Gallery: Review: 2008 Suzuki Grand Vitara XSport

Continue reading Review: 2008 Suzuki Grand Vitara Xsport

Review: 2008 Suzuki Grand Vitara Xsport originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 24 Mar 2008 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Gallery: Suzuki Grand Vitara 3-door

Continue reading UK gets diesel 3-door Suzuki Grand Vitara

UK gets diesel 3-door Suzuki Grand Vitara originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 23 Mar 2007 14:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading OC Auto Show: Suzuki "Hip Hop" Grand Vitara

OC Auto Show: Suzuki "Hip Hop" Grand Vitara originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 04 Oct 2006 19:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Suzuki's full court press to reach 100,000 in sales originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 25 Aug 2006 13:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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!)

Continue reading 2006 Suzuki Grand Vitara 4x4 in the Autoblog Garage Day 3-4

2006 Suzuki Grand Vitara 4x4 in the Autoblog Garage Day 3-4 originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 05 Jun 2006 11:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]

Flipped off! 2006 SUV rollover resistance improves greatly, says NHTSA originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 01 Jun 2006 07:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Suzuki's three-prong strategy for triple growth by 2010 originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 30 May 2006 11:53:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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)

Continue reading 2006 Suzuki Grand Vitara 4x4 in the Autoblog Garage Day 1-2

2006 Suzuki Grand Vitara 4x4 in the Autoblog Garage Day 1-2 originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 29 May 2006 12:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading New York Auto Show: Expect a lot from Suzuki's XL-7

New York Auto Show: Expect a lot from Suzuki's XL-7 originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 14 Apr 2006 10:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.