Insurance Group: 17
MPG: 34.5
CO2: 189
0-62 Mph: 14.4 secs
BHP: 105 BHP
Range: 417 miles
PROS: Well equipped for an entry-level model, good off-road capability, comfortable space for five adults, nicely finished interior.
CONS: The 1.6-litre petrol engine is noisy and the engine lacks power lower down the rev range. Not as economical to run as some of its rivals.
Inside the cabin most drivers won’t have a problem finding the ideal driving position thanks to the height adjustment on the driver’s seat and the steering wheel. Unfortunately, there’s no adjustment for reach on the steering wheel though. The dash is well laid out with everything within easy reach, and with easy to use, clear switches and controls. Visibility is good all round thanks to the commanding driving position and the large door-mounted rear mirrors.
This Grand Vitara SZ3 comes equipped with a 105bhp 1.6-litre 4 cylinder 16 valve petrol engine which feels a bit underpowered for a car this size. It produces a top speed of 99mph and 0-62mph will take you 14.4 seconds. Its pulling power comes in nearer the top of the rev range producing maximum torque of 107lb-ft of at 4,100rpm. Average fuel economy is not very impressive at only 34.5mpg, but it’s on a par with other in its class. The five-speed manual gearbox fitted is a bit heavy when changing and is not as good as the automatic option offered with the 2.4-litre petrol engine version.
Handling is decent, with firm suspension, good grip, and steering which is well-weighted, helping maintain composure when cornering. Body lean is well controlled and the ride in general is comfortable over most surfaces.
The 1.6-litre petrol engine is the noisiest of the engine options, and its drone is evident at cruising speeds. Road noise is reasonably well suppressed inside the cabin, however, wind noise is louder than you’d like on the motorway.
The Grand Vitara, with its classic Suzuki lines, looks every inch the smart 4X4; equally at home in the city or off-road in the country - thanks to its high ground clearance. It benefits from a reworked interior which is much more up market than previous versions.
The SZ3 comes reasonably well equipped with power steering, remote central locking, stability control, alloy wheels, climate control, electric door mirrors, electric front windows, immobiliser, and CD with controls mounted on the steering wheel. The SZ4 trim adds larger alloy wheels, CD changer, better stereo, privacy glass and front fog-lamps.
The 3-door version is not as practical as the 5-door version, although the space available inside the cabin is decent for five adults in comfort. Boot space is good too; offering 184-litres with the rear seats in place and 516-litres with them folded down out of the way.
EuroNCAP awarded four-stars for occupant safety, three-stars for children and three-stars for pedestrians in their crash-tests of the Grand Vitara. Safety features include front, side and curtain airbags, ABS and electronic brake-force distribution system as standard.
Anti theft measures include an engine immobilizer and remote central locking.
The Grand Vitara 1.3 SZ3 3dr's interior is well finished and everything has a nice solid, durable feel to it. Suzuki has an enviable reputation for reliability in general and the Grand Vitara has been around for some time, so it’s well tried and tested.
It comes with Suzuki’s three-year/60,000 mile warranty and regular service intervals of 9,000 miles.
At £15,995 it’s cheaper to buy than the offerings from Honda and Nissan, but it may be worthwhile going for a model with a more powerful engine.
Fuel economy, even with the diesel versions, is anything but frugal, and CO2 emissions of 195g/km (Road Tax in VED band J) and group 17 insurance don’t help either in terms of running costs.
In its favour is its ability to actually perform well off-road, unlike some of its competitors.
Resale values are not the best, and the diesel versions are more sought after than those with petrol engines.
Soft-roaders are commonplace now, but in this medium sized 4X4 class the Suzuki Grand Vitara 1.6 SZ3 actually comes with real off-road ability too, unlike some of its competitors. It’s got bags of ...
The Grand Vitara is rubbish. It offers good off-road capabilities at a low price but that's it. There are much better cars out there.
Don't bother. The Grand Vitara is thoroughly outclassed by all of its main competitors. It's good off-road but is hopeless at pretty much everything else.
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