SUZUKI GRAND VITARA: ADVENTUROUS, VALUE DRIVEN, APPEALING TO THE EYE
12/01/2011
Suzuki
The Suzuki Grand Vitara has long offered practical functionality to the weekday worker bee, the weekend adventurer and everyone in between. As both a capable off-road trekker and composed on-road, every-day commuter, the 2012 Grand Vitara continues to surprise and delight all who have the opportunity to get behind the wheel. Though the vehicle's price point puts it in line with the car-based "soft roader" segment, the Grand Vitara has much more in common with luxury SUVs, including a reinforced-for-rear-wheel drive (RWD) unibody chassis that features a stiff structure and incorporates both a unit body and integral ladder frame; four-wheel independent suspension and four-wheel disc brakes.
For 2012, the Grand Vitara expands its lineup to four trim levels, the Ultimate Adventure Edition - available in 2WD and 4WD. On the outside, this special edition Grand Vitara features front fog lamps, European-styled side mirrors with integrated turn signals and black chrome-finished 18-inch alloy wheels. Inside, it comes outfitted with three-toned, heated water resistant seats and a leather-wrapped steering wheel, providing style, comfort and practicality for adventure seekers at all levels.
The most significant single design modification for 2012 is a new rear tailgate that eliminates the spare tire and carrier, beginning in Spring 2012. All Grand Vitara models, except for the top-of-the-line Limited, will show off this revised rear view. A tire inflation kit will be included with all new Grand Vitaras that have no spare tire. In addition, the Grand Vitara model line will re-introduce the exterior color, Sandstorm Metallic and receives improvements to its class-exclusive standard navigation system, now featuring voice command recognition and an enhanced suite of standard interactive features, including traffic information, weather forecast and 3-D maps with lane guidance and Google local point-of-interest search.
As with all retail 2012 Suzuki automobiles and light trucks, the Grand Vitara is backed by America's #1 Warranty: a 100,000-mile/seven-year, fully transferable, zero-deductible powertrain limited warranty.
Performance and Functionality
Suzuki's 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine produces 166 horsepower and 162 lb.-ft. of torque, delivering EPA fuel economy estimates of up to 19 mpg/city and 26 mpg/highway and using a zero-maintenance timing chain in place of a belt. The Grand Vitara's four-cylinder engine can be teamed to a standard five-speed manual transmission or a four-speed automatic transmission.
To custom-tailor their adventure, consumers can choose among RWD models, Single-Mode four-wheel drive or 4-Mode full-time four-wheel drive; notably, Suzuki's 4-Mode is a traction system unlike anything else offered in the segment. An electronic stability program is standard on all Grand Vitara models, along with a rollover sensor for the standard side curtain airbags. Enhancing the Grand Vitara's on- and off-road performance is a heavy-duty structure underpinned by ladder frame reinforcement. Bringing it all to a stop are standard four-wheel disc brakes.
The Grand Vitara's 4-Mode full time four-wheel drive offers the best of both worlds: an exceptionally capable off-road vehicle that remains civilized on the asphalt. There, drivers can leave the dash-mounted transfer case switch in 4H and the electronically controlled on-demand four-wheel-drive system will apply traction to the front wheels (only as needed), optimizing economy while maximizing traction. When traveling off-road, or for low-speed power and traction, drivers can turn the switch to high-range 4H Lock or low-range 4L Lock to engage the center differential lock.
For RV owners, a Grand Vitara equipped with a manual transmission or with the 4-Mode full-time four-wheel-drive system can also be flat-towed. Switching the transfer case control into the neutral position helps minimize driveline wear and prevent non-driving miles from accumulating on the odometer.
With Age Comes Wisdom
The Suzuki Grand Vitara continues Suzuki's 40-plus year history of building compact, rugged SUVs. The current Grand Vitara has proven its durability in some of the toughest markets around the world. Key to the Grand Vitara's go-anywhere capability is its unibody construction with integrated ladder frame, rugged RWD architecture and four-wheel independent suspension. Typically, only near-luxury and luxury SUVs such as those from Mercedes and BMW offer this premium architecture combination. This type of construction yields the strength and capability sought in large SUVs, while providing the balance, on-road agility and ride quality expected in a modern compact SUV.
The Grand Vitara's available 4-Mode full-time four-wheel-drive system with two-speed transfer case also separates it from the "tall wagons" in the segment. This hardware, combined with its rugged body construction, steep approach and departure angles and 7.9 inches of ground clearance (4WD models) enables the Grand Vitara to keep going when the pavement turns to trail. In addition, the Grand Vitara's 3,000-lb. towing capacity is double that of many car-based models and enough to haul light recreational trailers, boats, ATVs or motorcycles.
Safety
Beyond offering a strong yet weight-optimized structure, the Grand Vitara's unibody with built-in ladder frame contributes to superior collision protection. The reinforced cabin offers the added safety of head-impact protection padding and front and rear side-impact door beams.
Active safety technology in every Grand Vitara includes an anti-lock braking system (ABS) with electronic brake-force distribution (EBD) and stability control with traction control. The electronic stability control helps ensure vehicle stability when cornering, during emergency maneuvers and when driving on slippery road surfaces. Taking input from a variety of sensors, stability control has the ability to apply individual brakes at each wheel and reduce engine torque to help the driver maintain the desired line of travel.
Standard passive safety features in every Grand Vitara include driver and front passenger seat-mounted side-impact airbag supplemental restraint systems (SRS); an advanced dual-stage front airbag SRS; an advanced weight-sensing front passenger classification system; and front and rear side-curtain airbags networked with a rollover sensor. The three-point driver and front passenger seat belts feature pretensioners and shoulder height adjustment. Each rear seating position is equipped with a three-point seatbelt and a headrest. Also provided is a rear child-seat LATCH system (Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children) at rear outboard seating positions.
The Grand Vitara's safety engineering also reflects Suzuki's attention to pedestrian safety. The front end and the bumper integrate energy-absorbing materials to help reduce the possibility of serious leg injuries if a pedestrian is struck. The hood also is designed to absorb some of the impact and help protect against serious head injuries. These active and passive safety features, in combination with other features such as daytime running lights and a tire pressure monitoring system, make Grand Vitara one of the best-equipped compact SUVs with respect to safety.
Style and Sophistication
To simplify and improve the driver experience, and consistent with Suzuki's philosophy of enabling people to travel light and live fully, Suzuki offers easy-to-use features that add useful, real-world functionality to each vehicle. The Grand Vitara demonstrates its Suzuki sensibility with its simple, uncluttered design. And with the new tailgate design, minus the spare tire and cover, the Grand Vitara's profile is now more concise and contemporary. Handsome good looks are also part of the mix, along with SUV necessities, including roof rails and short overhangs to maximize approach and departure angles. Exterior mirrors, door handles and bumpers are all color keyed.
The compact exterior footprint belies a roomy, comfortable and versatile cabin to take people and cargo on daily trips or extraordinary voyages. The Grand Vitara offers comfortable seating for five, including reclining rear seats and 60/40 split-folding seatbacks. High-quality materials and attention to fit and finish help make a driver accustomed to a premium SUV feel at home. Controls are easy to reach and use, which anyone used to driving a large luxury SUV will find refreshing.
2012 Grand Vitara Trim Levels and Packages
The 2012 Suzuki Grand Vitara is now offered in four trim levels: Base, Premium, Ultimate Adventure, and Limited. Starting in spring 2012, all but the Limited model will feature the new tailgate design, eliminating the rear-mounted spare tire and cover.
The Base model is RWD only, but its list of standard equipment is far from basic and includes an integrated pop-up navigation system; air conditioning with automatic climate control and micron air filtration system; trip computer; power windows, mirrors and door locks; remote keyless entry; tilt steering wheel; automatic on/off headlamps; four-speaker AM/FM/CD/MP3/XM Satellite Radio(R)1-compatible audio system and 16-inch steel wheels.
Zeroing in on the spirit of the outdoors, the Ultimate Adventure Edition Grand Vitara features front fog lamps, European-styled side mirrors with integrated turn signals and black chrome-finished 18-inch alloy wheels. Inside, this special edition Grand Vitara is outfitted with three-toned (blue, gray and white), heated water resistant seats and a leather-wrapped steering wheel
The Premium model adds a four-speed automatic transmission; cruise control; a leather-wrapped steering wheel with illuminated audio and cruise control switches; privacy glass; cargo cover; hands-free calling; Bluetooth(R)2 hands-free communication; and heated exterior mirrors (when equipped with the optional Single-Mode four-wheel drive).
The top-of-the-line Limited model builds on the Premium equipment and adds leather seating surfaces; heated front seats; black wood grain trim accents; and full-size spare tire cover (with steel spare). Also available on the Limited is Grand Vitara's four-mode 4WD featuring true off-road capability. In all Grand Vitara models, standard and optional audio systems are XM Satellite Radio-capable, and an accessory iPod(R)3 interface is available. A connected iPod works seamlessly through the radio or the steering-wheel-integrated controls, with playlists and track information appearing on the audio display.