Think 4x4, and most people imagine luxury vehicles such as Range Rovers and BMWs, or no-nonsense off-roaders from the likes of Nissan and Mitsubishi.

However, the proliferation of all-wheel-drive cars in Britain since the early 1980s is as much the result of manufacturers of such as Suzuki producing smaller, cheaper 4x4s.
In 2005 Suzuki introduced the second-generation Grand Vitara, which the company hoped would build on the original's combination of good looks, good driving dynamics and modest list price.
 
The result is a great all-rounder, and a potential used-car bargain. The revamped Vitara comes in three or five-door guises. Both look good but the chunkier three-door is the more visually successful, despite being smaller than the five-door.

Three-door models came with just one engine — a 105bhp 1.6 litre petrol unit. Although substantially more powerful than the 94bhp of the previous 1.6, it lacks the punch that the car's sporty looks announce. Nevertheless, with just one or two people aboard, performance is acceptable.

The longer, heavier five-door comes with a choice of 140bhp 2 litre petrol or 129bhp 1.9 litre turbodiesel engine. As is often the case with 4x4s, the extra low-down torque of the diesel makes it the more satisfactory match for the Grand Vitara. Despite the relatively small size of these cars, you can't expect miracles at the fuel pumps: the 2 litre petrol typically manages 31mpg, while the diesel is not that far ahead, with 36.7mpg — not much of a saving when you factor in the extra cost of diesel fuel.

Regardless of model, buyers will be impressed with the Grand Vitara's equipment list: air-conditioning, electric windows, CD player, permanent four-wheel drive and front and side airbags come as standard. Only the base 1.6 litre model lacks the attractive alloy wheels.
Slip behind the wheel and you will notice how hard Suzuki has worked at upgrading the Grand Vitara's interior. Gone are the hard grey and black plastics of the previous model; in their place are nicely textured surfaces and clean, sleek ergonomics. The stereo can be controlled via remote switches at the steering wheel, and large, silver-ringed dials are easy to read. Overall, the Grand Vitara's lack of clutter makes you realise how over-complicated many of its competitors are — cars such as the Toyota RAV4 and Hyundai Tucson.

The Grand Vitara will accommodate five adults, although rear-seat access is more restricted on three-door models. All the rear seats can be folded flat to liberate a large load area. For some, the side-opening boot door will be a blessing — there's no bumping of the tailgate on low ceilings — but its wide opening arc can make loading awkward if your rear bumper is close to another car.
 
On the road, the Grand Vitara is a huge improvement on the previous generation. The body feels more rigid, the ride is more compliant and roll is reduced. Only the Grand Vitara's relatively short gearing spoils motorway cruising, during which the high engine revs can become intrusive.

The all-wheel-drive system works well, particularly considering the car's low price. Torque is balanced 47-53% between front and rear axles, and there's a locking centre differential and a low-range transfer box. The result is that the Grand Vitara's "soft-roader" looks understate the car's real ability, and that's rarely the case in today's marketplace.
 
Maintenance of a used Grand Vitara is straightforward and most cars will still be covered by the original manufacturer's three-year/60,000-mile warranty. Once outside the warranty period, Suzuki's have a reputation for durability anyway, with major components tending to last the car's lifetime. As there are about 150 Suzuki dealers in the UK, and there's an online used-car search facility at www.suzuki4.co.uk, it's worth starting your hunt within the franchise. With prices of all second-hand cars under pressure, a used Suzuki Grand Vitara now looks something of a bargain.

 

Alloy wheels
Standard 17in alloys on all but the base three-door petrol model

Boot space
Three-door has 184 litres, and 516 litres with seats folded, while five-door offers 398 and 758 litres respectively
 
Bumpers
Check colour-coded bumpers and side mouldings for scuffs

Gearbox
Five-speed manual is standard; optional four-speed auto on 2 litre petrol model adds about £300 and barely dents economy

Options
Satellite navigation, DVD player and six-disc CD changer all available, but don’t pay a hefty premium for them
 
Power sockets
Three 12V power sockets; two in the front and one in the boot

Rear seats
Reclining mechanism adds comfort. Split-fold is 50:50 on the three-door and 60:40 on the five-door

Safety
Four-star Euro NCAP score for adult occupancy, and three stars for child and pedestrian safety. Front and side airbags standard on all
 
Tailgate
Two-stage opening tailgate “locks” at 65 degrees but when fully open obscures tail-light due to tailgate-mounted spare wheel
 
Warranty
Three years/60,000 miles from new, with servicing due every 9,000 miles or 12 months
 

Alternative

Or for similar money:

2005 05 Land Rover Freelander 2.0 Td4 HSE
2005 55 Toyota RAV4 2.0D4D XT3 5dr
2006 55 Nissan X-Trail 2.2 dCi SE 5dr
2006 06 Honda CR-V 2.2i-CDTi SE
2006 56 Hyundai Tucson 2.0 CRTD CDX 5dr






Figures based on CAP June 2008 edition

 © Bumper Media Limited July 2008