Teresa’s View
I recently put the redesigned Grand Vitara through its paces at the annual Northwest Automotive Press Association’s Sport-Utility Vehicle of the Year competition and was impressed with its newfound refinement. The 2006 Grand Vitara isn’t just a mud stomping boot-of-a-truck anymore. Instead, improved fit-and-finish, attention to detail and tasteful touches elevate the compact-boot-ute past those fast-foot stores and onto department store displays.
Available with a choice of two four-wheel drive systems — a full-time single-mode four-wheel drive or full-time four-mode four-wheel drive — the Grand Vitara remains a capable off-roader. It performed beautifully on the muddy off-road portion of the competitive course, tackling off-camber logs, deep, sticky mud and steep inclines and declines with equal aplomb.
To compete with the plush, car-based SUVs, Suzuki engineers bolted an innovative steel unibody onto a truck-based fame. The increased rigidity creates a smoother on-road ride without sacrificing off-road capabilities.
When the original Vitara was introduced in 1999 as a replacement for the company’s initial sport-ute offering, the Sidekick, it was the first Suzuki powered by a V-6 engine. At the time, Suzuki said their SUV provided a perfect combination of size and power. Evidently the world has changed, because the new version is not only roomier, it gets a larger 2.7-liter V-6 that generates 185 horsepower.
What Is It?: Say bye-bye to the Vitara. This year only the upscale, four-door, five-passenger Grand Vitara remains in production. Available in one trim with either two- or four-wheel-drive, the prices for the Grand Vitara start at $19K. A series of optional packages replace the previous EX and LX trims.
Gadget Rating: 7.2 out of 10. Standard luxury features are impressive starting with air conditioning, a CD/MP3 unit, steering wheel mounted controls and power windows and door locks. A finicky cruise control exhibited a range of more than 10 mph plus or minus the preferred setting during a trip from Portland. Not cool.
Most Unnecessary Gadget: SmartPass Keyless Entry/Start. Offered as part of the premium packages, this device allowed me to open and lock the doors without taking the key fob from my purse. To start the engine, I simply turned the ignition switch as though the key was in place. Although it kept me from digging in my purse for my keys, I found the SmartPass little more than a party trick.
The Back Seat: Passenger and cargo room increased over the previous version. Back seat passengers are the big winners here. They’ve been granted a whopping 6.6 inches of extra legroom and 3.5 inches more shoulder space.
Safety: Front and rear curtain airbags, front passenger side airbags and the required front airbags, plus daytime running lights, anti-lock brakes and traction and stability control are standard on all models.