The previous generation Suzuki Grand Vitara was a cracking offroad SUV that lingered on for a bit in some markets due to how robust the cars are. This generation of Grand Vitara was released in 2005 and continued production up until 2019. South Africa has been receiving this generation since 2008.
Related: How reliable is the Suzuki Grand Vitara?
Significant changes included a switch from a ladder-frame chassis to unibody construction including a customised built-in ladder-frame. This switch improved chassis stiffness, and ground clearance and even reduced the floor and roof height. Not only that, there was a switch from a solid rear axle to a sophisticated fully independent multi-link suspension. Engine and transmission wise, you had the choice of a 2.4-litre 4-cylinder petrol engine or a 3.2-litre petrol V6 (Discontinued in 2010) all with permanent all-wheel drive. With transmissions, you had the choice between a 5-speed manual or 4-speed auto for the 2.4-litre and 5-speed auto for the 3.2-litre.
In 2012, the Grand Vitara received a facelift with only two variants and one engine the Dune and Summit variants. You can see the differences between the old and new Grand Vitara of that generation. A solid vehicle, but what accessories can you retrofit to the Grand Vitara? We checked what the local Suzuki dealers had available for the Grand Vitara and we picked 5 of the best.
1. Parking sensors (Part No. 990E0-65J10-000)
With 4 sensors available for the rear of the vehicle, you can be rest assured backing up into tight spaces and where visibility may be a challenge. A good piece kit to have to prevent those parking lot dings or offroad backups into a tree stump or rock. Here's an aftermarket option.
2. Skid Plate Front (Pre-Facelift Only Part No. 990E0-65J83-000)
A skid plate is a good thing to have if you do off-road trails quite often. Not only do they show that you're serious about the offroad lifestyle but also protect the oil sump for your engine from hitting something like a rock which can cause catastrophic engine failure from loss of oil. Although this is only for the Pre-facelift model, there are also aftermarket options for the Facelift model.
3. Dog Guard (Part No. 990E0-65J48-000)
Perhaps you transport dogs quite a bit and want that part of the cabin segmented specifically for dogs. This dog guard should do just the trick. Even without it, the Grand Vitara is just fine for dog owners to transport their companions about but this accessory is nice to have. Here's an aftermarket option.
4. Fog Lamp Set (Facelift Only Part No. 990E0-65J36-010)
Not only are they a good aesthetic piece for the exterior, fog lamps make a load of difference in very dark areas and as the name states, when you're in the fog. Although this is for the facelift model, you should be able to get aftermarket options as well but note these generally don't include the harnesses and bezel kit.
5. Bike Carrier (Used with Multi- Roof Rack)
(Bike Carrier: Part No. 99000-990YT-206. Multi-Roof Rack Part No. 990E0-65J18-000)
Roof racks and the Grand Vitara go hand in hand. Let's take that a step further with a dedicated bike carrier. If bike trails and cycling are your thing then this is a must-have accessory for your Grand Vitara. You can go aftermarket here as well.
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