The Vitara name has been synonymous with cheap to buy, cheap to run Suzuki off-roaders for a long time now, though the car now seems to only be available as a Grand Vitara. An all-new model is to be launched at the
2005 Frankfurt Motor Show, but it will take time before that car hits the showrooms. We thought we better get our hands on the outgoing model to see if it is worth snapping one up in the inevitable price cuts as dealers run down their stocks of the old car. Suzuki supplied us with the XL-7 you see here.
It turns out that the Grand part of the name applies to all Vitaras at present, and the biggest version of that car requires a new tag. The XL-7 is it, and it does what it says on the tin: it is extra large and seats seven. Easy peasy, but why bother calling the regular five-seat car a Grand Vitara? It looks like the naming convention will continue for the new car, available as a three or five-door, though there is no XL-7 version on the horizon as yet. Does this mean there will be a smaller off-roader from Suzuki in the future?
The XL-7 is a big car, certainly when you've spent your life thinking of Suzukis as small. Its wheelbase is a whopping 320mm longer than the outgoing 5-door Grand Vitara (itself 280mm longer in the wheelbase than the 3-door), allowing seven adults to sit in relative comfort, though there is not a lot of luggage room in this configuration. The high roof ensures that the cabin feels pleasantly spacious too. All this you could have worked out for yourself without ever turning the key. The Grand Vitara has a few surprises up its sleeve though.
I really did not expect that the Grand Vitara would be anything other than a typical roly-poly off-roader with a wobble through the body thanks to the separate ladder frame chassis. Having been thoroughly unimpressed by V6 offerings from Kia and Hyundai, I didn't hold out much hope for the engine's refinement either. Then I noticed the automatic 'box, and groaned out loud. My first long journey in the car was down the M11 to Stansted and the large Suzuki made a new friend in me very quickly.
First up, the chassis: at speed, the Grand Vitara is incredibly stable, noticeably so under strong crosswind conditions. On the motorway it is commendably refined despite wearing large tyres and the ride is comfortable thanks to that long wheelbase no doubt. Sadly at low speed the ride is at best described as fidgety. I must admit to not having reason to use anything other than the high ratio two-wheel drive option, though the Grand Vitara has a full low ratio transfer gearbox for serious mud plugging. In two-wheel drive mode, there is usually a surfeit of weight and grip over power, even in damp conditions. Despite lurid body roll, the Grand Vitara actually handles neatly, with its moderate limits telegraphed nicely by squealing rubber.
The V6 engine is a good companion for quick A-road driving and even better for cruising, where there is little or no noise, except when you need to use more of its power. Even then the engine note is sporting rather than unrefined. The downside is fuel consumption, with claimed figures no better than 23.9mpg on the Combined Cycle. The 5-speed automatic is perfectly matched to the V6 though, with silky smooth changes up and down the 'box and a well-chosen set of gear ratios. It is well calibrated too, being quick to react to the driver's needs.
Impressed with the Vitara's refinement and mechanicals, I took a closer look at the interior. This is where the large Suzuki shows its age. The design is certainly in need of updating, but the quality is perfectly acceptable at the price. At a retail price of £19,949 (before any discounts), the Grand Vitara XL-7 doesn't appear to have any natural rivals, instead doing battle with some MPVs and estate cars. The RAV4 for instance is more expensive for less performance. The XL-7 would certainly make a good family car for those of you that occasionally require a tow vehicle or something that isn't afraid of getting its feet wet. It bodes well for the new car and could be a great second-hand buy.
