Suzuki Grand Vitara (1998 - 2006) Car Review

JUST FOUR FUN

Our Rating: 5.3 / 10

BY ANDY ENRIGHT

The Suzuki Grand Vitara is a serious four-wheel drive that has struggled to rid itself of the wide-wheel and bodykit image Vitaras were saddled with in the early nineties. In many ways Suzuki themselves didn’t help its cause by introducing a frivolous three-door soft-top version, invoking the spirit of what many people consider the worst car in recent history, the Suzuki X-90. These associations do a fine car no favours. Find a good used Grand Vitara and you’ll have a reasonably stylish 4x4 that will embarrass many more ‘established’ off road favourites when the going gets muddy.

History

The Grand Vitara is a more serious proposition than its junior sibling and upon launch in April 1998 offered a five-door body with a 2.5 V6 engine, then a unique feature in the junior 4x4 market sector. Five months later, the turbo diesel option was introduced, with a 2.0-litre capacity in the same body shell. The range remained unchanged until May 1999, when the GV2000 Soft Top was launched. This used a 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine, and had three doors and a rather ungainly profile.

The range was completed with the launch of the three-door estate variant in March 2000. This handsome model offered the larger dimensions that buyers in the market for vehicles such as a Honda HR-V or Toyota RAV-4 weren’t getting from the standard Vitara. Like all Grand Vitara models, it boasted a rugged ladder-framed chassis and low-ratio gearbox, which bestowed superior off road capabilities.

Early in 2001, both 3 and 5-door versions got a minor facelift and a trim upgrade. The 3-door got a new 1.6-litre engine option, while the 5-door gained a better turbo diesel engine and a 2.0-litre four cylinder petrol variant. The long wheelbase 2.7-litre XL7 seven seater variant debuted at the end of 2001 followed in April 2002 by a five seater model.

Opinion

There’s a vague division in the market for four-wheel drives at the moment. ‘Proper’ off-road cars such as Range Rovers or Toyota Land Cruisers have tough ladder-framed chassis which are far more rugged than those that use a car-based monocoque arrangement, such as the Toyota RAV-4 or the Honda CR-V. If the market were divided into those two camps, things would be easy. Unfortunately you get vehicles like the Land Rover Freelander, with its serious name and off-road pretensions which are monocoque bodied, and vehicles like the Suzuki Grand Vitara that seem quite lightweight, but boasts a full ladder frame and low-range gearbox. In truth, the Suzuki is a great deal more accomplished and no-nonsense than many would believe.

The five-door versions have sold far more than the soft-top and newer three-door hardtop version, and makes an interesting case for itself. Equipment on the both five-door versions includes a CD player, electric windows, central locking, powered mirrors and an adjustable steering wheel, but air-conditioning and ABS were extras. Given that asking prices for the V6 significantly undercut rivals such as the Freelander, this makes the Grand Vitara a value used buy. There have been no short cuts on the safety front either. Proof of this can be seen by the fact that Suzuki immediately meets the latest stringent USA model year crash standards; the Freelander needs modifications to do so. Twin airbags are standard of course, as is the now almost compulsory high-level rear stop light.

The three-door models may have sold less, but in many ways are more interesting. Badged in this country as GV2000 models, they are identically priced and specified, but the two body types are built in different factories. The Soft-Top is made in Suzuki’s Canadian plant (a joint venture with General Motors) while the Estate comes from Japan.

The front section of the Soft-Top’s canvas hood – above the front seats – can be folded back or removed separately if required, enablin

Cost

Grand Vitara prices start at just over £4,400 for the best model in the range, the 2.5-litre V6. For this sort of money, expect to net one of the early 1998 R-registered cars, and expect to pay about £400 more for an automatic model. A more recent 2000 V-plated manual five-door V6 will command around £5,600. The diesel models start at a similar amount, and this will buy a 1999 T-registered 2.0TD manual. With the diesels, the automatic option commands a premium of about £400. The three-door Grand Vitara starts at around £4,750 for a 1999 T-registered Soft Top. Hard top models go for around £500 more. Insurance for diesel Grand Vitaras is Group 11, with all petrol-engined models falling into Group 12.

Problems?

The Grand Vitara is largely reliable, but as with most proper 4x4s, you’ll need to check for damage caused by off road work. Have a good look at the underbody, and check the suspension, sills, ramp and departure points and also wheelarch liners for signs of damage. Also inspect the paintwork and body for damage from branches etc. It would also pay to reject cars with whining differentials, noisy gearboxes, a chattering set of valves or a loud camshaft unless you plan to undertake the repairs. One bugbear of the range is seizing brake callipers, especially if the vehicle has been laid up for some time. Other than this, just insist on a fully stamped up service history.

Parts

(approx based on a 1998 Grand Vitara V6) If the previous keeper’s been off-roading in their Grand Vitara, check the exhaust system, as at around £500 for a replacement, it’s not a repair to be undertaken lightly. A new clutch assembly will be around £200, and a replacement headlamp is about £130. Front brake pads and rear brake shoes are both around £55 a pair, whilst a new radiator retails at £250. A new alternator is only slightly cheaper at £240, whilst a new starter motor weighs in at a pricey £350.

Road

Drive the Grand Vitara solely on the road and you’ll be enjoying about half of the full ownership experience. To understand its raison d’etre, it’s best to undertake a bit of off-road activity. For a start, you get the box-section steel ladder-frame structure for strength and durability and the low ratio gearbox, for impressive ability in the mud. In fact, the only thing the Grand Vitara lacks is permanent four-wheel drive. Suzuki says you won’t need it (though Land Rover owners, of course, will beg to differ). Instead, a new ‘Drive Select’ system has been developed; rather than having to stop to engage four-wheel drive, as was necessary before, you can now do so at speeds of up to 62mph.

The Grand Vitara five-door’s other unique feature for this sector of the market is a V6 engine (though you can also opt for 2.0-litre Turbo Diesel version or two-litre petrol in the three-door models). The V6 in question is a specially-developed 2.5-litre 24-valve 2493cc unit with multi-point fuel injection, putting out 142bhp. It doesn’t make the car a ball of fire (the maximum speed is a mere 103mph) but in an off roader of this type, that’s not a problem.

No, the key selling point here is torque; pulling power to get you up the steepest of slopes. Pulling power to make constant gear changing around town unnecessary (it pulls in fifth from almost walking speed). That the top Vitara is now at last an easy vehicle to live with is also confirmed by the changes which have been made in terms of steering, suspension and overall refinement. Steering first; the new rack and pinion set-up is light-years ahead of the old recirculating ball system this company used to inflict on its customers. The car now goes immediately where you point it. The ride too, is far better than anything Suzuki have yet produced (though it’s still not perfect over rough surfaces). The engineers have also learnt how to control body roll – and not before time. The three-door GV2000 models are even better on roa

Overall

A used Suzuki Grand Vitara is a good way to acquire a rea