Used Suzuki Grand Vitara 4x4 2005-2014 review

When the original Suzuki Vitara was launched in 1988, it couldn’t have hit the spot more sweetly. It was a car that brought 4x4 motoring to the masses – and it was seriously trendy too.

But trends move on, and for a while the Vitara – and its 1998 replacement, the Grand Vitara – looked about as fashionable as a pair of clogs. So in 2005, Suzuki released a new Grand Vitara with a heavy emphasis on style to try and win back the trendies.

Inside, there was a fresh interior with smart styling and robust construction; while some of the plastics felt rather cheap and brittle, they were at least screwed together sturdily, and there was plenty of space for passengers.

Under the skin, this Vitara had a car-like chassis, as opposed to the previous versions’ truck-like construction. As a result, it drove better than its predecessors ever did. But despite these soft-roader credentials, the Vitara was still capable in the mucky stuff, thanks to full-time four-wheel drive and, in five-door versions, a low-range transfer box, two bits of equipment most rivals skimped on.

The trouble was, while rivals like the Nissan X-Trail and Honda CR-V couldn’t keep up off the road, they were much better on it. The Vitara was not a great car on tarmac. True, it handled well, with stiff suspension that prevented the body from leaning over too far in corners, as well as well-weighted steering and loads of grip.

But that stiff suspension gave the Vitara an unforgiving ride that transmitted even minor bumps and imperfections through to its occupants. And both of the early petrol engines – a 105bhp 1.6-litre for the three door, and a 138bhp 2.0-litre for the five-door – felt pretty sluggish, lacking the mid-range punch needed to make overtaking a breeze.

What was more, every engine – there was also a Renault-sourced 1.9-litre diesel, available only on the five-door – was noisy, and combined with the grumbling roar produced by the tyres, that made the Vitara a wearing thing to try to cover long distances in.

A facelift in 2008 improved things somewhat, replacing the 2.0-litre petrol engine for a 2.4-litre unit that was both more powerful and more efficient. Suzuki also took the chance to smarten up the Grand Vitara’s interior and add more sound deadening to reduce the amount of road and engine noise; the ride quality, however, remained largely unchanged.

As a used purchase a Vitara looks tempting today, and certainly, it’s one of the more entertaining small SUVs out there. But there are some big downsides in terms of comfort, cruising ability and performance – and it’s no cheaper than some more competent rivals.

Prices for the Suzuki Grand Vitara start at around £2,000, though for this you’ll only be getting a high-mileage example or one that’s previously been written off and repaired. Much better to spend a little more, especially when £2,600 gets you a respectable-looking example of either the three-door or five-door with average miles and a full history.

You’ll have to pay a little more if you want a decent diesel example, mind you – £3,000 should do it, getting you into an early example with a fully-stamped service book.

£5,000, meanwhile, gets you a super-clean, low-mileage early three-door, or bump that up to £6,000 for a similar sort of car in five-door diesel form. From there, prices range right up to £14,000 for the very latest, lowest-mileage examples.

Well, it isn't the cheapest. That’s because, despite the fact the Vitara is a relatively small SUV, its four-wheel drive system is in use all the time, unlike rivals like the Nissan X-Trail or Kia Sportage, which feature a four-wheel drive system that cuts in whenever it’s required.

As a result, the 1.6 petrol got just 32.5mpg on average in official tests, while the 2.0-litre petrol fared even worse with just 31mpg. The 2.4-litre managed a little better, with 32mpg, meanwhile.

The diesel version was better still, but not by much; 38.9mpg was its average. That means in the real world, you shouldn’t expect to get much over 30mpg in daily use, even from the diesel.

As a result of those high fuel consumption figures, car tax is also on the high side. At least service costs are pretty reasonable, with a Suzuki fixed-price service costing less than those of most rivals.

On the face of it the diesel version of the Suzuki Grand Vitara seems like the one to have. It’s the most economical in a thirsty line-up, and its extra mid-range punch gives it more usable performance than the smaller petrol engines.

It’s undoubtedly the one to choose if you plan to use your Vitara for frequent motorway journeys. That way, the particulate filter will clean itself frequently and you should avoid expensive problems.

But if you don’t do lots of miles, we reckon the 2.4-litre petrol is the best option. In the real world, it isn’t much thirstier than the diesel, and it offers a whole lot more power. What’s more, it’s smoother and more pleasant to drive, and because it’s mechanically much simpler, it may well end up being more reliable, too.

Our favourite Suzuki Grand Vitara: 2.4 SZ5 5dr

When the Suzuki Grand Vitara first came out, we tested it against the Nissan X-Trail and Kia Sportage. Both of these rivals beat the Vitara in the test, and today the X-Trail in particular looks like a better buy. It’s no more expensive than the Grand Vitara, has a nicer interior and is far more comfortable on the move.

It’s also worth trying a Honda CR-V which is also more comfortable than the Grand Vitara and endowed with a smarter interior. The CR-V also has an excellent reputation for reliability, especially in petrol form.

A Land Rover Freelander is also worth a look. It feels more upmarket than the other cars here, and with its squishy ride it’s also very comfortable. Just don’t expect it to handle as sweetly as the Suzuki, and keep in mind its less-than-perfect reputation for reliability – and the fact that prices are slightly higher, meaning you won't get as nice an example for your cash.

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