One can regard the Grand Vitara as Suzuki's flagship vehicle in our local market. The previous generation enjoyed plenty of fanfare, and today's Grand Vitara still carries that flagship label. The 'S' badged vehicle still maintains its SUV body style but is less rough-and-tumble than previous generations. We've put some time and mileage on our long-term Suzuki Grand Vitara in GLX auto trim. We'll assess a few pros and cons we've found with this vehicle.
Related: Suzuki Grand Vitara 1.5 GLX Auto (2023) Video Review
Pros
1. Plush interior
The Grand Vitara's interior is quite plush. In our variant, the seats are trimmed in leather and very nicely padded. Sitting in the Vitara for long periods of time is comfortable. Space-wise, there is plenty of it, rear seat room is good, and the boot area is sufficient to load all your family bits and bobs. The boot area capacity is rated at 310 litres and can be extended to 1147 litres when the rear seats are folded down.
2. Exceptional ride quality
The Grand Vitara rides well. The 60 profile tyres do help with the cushy ride too, as the Grand Vitara glides along the roads and highways without a fuss. It's not roly poly either when you have to negotiate some corners. The steering is light, and the handling is surefooted.
3. Simplicity at its finest
When you look at it as a whole, the current Grand Vitara is not a complex vehicle in the grand scheme of things, and it doesn't need to be. It just means there's less to fuss about and, in turn, makes the car easier to maintain and live with. Suzukis are lauded for their reliability, and it's also due to their simplicity.
Cons
1. Powertrain
In our test unit, the 1.5-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine is paired with a 4-speed automatic. The 4-speed auto is fine for town commuting, but on the open road, the box often needs to downshift. Though I have argued with my colleagues about this, I feel the 1.5-litre engine is too small for this body style, and that a 1.8-litre would be better suited to the Grand Vitara. Pair that with an extra cog in the automatic transmission, and it would result in more effortless driving.
2. A tailored sound system would be a good idea.
The audio system in the Grand Vitara is serviceable. You have 6 speakers and a 9-inch infotainment system. Though what would elevate that experience would be a tailored sound system from the likes of, let's say, Clarion (which makes a few of Suzuki's head units). It just seems more befitting of a flagship vehicle.
That's what I've picked up on the Grand Vitara, but check my other colleagues' views on our long-term Grand Vitara. You can search for the latest Suzuki Grand Vitara deals here and sell your car too.
