Suzuki Grand Vitara SZ Range : BABY GRAND

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Prepare to have your preconceptions regarding Suzuki 4x4 vehicles dashed by the Grand Vitara SZ 3-Door. Steve Walker reportsâ€¦

If the words three-door and Vitara in close proximity still bring you to mind of the huge tyres and outlandishly flared wheelarches that adorned the low-riding original Vitara in the early 90s, it's definitely time you reappraised Suzuki's compact 4x4 offerings. With requisite blaring stereo and a uniform for drivers comprised of backwards baseball cap, wrap-around sunglasses and sports vest, these fashion victim vehicles could be credited as forerunners of today's lifestyle 4x4s. With hindsight, however, they just seem irredeemably naff. Undaunted by the embarrassing wardrobe faux pas of its youth, Suzuki have persevered with the Vitara and in today's SZ 3-door Grand Vitara guise, it has matured in some style.

You'd expect the Grand Vitara to be bigger (or at least grander) than the original Vitara but it's more than that. There's virtually nothing of that car's DNA in today's product. What the current Grand Vitara is bigger than is the old Grand Vitara - the model that campaigned quietly from 1998 until this replacement arrived. We're looking at the 3-door SZ models here and the current version is 10cm longer while adding 3cm in width over its predecessor. It's actually 4cm shorter as well but Suzuki are keen to point out that the integral ladder frame construction of this model allows lower floor heights than in the old car. There's no reduction in headroom and ground clearance is increased to 20cm. There's also a marked disparity between the bodystyles of the current Grand Vitara, with the SZ 3-door giving 46cm in length away to the 5-door derivative. This indicates differences between the two versions that go beyond the choice of entry and exit points. There's definitely a more pugnacious feel to the 3-door car's styling, its thick B-pillar and squat, muscular stance contrasting with the longer lines of the larger car. Predictably, space is at more of a premium in the rear of the 3-door too.

"Suzuki have a well-deserved reputation for producing 4x4s which actually perform rather well when the going gets steep and slippery"

Occupants will find legroom significantly reduced but the possibility of seating two adults in the back remains a realistic one. The 3-door SZ Grand Vitara features 50:50 split-folding rear seats, as opposed to the 60:40 set-up in the 5-door. With the release of a lever at the seat base, the backs fold down to increase luggage capacity at the expense of passenger accommodation. More space can then be freed-up relatively easily by means of a lever at the back which allows the whole seat to tumble forward. All of the 3-door SZ Grand Vitaras come with the same engine options as those offered on the five-door. These include a 1.6-litre VVT petrol unit, a 166bhp 2.4-litre petrol option and a 1.9-litre diesel. The 1.6 is a competent but fairly unremarkable offering. This 105bhp engine is typical of variable valve timing petrol units in that it develops its peak power at a relatively high 5,900rpm. Peak torque of 107lb/ft is produced at 4,100rpm and consequentially, you do have to rev the engine quite hard to get the best out of it. This isn't a powerplant that you'd mark out as particularly well-suited to the rough stuff (and seasoned offroad practitioners will opt for the low down grunt of the diesel) but on the road, the 16-valve unit is refined and peppy. Combined fuel consumption of 32.5mpg is just about what you'd expect from a 1.6-litre petrol powered compact 4x4 but that will drop-off considerably if you hitch on a 1,600kg trailer which would equal the Grand Vitara 3-door's impressive maximum towing weight. Opt for the diesel if you can find the extra. Suzuki have a well-deserved reputation for producing 4x4s which actually perform rather well when the going gets steep and slippery. One would imagine that the 3-door Grand Vitara's key customer base would be formed by trendy urbanites attracted by the funky styling, active image and mild road manners that typify compact 4x4s. If, however, such a buyer decided to put the Suzuki's alleged offroad abilities to the test, they would probably be surprised. The Grand Vitara features a tough, built-in ladder frame chassis and independent suspension for all four wheels. The stiff underpinnings allow the permanent four-wheel-drive transmission system to extract maximum traction from the terrain while keeping the vehicle stable and the suspension (MacPherson struts at the front, multilink at the rear) helps to give a supple on road ride. The 3-door car can't offer the same range of offroad capabilities as the 5-door model which boasts a locking centre differential and a low-range gearbox. It does have a torque-sensing limited slip differential though, and the 4x4 system is constantly engaged - unlike on many `softroaders' which switch automatically between two and four wheel drive. Recent models get minor tweaks to their outside styling aimed at offering up a more sculpted and muscular appearance, changes that add 30mm to the front overhang. The interior of the Grand Vitara 3-door is a far cry from Suzuki models past. Gone are the acres of black or grey plastics as seen in the old Grand Vitara and in their place comes a far more stylish duotone finish to the dashboard. The three-spoke steering wheel is an attractive design and can be configured with wheel-mounted controls for the stereo. Recent detail improvements include a revised multi-information display in the main instrument cluster, giving the driver clear information on vehicle status, including fuel consumption, mileage, driving range. The steering wheel-mounted switches are now illuminated for greater ease of use and there is a smarter control panel for the climate control unit. Safety measures have been upgraded in recent times, most notably with the introduction of an Electronic Stability Programme, rear disc brakes on the 1.9 DDiS and 2.4 models and extra shock-absorbing elements around the bonnet, wings and front bumper to reduce the risk of injury to pedestrians. With the 5-door model catering for buyers who prioritise more prosaic qualities in their 4x4s, the 3-door SZ model sacrifices some space, practicality and offroad ability to deliver a sportier appeal intended to attract the lifestyle-orientated buyer. It's pitched against the likes of Toyota's RAV-4 and Land Rover's Freelander, models. These are products with more by way of brand equity than the Grand Vitara in a market where image is particularly important but given the Suzuki's undeniable quality, they might start feeling the pinch once it gets into its stride.

Facts At A Glance
CAR: Suzuki Grand Vitara SZ 3-Door range
PRICES: £13,600-£16,200 - on the road
INSURANCE GROUPS: 12-14
CO2 EMISSIONS: 183-210g/km
PERFORMANCE: [1.6] 0-60mph 13.4 seconds / Max Speed 99mph
FUEL CONSUMPTION: [1.6] (combined) 32.5 mpg
STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Twin front airbags. ABS, ESP
WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: Length/Width/Height, 4005/1810/1695mm