2009 Suzuki Grand Vitara, ain’t that grand

2009 Suzuki Grand Vitara

When I love a vehicle, you can sense this in the first two or three sentences of my review. When I dislike a vehicle, well, I don't hold my tongue. The 2009 Grand Vitara will suit your transportation needs getting you from point A to point B but NOT comfortably or stylishly. Here’s real talk about this compact SUV….

What I Liked?

First the good points. If you’re into off-roading and want a smaller vehicle, the Grand Vitara might satisfy your needs (although I can’t vouch for its off-roading capabilities). I should, however, pull your coattail and let you know that the vehicle’s ground clearance is only either 7.4 or 7.9 inches. The transmission warranty is first-rate, 7 years/100,000 miles including roadside assistance and a courtesy vehicle program. Pricing is also pretty competitive starting at $18,499 for the rear wheel drive base model (5-speed manual/optional 4-speed electronically controlled automatic).  That's all folks!

What I didn’t like?

Upon first glance....slab-sided. Although the vehicle’s exterior has been refined from last year’s, nothing really catches your eye. It’s just a purely functional design.

Interior looks? Basic, straight forward with hard plastic surfaces. You will not get the fancies here. The seat cushion felt shorter than normal, so thigh support was lacking. The seat adjustments were so awkward to maneuver, I kept readjusting and never quite got a comfortable seating position. The sound system was one directional, even though all of the settings were flat (seemed as if all of the sound came from the driver’s side door). The manufacturer states, that the Grand Vitara seats five. I would agree that two adults will fit comfortably in the front. However, regarding rear seating, if you have 3 children, no problem.  But, three adults in the back?  And comfortably? No way in heck!  I drove the vehicle on a few rainy days and did battle with the defogger. The windows kept fogging up, nonstop! Stick me with a fork, I WAS DONE! The swing-out tailgate could potentially knock someone to the ground! I went grocery shopping, opened the tailgate and my 9-year-old was standing on the side where the door swung open. GEEZE, he almost got a face full of door! Hey Suzuki, how about going back to the drawing board and reworking the tension on that tailgate!!!

The ride? If you like roller coasters, and I DON’T, then you’ll love the Grand Vitara’s ride. It’s unibody chassis features a built-in ladder frame and four-wheel independent suspension, delivered a ride that was really harsh on bumpy roads (to be expected with this type of configuration). Acceleration was unremarkable, the vehicle I tested had 166 hp @ 6,000 rpm, 162 lb.-ft. @ 4,000 rpm.  Cornering was an adventure and body roll, well, thank God for seatbelts!

Another important mention. I don’t know about you BUT I can appreciate a good set of headlights especially when you live in an area with few street lights. The projection and intensity of the headlights on the Grand Vitara is poor. I lost count as to how many times I kept checking to see if my lights were actually fully on. Here’s a perfect argument for also test driving your potential vehicle at night!

Is it good on gas?. The manufacturer lists the fuel economy at 19 city/26 hwy mpg.for a 4- cylinder and 18 city/24 hwy for a 6-cylinder. I averaged about 21 mpg…average.

The 2009 Suzuki Grand Vitara, humph…I’ll pass.

--Car Chick