Click above to view high-res gallery of the 2008 Suzuki Grand Vitara Xsport

When driving a vehicle for review, we always keep a list of pros and cons. At just a glance we can see which list is longer and instantly know if it's a vehicle that we'd personally drive. At the end of the evaluation we throw in a few verbs, several random adjectives and some technical jargon to make us all sound knowledgeable and it's a review! Just kidding. A little, at least.

The 2008 Suzuki Grand Vitara Xsport that just left the Autoblog Garage didn't fit the mold. Our cons list outnumbered the pros, but we just can't give this one an automatic thumbs down.

The ride was unsettled by even slightly uneven pavement, which then caused the dash panel to creak and rattle. And the squeaky horn sounded more appropriate for one of Suzuki's econoboxes than a 4,600-pound SUV. And there's that funky side-opening rear cargo door. But from the pro list, we got a powerful V6, a fairly roomy interior and an impressive drivetrain warranty.

Our 2WD tester arrived wearing Quicksilver Metallic paint and cloth seats. The 2.7-liter V6 is standard, as are side curtain airbags, ABS, stability and traction control, fog lamps and 16-inch wheels. The Xsport trim level includes a few "comfort and convenience" options like a power sunroof, keyless entry and start, power windows and doors, audio and cruise controls on the steering wheel, a 6-disc AM/FM with six speakers and a subwoofer, and power mirrors. Total sticker price before shipping and handling was $22,349.


All photos Copyright ©2007 Chris Tutor / Weblogs, Inc.

Click image for photo gallery

It used to be that US buyers could regularly choose 2- or 3-door (if they were closed-roof models) small SUVs if they felt that's what suited their needs. They included the Samurai, and later, the Sidekick from Suzuki, the Isuzu Rodeo, and the Toyota RAV4, just to name a few. Today, our market's loaded with small SUVs, but they're all on longer wheelbases and sport four doors and a rear hatch, just like their larger brethren.

In other markets, you can still get the smaller SUVs from some manufacturers, however. We like the 3-door Suzuki Grand Vitara quite a bit. It keeps the Vitara's good looks, but compresses them into a short, buggy-like package. This week, Suzuki UK announced the availability of a diesel version of the small Grand Vitara, which to us seems like a seriously versatile little machine. A 4x4 sized like a commuter car that manages 38.2 mpg on the combined cycle definitely has some appeal. Keep in mind that the Brits generally use imperial gallons in their ratings. If that's indeed the case here, we'd be lower - around 32 mpg (thanks to Brian in the comments for correcting me). Still pretty nice. If you were given the option, would you choose something like this over one of the current misers (i.e. Fit, Yaris, Prius)?

Press release after the jump.

[Source: Suzuki UK]

OMG, This was Suzuki's big news? Come on guys? Taking a Grand Vitara and letting some graffiti artists tag it isn't that impressive. But we know there are some of you who love this stuff, and the work was kind of cool, so here it is. In all fairness, Suzuki made sure we knew it wasn't just a paint job. Follow the jump for another pic and the stats on this rolling mix stand.

[Source: Suzuki]

Here's some fun facts for a Friday afternoon: from 1989 through 1999 Suzuki couldn't muster even 50,000 in annual sales in the U.S. and through July of this year it's at nearly 65,000. Lots of things had do to go right for Suzuki to enjoy the kind of success it's having, not the least of which is the mass exodus the market has seen from traditional large SUVs to smaller, less thirsty ones. The company also chose to up its ad budget at the right time raising the dollars it spends on advertising from $77 million in 2004 to $107 million in 2005. (Note – we've seen a few Suzuki ads on these pages before, so we're guessing some of that money went to Weblogs, Inc.).

Now it seems that 100,000 in annual sales is attainable for the first time in the company's history of selling vehicles in the U.S. In addition to the success of the newly redesigned Grand Vitara (sales are up over 500% compared to last year), the larger XL-7 is set to land here soon and the new entry-level SX-4 is right around the corner. Even the aged Forenza, which is the brand's volume seller, is up 27% over last year. The only thing needed to keep Suzuki above the century mark in sales is a Swift kick in the pants.

[Source: AdAge via Straightline Blog]

Fish around in your pants for the Suzuki's fob, punch the unlock button, pull the handle, and clamber inside. Or, rather, you might've, were there actually a need to engage in a bit of pocket-lint spelunking. Not so with the new Grand Vitara. In an unusual move for its class, Suzuki has fitted their compact SUV with a type of keyless entry and start. Oh, there's a fob (a big, chunky one, at that), but you won't need to lay hands on it every time you want to get in or out of the vehicle... that's what those rubberized oval buttons on the two front doors and rear cargo access door are for. Approach the vehicle with the fob somewhere on your person, and the 'Zuki detects its presence, allowing you to open the door (one push on the handle button for your door, two nudges for everyone). It's a system that works well, particularly as keyring-resident box still works as normal. Hidden within is a key for valets and less-than-trustworthy types.

[Click through to the jump for further interior impressions and more than a dozen photos!)

According to a new National Highway Traffic Safety Administration brief, SUVs are getting smarter about turning turtle. By its count, around seven out of every ten SUVs contain electronic stability control programs, reducing the likelihood of rollovers. In fact, nearly 70 percent of 2006 model year SUVs have it as standard fit-an impressive leap over last year's 43 percent. In fact, this bit of silicon trickery has led to no fewer than 39 models obtaining a four star rollover resistance rating. Of course, the increasing crop of car-based crossovers (and their attendant lower centers of gravity) likely has something to do with the higher scores as well.

Among this year's four-star class: Chevrolet's HHR (inexplicably classified as an SUV due to its flat load floor), Hyundai Tucson, Honda Pilot, and Suzuki's Grand Vitara, which is currently rolling around in the Autoblog Garage.

Chief SUV rollover risk were the Nissan Xterra 4x4 (25 percent chance of rollover), Chevrolet Tahoe 4x2 and Hummer H3 (24 percent chance)... but even these rated well enough to obtain three-star ratings.

Check out the link for more results.

[Sources: Car & Driver; Volvo]

2010 is going to landmark year for automakers. General Motors plans to roll out its first commercial fuel cell vehicles by decade's end, while Chrysler may debut the Imperial. Hyundai plans to be one of the world's top five automakers by then, though its current leadership shake up may temporarily send it roadside.

Suzuki is now joining the 2010 club with the ambitious goal of tripling its sales by that time. Quarter sales this year were three times that of  2005. which already was a record year for the small automaker, mostly by dint of its rapidly expanding lineup. According to Koichi Suzuki, president of American Suzuki Motor Corp., the company feels Americans are more receptive to its products, especially its small, fuel efficient vehicles. Suzuki not only plans to increase its product lineup (pictured is the XL-7), but upgrading current dealerships while simultaneously adding new ones. Over 300 Suzuki dealerships will be fully renovated and 60 new ones will opened by the end of 2006.

Related: Suzuki to close Chevrolet shop in Japan
Suzuki stepping out
Suzuki shares on the upswing after GM stock dumpage


[Source: The Buffalo News]

Suffice it to say that Suzuki has never stunned North American consumers with beautiful automotive designs. In point of fact, reviewing their history reveals a certain manic quality, little of it pretty. Oddball propositions like the toy-like X-90 and character-free Esteem have given way to the likes of Suzuki's ill-proportioned Aerio and milquetoast non-statements on the order of the Verona and Forenza. But there are tangible signs that the automaker is finally finding the plot– the inexpensive Italdesign-penned Reno and the tweener SX4 crossover are both attractive propositions. But the offering most likely to become the company's poster child is the all-new-for 2006 Grand Vitara.

A direct replacement for its tired, boxy predecessor that reigned from 1999-2004, the new Grand Vitara is infinitely more compelling with even just a cursory glance. By comparison, yuppies ought to be clamoring for the reborn GV like it's next year's Ikea catalog. Simply put, it's a looker. The strong lines of its clamshell-style hood set the tone, creating a defining ridge across the top of the rectilinear grille, lending the clear-lensed headlamps a bit of edge. The former element is of the blacked-out cross-hatch variety, with a thin, u-shaped chrome lip adding definition and a bit of class. Even when viewed from the dead-on, the GV's meaty fender flares lend it a properly butch stance, particularly as they mold so nicely into the bumper, itself augmented by a pair of blisters housing auxiliary driving lamps. Complaints? Well, the chrome 'S' badge on the nose is a bit outsized, coming across like a Superman logo reinterpreted by an anime artist. But it's hard to blame Suzuki's designers for wanting to get the message out that they're finally in the business of making attractively styled vehicles.

(Click here for the full walk-around, along with more commentary)

Suzuki is not yet ready to go quietly into the night, but rather is set to make a major comeback that will depend on the current churning of its lineup. The new Grand Vitara has already been well received and the now the XL-7, which will for the first time not look like a grander Grand Vitara, is ready to roll.

A Suzuki-built 3.6L V6 that produces 250 hp and 243 ft-lbs. of torque powers the XL-7 and can twist in front-wheel- or all-wheel-drive form. A five-speed automatic divides the proceeding power into digestible chunks while the hardware on a whole delivers fuel economy equal to or better than its predecessor that operated with one less liter of displacement.

The XL-7’s interior features GM switchgear, which is fine with us since we liked these knobs, switches and dials in the Lucerne and Tahoe we’ve tested. As its name implies the XL-7 can seat seven if two of the more diminutive among you don’t mind being with your kneecaps. Kids and pets back there only, please. Second-row legroom, however, is ample.

The exterior design of the XL-7 is interesting, particularly the headlights. The integrated turn signals that dip down make the brights look a bit like their mascara is running, but it seems to work if for no other reason that it doesn’t look like the face of every other SUV on the road. Plus, despite the extra room over a Grand Vitara, you should still be able to pick up an XL-7 for between $23K - $29K.

Go ahead and follow the jump for more live shots, official snaps and Suzuki’s announcement in its own words…