With the way prices of things are going, if you happen to be driving an SUV today, are you feeling miserable?
Given that you have made it this far on this story, chances are you are the kind of fella who has some affinity to this sort of vehicles.
Or you are an Arab with an oil field.
While the Suzuki Grand Vitara 2-litre 2WD model soldiers on, the new Suzuki Grand Vitara 2.4-litre has been introduced as a replacement to the 2.7 V6.
As the new flagship, the Suzuki Grand Vitara 2.4 boasts all the niceties to deserve its $13,400 premium over the 2-litre.
These include keyless engine start, 18-inch alloys and Xenons.
There’s also the rugged four-wheel-drive system, complete with selectable final drive, that Suzuki took out from the 2-litre model.
Look a little closer and Suzuki’s expertise and dedication to “mudding around” arise.
The Suzuki Grand Vitara 2.4 features Electronic Stability Program (ESP) for added safety when driving on-road.
ESP can only be deactivated when the transmission is in off-roading mode, to allow the driver more control in the mire.
Even the car’s doors, which extend to the bottom of the sills to sweep mud away when opened, show how extensive Suzuki made the car ready for the mucking.
MORE OOMPH
The Suzuki Grand Vitara’s 2.4-litre engine, first introduced in North America, is an expanded version of the 2-litre, slapped with a variable intake valve timing head.
Updated instrument cluster now features fuel consumption readouts.
On the move, the 400cc and 20 extra horses over the 2-litre are evidently felt.
The car steps off much more eagerly and there’s discernibly less need for the gearbox to downshift to get ahead.
It’s a good thing, too, since the Suzuki Grand Vitara makes do with only four forward gears – one less than the defunct 2.7 V6.
STILL OK CONSUMPTION
Interestingly, for the added oomph over the 2-litre, claimed consumption figures for the Suzuki Vitara 2.4 is less than 1 percent more than the 2-litre (9.8 vs 9.9km/L).
It’s not exactly a sipper, but it’s hardly awful for what it is.
If you still hanker for an SUV and the call of the wild – or at least the promise of recreation that comes with the SUV lifestyle – then only a proper alternative like the grunting Suzuki Grand Vitara 2.4 will do.
Otherwise, you can always sulk in your office cubicle.
2008 Suzuki Grand Vitara 2.4 (A)
ENGINE 2393cc, 16-valves, inline-4
MAX POWER 163hp at 6000rpm
MAX TORQUE 225Nm at 4000rpm
GEARBOX 4-speed automatic with manual select
0-100KM/H 12 seconds
TOP SPEED 170km/h
FUEL CONSUMPTION 9.8km/L
PRICE INCL. COE $81,900
AGENT Champion Motors
Group Test: Nissan Qashqai 2.0 vs Suzuki Vitara 1.6 vs Honda HR-V 1.5 vs Mazda CX-3 2.0
Group Test: Renault Captur 1.2 vs Suzuki Vitara 1.6 vs SsangYong Tivoli 1.6
