Suzuki released the new Grand Vitara last week and it already promises to be a car to look forward to. The Grand Vitara makes up for 14% of their passenger car sales and the changes to the compact SUV will likely propel it into the next phase of growth. It is living up to the ‘Live the Legend’ motto it was launched with as an SUV that does not struggle to conquer much.
In the coming months a number of new Grand Vitara models are expected arrive as Suzuki embarks on their objective of making the Compact SUV their flagship model across their entire range of vehicles. Thus, even with the newest model launching, we can look forward to more from the Grand Vitara.
The drive
The Suzuki Grand Vitara comes with the naturally aspirated 4-cylinder K15 engine which is known within the brand for
efficiency and reliability. It provides a power output of 77 kW and torque of 138 Nm. The launch drive took us across various terrains from perfectly tarred road to single lane dust roads slightly wet from the night before. It never struggled with any scenario, except perhaps in one respect, and in many instances was certainly put through its paces.
The respect I was not convinced about was in the transmission. There are two options, a 5-speed manual and a 4-speed auto. On inclines and in certain other instances you were acutely aware of the 4-speed that if I were to buy the Grand Vitara and use it for all the purposes it was designed, I would select the manual transmission over the auto.
The Allgrip model is the 
first hybrid engine in South Africa for the Suzuki range. It has the ability generate power and store it in a 12v battery. That power is then used when in driving situations that have high-demand for power. The Allgrip is only, however, available in hybrid. I can assure you it performs very well, and on all terrain, so no concern there.
The Grand Vitara Allgrip is also an all-wheel drive. The all-wheel drive engages when the front starts slipping and the rear wheel reduction kick in. It provides faster engine and improved throttle responses. The Allgrip models have hill descent control as well.
Another noteworthy feature
is that the Allgrip has a start/stop function that initiates before the compact SUV comes to a full stop.
The claimed fuel consumption is 5.6L/100km. Before my driving partner took over, the fuel consumption was at 6.9L/100km before the tank was even half empty. I will be interested to put this to the full test once we have the opportunity to do a longer test.
Design
At the front, one of the most notable design changes is the three point-lights which also double as visual lamps and turn signal lights. Thus, if the driver is turning right, the lights on that side of the vehicle change to signal lights instead of the normal lights.
From the rear, you can see the same design of the three-point LED light and running lights design. Unlike the front, the rear indicators can be seen at the bottom of the bumper. Emphasis has also been placed on the individual lettering for the ‘Vitara’ wording.
The interior
Material used for the seats varies depending on what model you have selected. The GL version has cloth seats while the GLX and Allgrip models have leather seats. The premium interior is used to differentiate the different models.
Higher models also feature
ambient lights by the feet. It also has a panoramic sunroof which is one of largest sunroofs available in that particular segment.
Suzuki increased the dimensions of the vehicle for various reasons. From the interior this allows for more space particularly in the boot and consequently the luggage storage. It also allows for a full-size spare. Exterior dimension of note is an increase to a 210mm ground clearance in all models. This is the same as the Jimny and higher than the previous derivative of the Grand Vitara.
All the variants come with automatic air-conditioning. There are AC vents across the range as well. There are six airbags as standard in all three variants as well. Drivers have seven colours from which to choose including two new colours. One can also choose from three two-tone colour options where midnight black is paired with Arctic White, Splendid Silver or Opulent Red.
In terms of tech, the GL has 
a 7-inch touchscreen while the GLX has a 9-inch screen. There are also smart alerts on the touchscreens across all models. The GLX has two USB sockets in the rear. All variants have the rear-cam which is of quite good quality.
Of particular note is the 360° camera as standard in the GLX Allgrip. This provides a clear view of the sides, front and rear. The GLX also features heads-up display, similar to what you would find in the Baleno GLX.
Other perks (and necessities) in the Grand Vitara include keyless entry, a start button, hill hold control, ABS, EBS. Thus, across the range they are comprehensively equipped. The GLX has all these features but also has 17-inch diamond cut alloy wheels, the panoramic sunroof, leather seats and heads-up display.
The bonus is that the Grand Vitara comes in at a very competitive price, particularly when compared to its closest competitors. It also has a 6 year introductory service plan on all models and a 5-year warranty.
- 1.5 GL manual –
R339 900 - 1.5 GL auto – R359 900
- 1.6 GLX manual – R397 900
- 1.5 GLX auto – R417 900
- 1.5 GLX AUTO Hybrid Allgrip – R529 900
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