Suzuki has done a great job of making the Grand Vitara's body structure strong and rattle-free. It seems sturdy enough to take serious on- and off-road punishment. Yet the Grand Vitara is fairly quiet, without a lot of rolling noise from the drivetrain or suspension. The engine and transmission have a slight whine that grows as speeds increase, but it barely requires the driver to speak up.
Given our druthers, the Grand Vitara's steering is the first thing we'd change. Off-roaders need some play on center to absorb kickback from large bumps. But perhaps the Grand Vitara has a bit too much of that play. On the road, its steering slack is noticeable, and takes some attention to keep on the straight and narrow.
Suzuki's available four-wheel-drive system comes with a low range for extremely heavy muck. The full-time all-wheel drive systems from Ford, Honda, Hyundai, Toyota, and Subaru do not offer a low range. The Grand Vitara is surprisingly capable off road, thanks to nearly eight inches of ground clearance and a short wheelbase. Next Page