way, the Japanese developed the “second” Grand Vitara using some components of the GM Theta platform. But at the same time they were modified, so the Japanese model cannot be called built on an American “trolley”. However, a couple of years later, the Suzuki XL7 was released on this “Dzhiem” platform. It was assembled for the North American market at the CAMI Automotive plant in Canada side by side with the related Chevrolet Equinox and Pontiac Torrent. But this is a completely different car, which has nothing to do with our Grand Vitara.
In Russia, the Suzuki Grand Vitara was officially sold with 3- and 5-door bodies and only with naturally aspirated gasoline engines. At first, these were in-line “fours” 1.6 (106 hp) for the short wheelbase and 2.0 (140 hp) for the long-wheelbase version of the SUV. The first was equipped only with a 5-speed manual and a simplified all-wheel drive transmission without lowering and locking the center differential. And the second, in addition to the mechanics, also has a 4-band automatic transmission. In Europe, the model was also offered with a 129-horsepower 1.9 diesel engine from Renault and with a 106-horsepower 1.6 (for three-door cars until 2008), and in America it was sold as a Grand Vitara V6 with a 185-horsepower “six” from the previous generation XL-7.
In 2008, along with a small external update of the bumpers, radiator grille and lighting equipment, as well as new body colors, enhanced sound insulation and turn signals moved to the mirror housings, the Grand Vitara received two more engines: a 2.4 in-line four and a 3.2 V-shaped six. . The first developed 166 horsepower on a three-door and 169 horsepower on a five-door, and the second, with a capacity of 233 horsepower, was available only with a 5-speed automatic on the long-wheelbase version of the crossover and was sold in Russia only from 2008 to 2009. In 2012, the model was updated again. The crossover received new design wheels, a different radiator grille and a modified bumper. Inside, new seat upholstery and Garmin navigation appeared in top versions.
After the release of a modern successor in 2015 (without the Grand prefix), Russian dealers offered the losing popularity of the Grand Vitara to customers for about a year. They sold their last new car in October 2016. In just 11 years, 110,607 crossovers of this generation were sold in Russia. The most popular were five-door cars with a 2.0 engine and an automatic transmission (44,520 units sold from 2005 to 2016). The second most popular was the Grand Vitara 2.0 with manual transmission (26,106 units), in third place was the crossover with the most powerful 2.4 “four” and automatic transmission (25,587 cars). The least number of cars were sold with the American 3.2 V6 engine (613 units). The second generation Suzuki Grand Vitara has been officially discontinued worldwide since 2017.
Sales statistics of Suzuki Grand Vitara in Russia from 2005 to 2016
Few of all
On the secondary market in Russia, the Suzuki Grand Vitara can be found in all possible combinations with almost any engine and a pair of gearboxes available for this generation of the model. Including cars imported privately from North America with a 2.7 V6 and a 1.9 diesel with a manual transmission from Europe. But the largest number of offers on the Internet today are for five-door cars ( 87% ) and mainly with the 2.0 engine ( 58% ). A slightly smaller selection of crossovers with the “four” 2.4 ( 28% ). Used 3-door cars with a junior engine 1.6 ( 12% ) is about half as much. And those brought from the Old World and “American women” are almost impossible to find (according to 1% ). The worst performers are crossovers with the top 3.2 V6 (less 0,5% ). They were sold in Russia for a short time and were not cheap.
Body details
You are unlikely to see a frankly rusty “second” Grand Vitara even at the age of 10. Unless she was in an accident. The crossover of this generation is generally fine in terms of corrosion resistance. At least, no weak points in the model’s protection against the “red plague” were noticed. The only thing that may cause concern is the condition of the paint. It scratches easily, exposing the primer, and also suffers greatly from stones flying from under the wheels. The front, almost vertical edge of the hood is especially susceptible to chipping. If damage is not touched up to the metal in a timely manner, a superficial red coating will soon appear on it. In general, this is not critical, but it’s not pretty!
Also, the appearance is spoiled by peeling chrome from plastic parts and paint peeling off the wiper arms. And the rubber door seals wipe down the weak paintwork in the doorways to the ground and even to the metal. Sagging of the trunk door under the weight of the spare wheel can be eliminated by simply adjusting the hinges. But its cracked handle will have to be replaced from 700 rubles. However, like a windshield covered with cracks from 5,000 rubles. By the way, it could have become like this because of the past owner’s hobbies for off-road trips. Still, the body of the car is load-bearing and can, over time, get tired and weaken from loads. Such “Grand Vitars” are not the best choice. Their components and assemblies may be more worn out.
Engines
The most well-known engine problems with which the model was officially sold here are related to gasoline. No, the crossover can handle 95 and even 92 normally. But due to poor quality fuel, spark plugs and oxygen sensors from 9,200 rubles “die” in less than 30,000 km; a fuel filter costing 27,300 rubles, complete with a fuel pump, can quickly become clogged. And for 60,000 – 80,000 km a catalytic converter can “fly” for 77,400 rubles. Typical symptoms of its demise are a decrease in power and deterioration in dynamics, difficult (long) starting of the engine, ringing and rattling from the exhaust system, CheckEngine on the dashboard, a sharp unpleasant smell of the exhaust and high fuel consumption.
However, the crossover is famous for its good appetite, and this is often considered normal. And with age, Grand Vitara engines begin to eat up oil due to wear of the piston group. The 2.0 and 2.4 units, which can “drink” up to 350 ml per 1000 km, are especially affected by the “oil guzzler”. Some people delay engine capital by using oil with a higher viscosity. Therefore, it would be good to ask the owner of the selected crossover what kind of oil is poured into the engine and what its consumption is in order to understand whether a major overhaul is coming soon. By the way, a low oil level can halve or triple the life of the timing chain from 2,700 rubles, which is supposed to last 150,000 km.
And for all engines, after 60,000 - 70,000 km, the left support may need to be replaced for 5,100 rubles. On engines located longitudinally under the hood, it wears out earlier, working harder to break when pressing the gas. The vibrations of the body when the engine is idling will indicate the imminent death of the support. Otherwise, the power units of the crossover are quite reliable and unpretentious. The younger 1.6 engine (M16A) is considered one of the most durable in the Grand Vitara, since it works with a simplified transmission and on a lighter three-door. The most popular 2.0 (JB420), with proper care, can easily cover 400,000 km. The more powerful “four” 2.4 (JB424) is also generally trouble-free, but more voracious.
One thing to know about diesel crossovers that are rarely found on sale is that with wear and tear and breakdowns, their engines are no longer as profitable as those on new cars. Finding and choosing an SUV with 2.7 V6 (H27A) is a lottery. With age, in the absence of proper care and timely maintenance, the “six” can cause a lot of trouble and require financial investments due to wear of the timing chain drive mechanism, as well as leakage of oil seals, gaskets and seals. The owners of the previous Grand Vitara XL-7 know this firsthand. And the top 3.2 V6 (N32A), like the Opel Antara and Chevrolet Captiva, is gluttonous, but overall not bad. When it works. Spare parts for an American unit may have to wait longer, and they may cost more.
Transmission
Complaints about the 5-speed manual of the Grand Vitara are rare due to the reliability of this box. If the oil in it was changed every 45,000 km, and the car was not driven off-road, then there should be no problems with the manual transmission. However, during the test drive, make sure that all gears are engaged clearly and without unnecessary effort, and that there are no hums, extraneous noises or crunches coming from the box. A slight trembling of the gearshift lever should not be alarmed - this is a mechanical feature of the Grand Vitara. A clutch for 16,000 rubles lasts an average of 110,000 – 120,000 km and previously required replacement only on cars that often left the asphalt or towed trailers.
The four-speed automatic, which was installed with the “four”, and the 5-speed with the V6 are reliable units from the Japanese company Aisin, lasting 200,000 – 250,000 km. They are leisurely in their work, but they do it conscientiously - smoothly. The oil in them should be changed at least 60,000 km, and preferably after 45,000 km, as under severe operating conditions. It is worth asking the owner how often this was done on his car. Check the operation of the automatic transmission in all modes. It should not twitch, slip when switching, and no extraneous noise should come from it. The presence of these symptoms is a reason to look for another car. Repairing a machine, and especially replacing it, is not a cheap or troublesome task.
The transfer case will not cause any trouble if you monitor the oil level in it and change it at the same time as changing the engine oil. Look under the car and make sure that the seals - especially between the gearbox and transfer case - are intact and not leaking, and that the transmission is clean and dry. The front gearbox costs 25,000 rubles and requires attention. From exposure to moisture due to the low position of the ventilation breather, it may require repair after 60,000 - 70,000 km, without having served the required 200,000 - 250,000 km. And on cars produced before the first restyling, when coasting at 80-90 km/h, the main pair may howl. The only way to silence a node is by replacing it with a modified one.
Rest
The crossover chassis, designed for significant loads, adequately resists bad roads and rarely bothers the owner with breakdowns before 80,000 - 100,000 km. On cars that have not left the asphalt, wheel bearings for 9,300 rubles, assembled with the hub, last up to 150,000 km, and when driving into the mud, they can “die” after 70,000 km. After about 80,000 km, shock absorbers and worn-out silent blocks, as well as front levers for 8,900 rubles, may require replacement due to the “outdated” ball joints that are structurally the same with them. More often - after 15,000 - 25,000 km - you will only have to change the creaking inexpensive stabilizer bushings.
When inspecting the car you like, make sure the climate system is working properly. Check its operation in all modes. At risk is a fan for 3,200 rubles, the motor of which can burn out along with the control relay, as well as the heater damper drives, temperature control and recirculation. All this can be fixed, but only after spending time and money. Also, due to rotten pipes under the hood, the air conditioning may not work, although the compressor will honestly “thresh”, creating noise and consuming the energy allocated to it.
When inspecting the car from the outside, check whether the spare wheel cover on the trunk door is intact. If it is damaged, ask the seller for a discount. The new one is not cheap and costs 27,400 rubles. Also check the operation of the headlight washers if the car has xenon. Non-working injectors are often caused by rotten contacts of a motor costing 4,100 rubles, located at the bottom of the washer reservoir behind the front bumper.
How much?
The price range for the “second” Suzuki Grand Vitara is wide – from 350,000 rubles to 1,250,000 rubles. This is explained by the long production period of this generation of crossover. After all, the age of the very first cars has already exceeded 11 years, and the newest ones are not yet two years old. Regardless of the year of manufacture and mileage, almost all Grand Vitars presented on the secondary market are well-maintained and look very attractive. And their condition can often correspond to their appearance. Good three-door cars can be found at prices up to 440,000 rubles. Five-door cars range from 460,000 – 480,000 rubles. Prices for cars of the second restyling (younger than 2012) start from 750,000 rubles.
Our choice
The most interesting option for buying a Suzuki Grand Vitara, according to the editors of Am.ru, will be the most popular and widely represented five-door version on the market with a 140-horsepower 2-liter “four” and an automatic transmission. This is the most reliable, although not the most dynamic, crossover option. However, the main buyers of this model are conservative older drivers. They value the durability and reliability of the car more than its acceleration time to hundreds. It is best to consider crossovers released after the 2008 restyling. In good condition, such cars can now be found from 600,000 rubles.
Hi all!
So I decided to write a review spontaneously. I’ll be honest, I haven’t even been to the auto market for a year.
They stopped being interested in cars and that’s it).
Vitara was bought unexpectedly. I owned the SX -4 for 2 years and sold it, having accumulated 92 thousand. The car was completely satisfactory. The only thing I wasn't happy with was the cross-country ability. I wanted an SX-4 all-wheel drive and more aggressive tires. Jeep drivers will smile, of course). I didn’t expect miracles - I just had to drive to the dacha after the rain along a dirt road and black soil 700 meters uphill and that’s all. On the last evening before the order, my wife and I simply decided that finances seemed to allow it - let's try to buy a more interesting car. Moreover, they looked at her when they were still students.
The Vitara arrived 2 weeks later with a white interior) The manager somehow hesitantly told us this fact, and we decided - to hell with it - we’ll wash it, if anything happens))).
First impressions - it’s really bigger, heavier and lazier than a passenger car. Even the on-board computer entry: “POWER RESERVE 300 km” was funny at first. POWER RESERVE. Like a steamship). We don't swim - we WALK).
Vitara surprised me. I had a right-handed Pajero mini. By the way, I climbed better. The funny thing is that the Vitara is a universal car. It is Universal - with a capital letter. Not as mega-technological and mega-universal as many others who have service across 3 streets. With a bunch of buttons, heating and other crap. It's just comfortable and durable. And simple. Without turbines and viscous couplings.
My wife and I fell in love with fishing, mushroom picking and traveling around our Russia.
Somehow it encourages Vitara to go for a picnic in the nearest forest.
I think many caught themselves thinking: “I won’t sell this car.” That's what you think when you like a car. The first car that evoked such thoughts was the Vitara.
If anyone needs performance characteristics, look for them on Yandexauto or an auto market. And I’m trying to write down the feeling of owning a car.
Pros of Vitara:
You can PUSH your 120 on ANY road. First smile - why 120? Because our transfer case seals are weak and it is not recommended to accelerate faster). When overtaking, it can happen faster, but I try to adhere to this rule. But the topography of the road really doesn’t matter. Saves the energy intensity of the suspension and the 70 profile with a 16 radius and 225 width. There have been no hernias in a year and the discs have not been adjusted, the shock absorbers are intact.
Eats 92 and 95 AI. We refuel at proven gas stations 95m, as it says on the hatch, if possible
Very good cross-country ability. Much worse than professionally prepared SUVs and even... a stock 3-door Niva. This is not banter, it’s just that the Vitara’s maneuverability is an interesting thing. It ends suddenly. No hints. I was driving and suddenly stood up. Up to a certain point, it tears up all the crossovers, it drives pleasantly, but it doesn’t give you a feeling of confidence - it strives to slide into any wet rut from the UAZ and spend the night there until the morning. The videos on YouTube are a good selection of moments when the Vitara did not sit down. Well, don't be offended fans)
A good trunk for transporting large items, but the dimensions of the item should not exceed 1*1*1 m - this is how our seats fold out. There is a problem with a long oversized vehicle - the second row seats fold out, dividing the Vitara in half. Accordingly, a roll of chain-link mesh, 1.5 meters long, fits right in.
She went through a difficult renovation - she carried mixtures in bags, tiles, barite plaster. 350-400 kg easily in 100 km. I think this is a very confident plus in the rating. All kinds of furniture in Ikea boxes also traveled well and tightly. Naturally, the car didn’t hit the potholes like that and drove calmly. But I got there without any problems and no further services.
Now the family has 2 cars: my wife’s Solaris (I’ll write about it separately because it surprised me) and my Vitara. So, we are planning a trip to Karelia in winter. I don’t think there’s any need to explain which car will drive. It’s her element that’s coming, so we’ll give her a chance and write a review later (if anyone is interested)
Dynamics on the highway - 2 liters 140 horses, mechanics - like an ordinary car. . Who cares about the numbers: 5th gear 100 km/h-3000 rpm. In the city the traffic lights are very tight and slow. Well, these loads are not hers)
About the cons.
There are not many of them, but they are worth mentioning.
Petrol. Everything is learned by comparison, especially when we look at the price of $ recently.
We are waiting for the corresponding prices for 95, as it has been for the last 2 years. Vitara eats gasoline with a good appetite. You don’t notice this while she’s alone in the family. When the Solaris appeared, they suddenly started driving it more often. And it’s not just a matter of consumption, although the difference is at least 50 percent.
The difference is simply in the driving experience. Solaris is lightweight. He is a passenger car. This is a box that engages in any gear and at any speed. The Vitara has a gearbox, like any Suzuki - tight and slurred. But reliable.
If possible, I take Solaris for the city. On the highway - only Vitara.
What are the disadvantages of the Vitara I see. Benz is the first, but not the main one. Possibly very significant for many users. Secondly, well, it doesn’t correspond to the talk about mega cross-country ability. I would even say that it can climb much better, but three BIG design flaws interfere:
Small ground clearance. Less than 200 mm with protection is very little
Front bumper with protection - a plastic curtain that fences off the radiator - well, you can’t do that 4 VD! Any bump on a country road resonates - and we have a broken radiator and we can’t go any further. FINISH. I caught bumps 2 times - I was just lucky. But you can’t go through sections slower - it will sit down.
A silumin rear gearbox with CV joints is no comment at all. For some reason, no one pays attention to this, but I caught bumps in a rut twice with this gearbox. When a stone is encountered, Vitara will go home on a tow truck.
And still I love her. It can have a lot in stock. There aren’t enough stars in the sky, but he doesn’t travel to services all the time either. I will add a review later. Now 63,000 km. The car is out of warranty, no problems, serviced after 10,000 km. according to the manual.
I am very glad if the information was useful to someone. Good luck on the roads!
Good day, dear reader of my blog. In this article I will present an overview of one, interesting, in my opinion, car. This will be a crossover, although I myself am quite skeptical about this class of cars, since I think that most owners of cars in this class do not often need increased cross-country ability, and the car mainly emphasizes the status of the owner. No matter what anyone says, in our country it is quite prestigious to own a crossover, even a relatively budget one.
This car is far from the most comfortable in its class, not the most economical, but rather, on the contrary, not the most prestigious. Nevertheless, the army of owners of this SUV is huge. That's right, an SUV, since this car differs from its counterparts in its expanded capabilities when driving over rough terrain. No, this is not Niva, because such thoughts could have appeared after reading the first part of the article.
Today we will review the Suzuki Grand Vitara or Suzuki Escudo, which is what the car was called in its homeland. And the birthplace of this car was Japan and, by the way, all the Vitars officially sold in Russia were from there. Today we will talk about the most popular generation of this model, which was produced for more than 10 years from 2005 to 2015 without fundamental changes. The car was very popular and was purchased by a huge number of car enthusiasts.
A Billion Chinese Can't Be Wrong
Model life cycle
As I already wrote, the car appeared on our market in 2005. Even at the beginning of its journey, the car did not make a splash. It was a typical average car with a fairly modern appearance for those years and inexpensive interior finishing materials. The configurations were fixed, that is, it was impossible to add this or that equipment, but you had to choose the next configuration.
Restyling 2008
The first restyling took place in 2008. It is quite problematic for an unprepared person to track the changes made. I will list the main innovations:
- Drum brakes disappeared from the rear axle and disc brakes appeared;
- Turn signal repeaters have moved from the front fenders to the rear-view mirror housings;
- The on-board computer screen from the center of the dashboard was removed and now its readings could be read from the instrument cluster;
- The radiator grille has been slightly modified;
- The range of engines has been expanded, 2.4 and 3.2 liters have been added;
- The design of light-alloy wheels with a diameter of 17 has changed, and 18-inch ones began to be installed on cars equipped with a 3.2-liter engine;
There were also other changes, but they are less significant, and we will not talk about them.
Restyling 2012
The second restyling took place in 2012. By this time, the popularity of the car had dropped significantly and the reason was not that the car had changed for the worse, but that the changes in 2008 and 2012 were insignificant. Meanwhile, competitors have new generations, facelifts, and frankly speaking, the outdated Vitara looked rather pale against their background.
The visual changes to the restyled car are already more obvious here. What has been changed:
- Two new configurations appeared, the main differences being a multimedia system with navigation;
- Different seat upholstery material;
- The front of the car is heavily modified (bumper, grille, etc.)
And in 2015, after a sharp change in the ruble-dollar exchange rate, production was discontinued, and the car left dealer showrooms.
Engines and options
Before restyling, the three-door car was equipped only with a 1.6-liter engine (106 hp), paired with a five-speed manual transmission. The five-door Grand Vitara was available only with 2.0 (140 hp), which was coupled with either a 5-speed manual transmission or a four-speed gearbox.
The car's basic equipment was very generous. There were 6 airbags, heated front seats, music control on the steering wheel and much more. The photo shows what the car looks like in its basic configuration before restyling.
The two-liter Grand Vitara with an automatic transmission was of greatest interest. This car was available in only two trim levels. The first is basic, but with 17-diameter light alloy wheels. The second - very rich for those times, included: keyless access, xenon headlights, CD-changer for 6 discs, leather upholstery, ESP and so on.
After restyling in 2008, the short Vitara, in addition to the previous 1.6 (106 hp) and manual transmission, finally acquired an automatic transmission, but it was only available in tandem with an engine with a displacement of 2.4 liters and a power of 166 hp. With. The five-door was also equipped with the same engine, but here there was already a choice of 5-speed manual transmission or 4-speed automatic transmission.
The two-liter engine remained unchanged. And a new 3.2 engine (233 hp) appeared for the Grand Vitara, available only with a five-speed automatic transmission. Only this engine, according to reviews from car owners, turned the “vegetable” Vitara into a car capable of accelerating, but high transport taxes and fuel consumption did not allow this combination to become popular.
The latest restyling of 2012 did not bring any changes to the engine line; only the 3.2-liter six-cylinder V-engine is a thing of the past.
Advantages
Here I will describe those aspects of the car that are positive in my opinion. I also want to say that I know about this car first-hand; I have driven more than one thousand kilometers behind the wheel of it, and I wasn’t just on a test drive.
I will note the very spacious interior of the car, both in length and width. Many classmates are closer. Despite its much greater length, its back row feels tight on the knees, and with a panoramic roof, the top of your head reaches the ceiling. The situation is similar with Ford Kuga, Hyundai ix-35 (tucson), Kia Sportage (regardless of generation). Additional comfort for passengers is created by the angle-adjustable backrest of the rear seat, as well as the almost complete absence of a “gimbal” tunnel.
Despite the hard plastic, the build quality of the interior parts is at a high level. If there are crickets, they are quite rare and the reason for this is most often the intervention of the hands, which do not grow from the shoulders. Also, regardless of the configuration, there is a huge amount of space for all sorts of small things.
Well, the main advantage is the design of the transmission. The transmission is similar to the VAZ 2121 Niva, that is, permanent all-wheel drive with a low range and a center differential lock. For complete happiness, the owner does not have enough locking of at least one cross-axle differential. Permanent all-wheel drive, as opposed to one connected using a clutch, makes it possible to safely move along unclean winter roads for as long as you like without fear of overheating the clutch. And the locking helps distribute the torque equally between the axles.
Suzuki Grand Vitara has good handling. It has a heavy, but very accurate steering wheel with very decent feedback.
Flaws
Here we have the downside of permanent all-wheel drive, which is high fuel consumption compared to its classmates. In the city there is even a two-liter manual engine!!! can eat 15 liters per hundred, not to mention the automatic and larger 2.4 and 3.2 liter engines. Even when driving on the highway, it is not always possible to meet the cherished 10 liters per 100 km.
Trunk volume. This is not exactly a drawback; for some, it may not be a minus at all. The trunk has a large height with a short length. Therefore, it seems like the volume turns out to be decent if you load it right under the shelf, and the trunk area is relatively small.
The disadvantages include the low level of acoustic comfort. And this is not only my opinion, but the opinion of the majority of owners. The first part here is played by the engine, which is clearly audible in almost all modes. Plus, as the speed increases, noise is added to the sound of the engine due to poor aerodynamics.
Is it worth buying?
Rather yes than no. And here, first of all, you should look not at the advantages and disadvantages described above, but at the reliability of the car’s design as a whole. There are no turbocharged engines, either diesel or gasoline. The transmission uses a classic hydromechanical automatic. In no way do I want to offend the owners of cars with robotic gearboxes and CVTs, which have their own positive aspects, but a hydromechanical gearbox, all other things being equal, has a longer, and much longer, resource. Is this important to a person purchasing a used car? It is important for the buyer to know that after purchase he will not have to undergo expensive repairs, and maybe even a replacement robot or variator. And before purchasing, be sure to check that the vehicle’s configuration and color matches the information encoded in the VIN number, this will help you.
This concludes the publication. I will be happy to answer questions and provide practical advice. I recommend reading the second generation, which I owned for more than 6 years. See you soon on the blog pages! Bye!
