Suzuki Grand Vitara is one of the most popular compact SUVs in the Russian market. This Japanese car appeared in Russia in 2005 and was an excellent choice for those who planned to buy a reliable and compact jeep with good cross-country performance. According to reviews, Suzuki Grand Vitara is one of the few cars in its class that has real all-wheel drive and locks.
Appearance
The design of the car is quite modest. Suzuki Grand Vitara has no expressive forms and aggressive lines. The design is more conservative. Front - a high raised bumper and a large grille. On each side - halogen optics with integrated turn signals. Below there are "round" foglights. There is an electric sunroof on the roof. Distinctive shapes include swollen wheel arches. They make the look more masculine and brutal. But in general, the design of the car is discreet and it is difficult to distinguish such a car from the stream.
What do owners say about the Suzuki Grand Vitara? The quality of painting is pretty good. Chips do not appear for a long time. But there are weaknesses in the body. This is a molding in the area of the rear wheel arches. Over time, it comes off. At the high pressure washer, it simply flies off. The solution is to install the molding on a stronger sealant or glue (for example, liquid nails). Another pitfall is the boot seal rubber. She eventually erases the paint on the body. As a result, bright bald spots are formed. To eliminate them, you have to periodically smear the sealant with silicone or tint existing scrapes with a pencil to remove scratches.
Sizes, clearance
The car is available in different versions, so the dimensions of the Suzuki Grand Vitara may vary. So, the three-door modification has a length of 4.06 meters. Five-door - exactly 4.5. But the width and height are the same and are 1.81 and 1.7 meters, respectively. They also have the same ground clearance. Under the front axle - 19.5 centimeters, under the rear - almost 22. The car has very high arrival angles due to short overhangs. Especially passable is the three-door modification of the Suzuki Grand Vitara. Reviews say that she copes with impassability no worse than the prepared “Niva”.
Salon
Interior design is significantly outdated by now. Inside, simple and unobtrusive lines of the center console are visible, as well as modest decorative inserts. The instrument panel is a pointer, where each scale is recessed into its own well. Steering wheel - three-spoke, with buttons and the ability to mechanically adjust. From the passenger side - a small glove box. The seats are fabric, but with good lumbar support. Between the seats there is a wide armrest with an additional niche for small things.
In general, the interior has well-thought-out ergonomics. The car "Suzuki Grand Vitara" is very comfortable and cozy. But the short base still makes itself felt. And if the front can still be comfortably accommodated, then the rear riders need to adapt. This is especially noticeable on the short-base three-door version. Space behind is not enough. Not enough of him in the trunk. So, the luggage compartment in the five-door “Vitara” is almost 400 liters. And in the three-door - only 184.
Note that the configuration of the Suzuki Grand Vitara is mostly poor. Not every car is equipped with power windows, heated seats, a multimedia system and climate control.
Suzuki Grand Vitara: specifications
The engine range includes three gasoline 16-valve power units. All of them have a 16-valve head and a multi-point injection system, and also comply with the environmental standard Euro-4 (for the European market - Euro-5).
So, the base for the Suzuki Grand Vitara is the M16A engine. They are equipped with a three-door modification of the Vitara. This motor is atmospheric and produces 106 horsepower. The torque is 145 Nm. The unit is equipped with a five-speed manual gearbox. Acceleration from zero to hundreds takes 14.4 seconds. The maximum speed is 160 kilometers per hour.
Next on the list is the J20A engine. This engine aggregates the five-door SUVs Suzuki Grand Vitara. Technical characteristics of this unit are better. With a volume of two liters, the engine develops 140 horsepower and 183 Nm of torque. As a checkpoint, two transmissions are provided. This is a five-speed mechanics and four-mode automatic. Acceleration to hundreds takes about 13.6 seconds.
The flagship SUV for the Suzuki Grand Vitara is the 2.4-liter inline J24B engine. This motor can go on both three- and five-door versions. As a gearbox, mechanics are used, or an automatic machine with five and four steps, respectively. The torque of the power unit is 225 Nm. Maximum power - 168 horsepower. A car with this engine shows good dynamics. Acceleration to hundreds takes from 11.5 to 12 seconds.
Aggregate problems
What problems can owners of these cars face in operation? The first point is the timing chain. It stretches after 60 thousand kilometers. Yes, unlike a belt, it does not tear. But the repair of the Suzuki Grand Vitara will be more difficult to implement. It is advisable to change not only the chain, but also the tensioners, as well as the dampers. And on 120 thousand asterisks are being replaced. If you ignore these operations, the circuit can simply jam. Also during operation, the chain loosens. The reason for this is the upper sedative. Fortunately, it changes simply. It is only necessary to remove the valve cover of the engine.
The next problem is the oil pressure sensor. Over time, it begins to be squeezed out, and the lubricant flows out. The malfunction is solved by installing a new sensor on the car.
Many owners are faced with a problem such as maslozhor. This happens after 100 thousand kilometers. The reasons are very different, but often it is too long an oil change interval reserved for the dealer. The latter performs replacement every 15 thousand, which under our operating conditions is considered a huge period. Due to the fact that they roll on oil, deposits form in the engine. They accumulate on the piston rings. The latter are no longer able to remove oil from the cylinder walls and part of the lubricant simply burns out in the chamber. Therefore, the replacement interval must be reduced at least one and a half times. And if this is a used car, you can try to replace the rings or valve stem seals. The problem should go away.
Note that due to the increased oil consumption, the resource of the catalytic converter in the exhaust system is reduced. The soot residues accumulate on the lambda probes and in the converter, due to which the computer generates errors P0430 and P0420 during diagnosis. Typically, catalysts are “jammed” by installing tricks and emulators (or by doing an ECU flashing). The converter itself is cut out and a flame arrester is placed in its place.
It is also worth noting the problems with the manual gearbox. In general, it is reliable, but on a warmed-up car it is sometimes difficult to engage first gear.
Four-wheel drive
According to reviews, Suzuki Grand Vitara is already well prepared for the road from the factory. So, the car is equipped with a Full Time permanent all-wheel drive system with the possibility of locking the center differential and engaging a lower gear.
In general, the system is reliable. But there are questions about the front gear. Moreover, this problem does not depend on the vehicle mileage. So, the front axle gearbox has a too short ventilation breather, due to which moisture and various dirt are sucked in. All this gets into the oil, and it begins to turn into an unknown emulsion. The solution is to install a long breather.
Chassis
Suspension on an SUV independent round. Front - MacPherson strut. Rear - mnogoryichazhka. However, due to the short base, even the five-door modification seems harsh and jumps on bumps. Steering - a rack with the hydraulic booster (is already in a basic complete set). There are enough brakes. Front and rear - disc (on the five-door), and on the shortened rear are the drums.
Weaknesses in the suspension are the rear silent blocks of the front levers. They are torn on the run of 80 thousand. It is recommended to install the silent blocks of Honda, or use polyurethane analogues (they are much stronger and have a good resource).
Road behavior
How does this car behave on the track? The car is not looking for the road and clearly holds the center. When cornering, the car does not heel. Management is quite predictable - say the reviews.
Conclusion
So, we found out what the Suzuki Grand Vitara SUV is. The machine has long been on the Russian market, so all its problems have been thoroughly studied, there are plenty of solutions to address them. If you need a simple and unpretentious jeep for off-road or even a city, the Suzuki Grand Vitara would be a great option.