It was much better than I expected — surprisingly improved, in fact — the 2006 Suzuki Grand Vitara V-6. I was driving the XSport version.
I’d last driven a Grand Vitara in 2000 or 2001. It’s hard to remember the exact date. But I recollect that it was an awful ride — heavy and unwieldy on the front end, bumpy and completely uncertain of itself in the rear.
The interior of that early Grand Vitara was equally disappointing. It was a cut-rate, compact sport-utility vehicle with a passionately plastic cabin, the motorized version of a super-low-end discount store.
It’s funny how the mind works. You get an idea about something or someone, and if it’s a bad idea, you act accordingly. You stay away from that person or thing, which is what I’d done with subsequent Grand Vitara models — until this one.
The people at American Suzuki, the stateside purveyor of Japanese-made Suzuki automotive products, vowed that their latest Grand Vitara was indeed grand, easily on par with the likes of the Toyota RAV-4 and the Honda CR-V compact sport-utility models. I listened to them this time because of something that has happened with the American and Korean automobile manufacturers. Call it “quality creep.”
As the term implies, quality creep is often hard to discern while it is taking place. But the fact is that the Americans and Koreans have gotten as good at making vehicles as the top-ranked Japanese.
Consider the new Chevrolet Equinox compact SUV, which shares a similar mechanical and structural heritage with the Grand Vitara by Suzuki, General Motors Corp.’s former Japanese partner. Take a look at the comparable Hyundai Tucson V-6, which is every bit as good as the rival rides from Honda and Toyota — if not better, considering its price.
That is why, this time, I listened to Suzuki, the least prestigious of the Japanese car companies. People change. Companies are operated by people. That means companies can change, too. It’s a matter of pride, of deciding that yesterday’s failure won’t be allowed to summarize your life’s work or to undermine tomorrow’s potential for success.
Clearly, the people at Suzuki have made such a decision. The 2006 Grand Vitara, offered with rear-wheel drive or with one of two tested four-wheel-drive systems, is proof. The Toyota RAV-4 and Honda CR-V have nothing on this one. Instead, the new Grand Vitara, with its Korean-like pricing, has an edge.
Step inside the most comfortable, ergonomically thoughtful Grand Vitara cabin ever made. The controls and displays on the elegantly flowing center-stack console are easy to use and read. Clustered circle gauges on the left of the instrument panel are both attractive and instantly informative. Interior material quality is high, globally competitive with the best used in any other compact sport-utility model. It all makes you want to be in this vehicle.
There has been much confusing chatter lately about economical, compact, car-like sport-utility models such as the Grand Vitara not having enough power. That talk is confusing because it does not make a lot of sense in an era of constantly escalating gasoline prices and of increased difficulty and cost in producing oil.
What is enough power? The 2006 Grand Vitara has a standard 2.7-liter V-6 engine that produces 185 horsepower and 184 foot-pounds of torque. It provides enough power to carry five people and their stuff fast enough to get speeding tickets in Virginia, Maryland or any other jurisdiction. To me, that’s “enough power.” And the latest edition of the Grand Vitara shows that Suzuki has enough spunk to give anybody a run for the money.
Nuts & Bolts 2006 Suzuki Grand Vitara
Complaint: The tested XSport version of the new Grand Vitara comes with an electronic Smartpass fob that eliminates the need to insert a key into the ignition lock. Sensors in the ignition system “read” the fob. Theoretically, the driver need only twist a switch to start the sport-utility vehicle. But the ignition switch doesn’t always work smoothly. Suzuki needs to check this.
Ride, acceleration and handling: Excellent ride and handling, largely thanks to rigid but lightweight unitized body construction and a much improved suspension (four-wheel independent with McPherson struts, coil springs, hydraulic shock absorbers and anti-roll bar up front and a multi-link suspension with coil springs, hydraulic shock absorbers and anti-roll bar in the rear). Good acceleration.
Head-turning quotient: Friendly, attractive.
Body style, layout: The Grand Vitara V-6 is a compact, front-engine economy sport-utility model available with rear-wheel drive or four-wheel drive. There are two four-wheel-drive systems — full-time, single-mode with four-wheel high-gear only; and full-time, four-mode with a locking differential and low-range four-wheel-drive gear. Get the four-mode version if you intend to drive off-road.
Engine/transmission: The standard engine is a 2.7-liter, 24-valve V-6 that develops 185 horsepower at 6,000 revolutions per minute and 184 foot-pounds of torque at 4,500 rpm. In the XSport and luxury package versions of the Grand Vitara, that engine is linked to a standard five-speed automatic transmission. The base and premium versions get a standard five-speed manual.
Capacities: The Grand Vitara has seating for five people. Cargo space with rear seats folded is 69 cubic feet. Luggage space is 24.4 cubic feet with rear seats up. The fuel tank holds 17.4 gallons of recommended regular unleaded gasoline. Towing capacity is 3,000 pounds.
Mileage: I averaged 21 miles per gallon in city/highway driving.
Safety: Standard side and head air bags. Anti-lock brakes and traction and stability control are also standard.
Price: Base price on the tested 2006 Suzuki Grand Vitara XSport is $22,499. Dealer’s invoice price on that model is $21,599. Price as tested is $23,094, including a $595 destination charge. Dealer’s price as tested is $22,194.
Purse-strings note: It’s a buy. Compare with Chevrolet Equinox, Ford Escape, Honda CR-V, Toyota RAV-4 and Hyundai Tucson.