8 February 2011
Where there were once a myriad of 3 door compact SUV's available on the New Zealand market, the Suzuki Grand Vitara is now the only one. As Suzuki invented this segment and was the original in a long line of compact SUV's to follow, it seems appropriate that they have it to themselves once again.
Late last year we drove the Grand Vitara 2.4 5 door Ltd Auto. Given that the Grand Vitara 2.4 JLX 3 door we drove this week comes from the same stable and shares a similar name, we could have been excused for expecting these two vehicles to be similar. But they actually have a very different appeal and a very different feel on the road.
In reality, where we found the 5 Door Limited to be practical and family friendly, we found the 3 door to be young and cheeky. So if the design brief was for the 3 door to be full of youthful exuberance and the 5 door to be grown up and sensible, then both models achieve what they set out to do equally well.
From the outside, the 3 door Grand Vitara retains much of the same sleek and sporty character that made the original Vitara so popular two decades ago. The proportions of the shorter wheelbase configuration show off the pure styling of the funky body shape well.
There are 16" alloy wheels and a body-coloured hard spare wheel cover proudly displaying the "Suzuki" name across it, and roof rails are fitted as standard equipment.
Climbing aboard the 3 door JLX, it feels a much simpler, less refined beast than its big brother, the 5 door Limited. The seats are clad in no-nonsense cloth covers, there's no fancy keyless start; you have to start the JLX the good old fashioned way by turning the key in the ignition switch.
There is a single disc, 4 speaker audio system with remote controls on the steering wheel as well as climate control air conditioning. The steering wheel has height adjustment, there are driver, passenger, side and curtain airbags; ABS, ESP, EBD and Brake Assist.
Our test vehicle was fitted with a 5 speed manual transmission and Suzuki's new 2.4 litre engine, which ensures the Grand Vitara is not short on power.
Ride quality is as you would expect with a SWB compact SUV, in other words, it is fairly bumpy and bouncy, but then that is all part of the experience and characteristic of this fun, sporty little vehicle.
Interior space is fine for 4 people, but don't expect to take all your suitcases and luggage for a fortnight's holiday, as there's only just enough room for a picnic lunch and thermos behind the rear seat. However, Suzuki do a great accessory line, so a set of cross bars to mount to the roof rails and a top box may be needed if you're planning a trip away.
The Suzuki Grand Vitara 2.4 JLX 3 Door is aimed at the youthful buyer wanting a zappy city commuter. It's easy to park, and makes a sporty fashion statement. However, as it sits up high off the ground it's also a great practical vehicle for a generation who no longer like to climb down into the driver's seat, so appeal will be wide.
As many buyers will be using the 3 Door Grand Vitara in a busy city traffic environment, possibly the automatic version may just add a little more practicality and be a tad more user-friendly, but then there is a $1400 price premium for the 2 pedal version taking the price from $29,900 to $31,300.
Summary
The Suzuki Grand Vitara 2.4 JLX 3 Door achieves what is sets out to do perfectly. It's no sports car but it is sporty. Being the only 3 door compact SUV currently in the New Zealand market place, it sits alone in this segment exactly as the original and very popular Vitara did in its day. So while it could be argued that you're stuck for choice if you are in the market for this type of vehicle, Suzuki are the masters of the game here, so it would surely represent an excellent choice even if the marketplace was flooded with competition.
Safety
Driver, passenger, side and curtain airbags, ABS, ESP, EBD with Brake Assist. There are 4 x 3 point ELR seatbelts, decoupling brake pedal and side impact beams.
Technical
2393cc 16valve VVT engine producing 122kW @ 6000rpm and 225Nm of torque @ 4000rpm. CO2 emission of 209 g/km.
Pricing
The vehicle as tested has a retail price of $29,990.
Test drive top tips
Be prepared to have a bit of fun but avoid uneven surfaces unless they're of the off-road variety, as the ride is bumpy and bouncy.