If you remember the last Grand Vitara - the gargantuan XL-7 - prepare to have your perceptions altered with the new version. Launched internationally in 2005, the new Grand Vitara is leaner, sharper and more car-like than its predecessor, which is what more customers now want from their SUV. More importantly, it costs a whole lot less. Has Maruti got its most expensive model right this time?:  Looks are subjective, but all of us who looked at the new Grand Vitara really liked what we saw. There is a wonderful balance between the straight lines of a traditional SUV and more modern flowing lines and curves. It looks particularly striking from the front – the chisel-like snout, clear wraparound headlamps and straight-cut clamshell bonnet looking crisp. The good old Gypsy has come a long way. Departing once again from the XL-7, the new car is built on a monocoque chassis, but Suzuki is very serious about off-roading, so the Vitara has ladder-like chassis rails and cross-beams pressed into the bottom of the monocoque body for greater rigidity. These, combined with full-time four-wheel-drive, a lockable center differential and a low-range gearbox, make it quite capable off-road. They also make it heavy for its soft-roader size. The suspension layout includes MacPherson struts up front and double wishbones at the rear. There are anti-roll bars, fore and aft, and while it is equipped with ABS, only the front wheels sport disc brakes. The new Vitara delivers a lot of comfort. The front seats are wide, supportive and provide a good driving position, the driver’s seat being height-adjustable. The rear seats are comfy too, with the ability to recline and just the right amount of cushioning. However, they aren’t well contoured and the legroom isn’t very generous, but the high seating position somewhat makes up for that. The cabin design is a mix of sporty overtones and saloon car-like design cues and is recognizable as a Suzuki. This is a bad thing, because it borrows too many low-quality parts from the cheaper SX4 and Swift, making it feel unworthy of its 14-lakh-plus price tag. When it comes to equipment, the Grand Vitara falls miserably short, especially when compared to rivals like Honda’s CR-V. While a single CD player, 2 airbags and ABS are present, there is no leather upholstery, no electrical seat adjustment or wing-mirror retraction and the steering doesn’t adjust for reach.  Although the lusty V6 from the XL-7 is no more, the Suzuki J20A 2.0-litre DOHC four is a far more practical option. Getting120bhp to move the 1.6-tonne Vitara is no mean task, but once you hit the mid-range the car accelerates quite smartly. This makes it an effective cruiser. However, flat-out performance is dismal, the Vitara taking 14 seconds to reach 100kph. The motor also feels unrefined and strained above 4000rpm, so for normal driving, we recommend that you short-shift back into the meaty mid-range. Switching to low-range via the switch on the dashboard simply transforms the Vitara, allowing it to tackle the steepest of inclines with ease. The Vitara’s full-time four-wheel-drive system may not be useful most of the time, but put it in an environment devoid of grip and there is nothing more reassuring. The good clearance, short overhangs, low-range gearbox and the limited-slip, torque-sensing differential also contribute massively. Additionally, the responsive steering and good body control make driving with gusto a pleasurable experience. The heavy 4WD system makes the suspension feel a touch lumpy and not light and supple like a car’s. While it does a good job of absorbing bumps, it is a bit on the stiff side. You feel most undulations from the road and despite the tall-profile tyres, poor patches jostle you from side to side. The tall suspension has the ability to absorb large potholes really well. Owing to its heavy off-road gear, the Vitara returned a disappointing 6.7kpl in the city and 9.5kpl on the highway.    The new Grand Vitara is more compact in every way, including the vital statistic that is price. It is comfortable, good looking and can do wonders off-road. But is that good enough reason to buy it? Not quite. Except for its off-road prowess, which owners will hardly use, it doesn’t have much going for it. For its price, the interiors – packed full of Swift bits – feel cheap, performance is mediocre and fuel-efficiency poor. Besides, there are better alternatives in the market, whether one is looking for a road-going soft-roader or a mud-plugging off-roader. Price isn’t everything, then. |
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