29/04/09

• Price18,475
• We like...Packed with equipment
• We don't...Jittery ride

 Bargain-priced and packed with stuff you'd expect only on most costly rivals, this Suzuki looks top valueA pukka off-roader, packed with kit and for no more than you’d drop on a mid-range VW Golf? Has to be a bargain.

Let’s probe a little deeper, though. There’s no doubt that, at a glance, this vehicle appears way cheaper than the competition. And kerb-side, its value looks compelling. A tall, boxy body, just revamped and closely similar from some angles to Land Rover’s Freelander. Five doors, including a big side-opener at the rear. Chunky alloy wheels and lots of posh detailing – door mirrors with direction indicators built-in, just like on a Mercedes.

Inside you get leather seats as standard and the front ones are heated. There’s climate controlled air conditioning, cruise control, a six-CD player and darkened glass across the rear – to keep thieves from spying your belongings. There is also a full-on four-wheel drive system that has settings to keep you going across mud or whenever it is wintry.
True, you can see cheapness in the grain and feel of some of the plastic covering the dash and console, while the steering adjusts only for height so it may be tricky for some drivers to get perfectly comfortable. But there’s nothing to spoil your day, considering the price.

Space is good for the driver and front passenger. But leg room in the rear is limited whenever the driver needs his seat pushed back to get comfortable, while the centre rear seat is thinly padded and so not great for a long trip. Boot space is tight for the Vitara’s size unless you drop the rear seats, while the side-hinged rear door is heavy to swing closed.

But the Grand Vitara’s not always your friend as you drive it. Its 2.4-litre petrol lacks sufficient low-revs shove as you’ll need for off-roading or even when you’ve a full load of passengers, while the manual gearbox hasn’t the well-damped feel that you’d get from a Land Rover Freelander’s. The ride, meanwhile, has the car all a-fidget, making it tiring to pilot along a motorway for any distance. Finally, the steering feels light but is also woolly in its response, making it a challenge sometimes to place the car as accurately as you’d wish through a bend.

The other issue if you’re buying new is the speed at which the Vitara loses value. If you go with the petrol model we tested, after three years it’ll be worth less than a third of its original list price. Rivals such as the Land Rover Freelander or Honda’s CR-V may be dearer to start, but they’ll lose a smaller chunk of their value over time.

But if you’re buying second-hand, it also means that the Grand Vitara becomes even more of a bargain. If you’re set on getting one new, look also at a diesel powered ‘Grand’ because they lose value more slowly, to say nothing of their better fuel economy and lower CO2 emissions.

So, this Suzuki is a mixed bag. It looks a lot for relatively little cash and those leather seats are a treat on a car at this price. It’s also got all the making of a very capable off-roader. But its engine is weak considering its size and you may soon tire of its pitching ride. Weigh up carefully, and then choose.

To read the motors.co.uk review of the Suzuki Vitara three-door, click here
To view and buy new and second-hand Grand Vitaras, click on motors.co.uk
 

• Engines2.4 petrol
• Power167bhp
• 0-60 mph11.7secs
• Economy31.3mpg
• CO2g/km208
• Insurance groups14
• EuroNCAP
• Airbags6
• Seats5

Motors.co.uk value verdict: