Suzuki Grand Vitara 2015 Review

When Suzuki introduced the Grand Vitara in 1988, there was little competition. For many, the SUV segment was a foreign concept. Almost 30 years later, it represents the fastest expanding market segment in Australia, accounting for one-in-three of all new cars sold.

Competition is rife, and Suzuki's third-gen offering is now a dated model upstaged by a plethora of sexy new competitors. A new, slightly smaller 'Vitara' is due in weeks, though the mid-sized model tested here looks set to continue unchanged, its basic ingredients showing a strength of character budget conscious buyers would be unwise to ignore.

The current Grand Vitara range has been consolidated to three grades (Navigator, Sport and Prestige respectively). Low grade models offer two-wheel drive only, while the higher-spec variants offer real four-wheel drive (as opposed to the all-wheel drive system of many rivals). All are offered with a 2.4-litre petrol engine and are offered with a choice of five-speed manual or four-speed automatic transmissions. There is currently no diesel option.

Pricing begins at $27,990 (plus ORCs), which places the Grand Vitara in striking distance of the Mazda CX-5, Nissan X-TRAIL and Toyota RAV4. The Navigator variant on test offers 18-inch alloy wheels (including a full-size matching spare), combination suede and cloth upholstery, roof rails and sat-nav as standard fare.

Bluetooth connectivity for telephony and audio streaming is included, as are cruise control and a reversing camera. The 6.1-inch touchscreen offers access to the usual infotainment features, and while the system isn't as intuitive – or as high-resolution – as some newcomers, it's not the worst in its segment either.

However, the Grand Vitara does miss out on a few mod cons. Absent are keyless entry and electrically-adjustable seats, parking sensors and a powered tailgate. The steering column also offers only tilt adjustment (no reach), which means the ergonomics are slightly less flexible than much of the Grand Vitara's competition.

Jump in to the back seat and the story improves. The second row is quite comfortable, surprisingly spacious and offers good outward visibility for the little ones. Three kids are easily accommodated –all with lap/sash seatbelts – and the seats do offer adjustable recline and flip-out cupholders. There are, however, no rear-seat ventilation outlets and little kids may struggle with the sill height when climbing in and out.

Behind the second row lies 398 litres of cargo space, which can be expanded to 1368 litres when the back seats aren't in use. Moving the seats out of the way is an unfortunately clumsy exercise, the tumble and anchor arrangement not as easy as many newer competitors' spring-loaded jobbies. There's no third-row seating, but there are child-seat anchor points (top-tether), a cargo bay light and a 12-volt power outlet for the camp fridge.

The whole package speaks of 'dependable workhorse'. The decor is simple, arguably durable, which goes hand in hand with the Grand Vitara's practical finish. The car is as flexible as it needs to be, and seemingly tough. It feels quite robust on the road, too, but lacks the polish of its urban-orientated adversaries.

Power comes from a rather antiquated but still quite economical four-cylinder engine. It delivers 122kW and 225Nm, which places it a little way behind the current best-seller, the Mazda CX-5, with 138kW and 250Nm. [Ed: the CX-5 has sold 14,712 units year-to-date against just 1441 for the Grand Vitara].

But in spite of its deficit, the Grand Vitara is no slouch under throttle. The gearing is well spaced for quick runs from the lights, and responds rapidly to requests for kick down. The engine is quite eager, and revs happily through to it 6000rpm redline. But in fourth gear, it always seems to want a 'fifth', which makes highway running a little strained.

That said, the Grand Vitara's fuel consumption isn't too bad. Our week of mostly urban running returned an average of 9.2L/100km, 0.3 litres below the ADR Combined number.

Given its age and softroader aspirations, the Grand Vitara is a pretty clean steerer. The older hydraulically-assisted rack and pinion arrangement is reasonably accurate considering the ride height.

The feedback on offer from the steering also makes the Grand Vitara reasonably engaging in corners, and though the ride isn't what you'd call precarious, we did find the additional suspension travel – no doubt a carry-over from its four-wheel drive sibling – translated to a fair amount of body roll when moving through sharper bends, or when suddenly changing direction.

It's also odd that given the Grand Vitara's 'softness' of handling that the ride is quite firm. The level of comfort is well short of that on offer from the Mazda CX-5 or new Hyundai Tucson, for example, which doesn't make for a pleasant ride on poorly maintained roads. Sound insulation is also quite poor, which exposes the Grand Vitara's design age and overall lack of refinement.

For family buyers, it's also worth noting that the Grand Vitara offers only a four-star ANCAP safety rating. Stability and traction control are included, as are six airbags, brake assist and electronic brake-force distribution. There is, however, no driver's knee airbag and no autonomous emergency braking, no lane-keeping assist and no blind-spot monitoring available.

Suzuki backs the Grand Vitara with a three-year / 100,000km warranty. Service intervals are a short six months or 10,000km (whichever comes first), and neither roadside assistance nor capped-price servicing are included as part of the deal. The Grand Vitara is available in four paint colours, three of which are a $475 option.

At the end of the day, the Grand Vitara's packaging, dynamics and performance leaves you wanting – but the utilitarian appeal of this SUV remains strong. It might be of limited interest to many, but for those wanting a tough, no-nonsense mid-size SUV, the Grand Vitara is certainly worth haggling over.

2015 Suzuki Grand Vitara Navigator pricing and specifications:
Price: $27,990 (plus on-road costs)
Engine: 2.4-litre four-cylinder petrol
Output: 122kW/225Nm
Transmission: Four-speed automatic
Fuel: 9.5L/100km (ADR Combined)
CO2: 224g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety Rating: Four-star ANCAP