Suzuki GRAND VITARA 3-door range
Suzukis Latest Grand Vitara 3-door Soft-Top And Estate Models Will Be A Revelation To Those Who Owned Their Predecessors. But Will Others Like Them? Jonathan Crouch Decides
Out in the Caribbean,
Suzuki does rather well. Almost every other vehicle you see on the road is one of the companys four-wheel drive soft-tops. Here in Europe, of course, things are rather different. The market for little three door soft-top roaders is generally restricted to the young surf-shacking set.
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Since, in Britain at least, there arent enough of these people to go around,
Suzuki prefers to suggest that its Grand Vitara three-door models are intended for `the young at heart. This of course, is the short wheelbase version of the Grand Vitara five-door model which has now replaced the ancient Vitara. Two three-door models are on offer: a soft-top and a hard-top Estate version. Theres a limited power choice of a 2.0-litre turbo diesel engine (only available in the hard-top) or a petrol 1.6 but you can get a plusher SE equipment option if you go for the hard-top and youve £800 to spare (SE is standard with the 2.
0-litre diesel). Although, in their basic forms, the Estate and Soft-Top bodystyles are identically priced and specified, the two variants are built in different factories. The Soft-Top is made in Suzukis Canadian plant (a joint venture with General Motors) while the Estate comes from Japan. The completion of the Grand Vitara line-up means that Suzuki's entire mainstream four-wheel drive range has now been brought up to date. The company is therefore in a much better position to fight increasing competition from rivals like the
Land Rover Freelander, the
Toyota RAV 4 and the
Honda HR-V. All of these alternatives are significantly more expensive of course. At £11,995, the GV1600 model looks decent value.
"The soft-tops canvas roof enables open-top motoring targa-style..."
As with the five-door Grand Vitara, the three-door Soft-Top and Estate models are based on a separate, ladder-frame chassis which, in Suzukis eyes, makes them real 4x4s. Rivals like the RAV 4, the company points out, are based on passenger car underpinnings, which makes them less than ideal when it comes to heavy 4x4 work. That would be quite a useful selling point if cars like this were ever used for heavy 4x4 work. The reality is, however, that theyre not.
The closest most potential buyers come to getting their vehicles dirty is when theyre parked on the grass verge. Tarmac is the real home turf for these Suzukis an area where their predecessors struggled badly. Driving an original Vitara at speed along a bumpy country lane was an experience akin to sitting astride a bucking bronco. In comparison, the three-door Grand Vitaras ride is a revelation, thanks to a five-link rigid axle with movement controlled by separate springs and low-pressure gas shock absorbers.
This is now something you really could use as an everyday car. Of course, it wont handle quite like an everyday car; youre too high off the ground for that. Its not bad, however, providing you dont fling the Grand Vitara around too much; the addition of a front stabiliser bar has done little to control body movement. Where the Grand Vitara Soft-Top doesnt feel quite as happy is on the motorway.
Its susceptible to side winds and the fabric hood reminds you all the time what youve bought. In the wet, thanks to the PVC rear window, you can hardly see anything behind. Still, this isnt a motorway car and in any case, there are plenty of compensations. The Estate is quieter, of course, with better visibility through the tailgate glass, but it too gets buffeted about.
The front section of the Soft-Tops canvas hood above the front seats can be folded back or removed separately if required, enabling the driver and front
seat passenger to enjoy open-top motoring targa-style. If you want to go the whole hog, the rear section has been designed to be unzipped and folded down to create a full Cabriolet-style 4x4. Be warned however, its not a quick job. Once youre roofless, however, the car does become a very flexible load carrier thanks to 50/50 split rear seats that can be independently folded for loading versatility or `somersaulted forward to provide maximum storage. The Estates load area is equally flexible. The Grand Vitara estate has been treated to a thorough working over in order to keep the value proposition looking fresh. The focus of these improvements has been a comprehensive reworking of the Vitara interiors and not before time as the cabins were starting to look a little tired.
The controls, instrumentation and specifications have been uprated and trim quality is far better. If you do go off road, these cars wont disappoint. Ground clearance is a generous 7.7 inches, whilst approach and departure angles are 34 and 31 degrees respectively.
As with other 4WD Suzukis, youve only to move the second gear lever by the handbrake forward out of two-wheel drive into either 4 High or 4 Low, depending on the conditions ahead. Alternatively, for easier conditions in the Sainsburys car park you can have a four-speed automatic transmission for £950 extra. In summary then, these are cars that will be warmly welcomed by the surf shack set. And theyll love the Soft-Top in the Caribbean.
FACTS AT A GLANCE
CAR: Suzuki Grand Vitara 3-door range
PRICE: £11,995-£13,995 - on the road
INSURANCE GROUP: 10
CO2 EMISSIONS: 193g/km
PERFORMANCE: Max Speed 90 mph 0-60 13.0 seconds
FUEL CONSUMPTION: (combined) 45 mpg
WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: [Soft-Top] Length/Width/Height, 3875/1710/1690mm
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