Maruti Suzuki’s all new Grand Vitara for 2007 replaces the older boxy & dated Vitara but this time with a smaller 2.0-litre petrol motor. Suzuki is out to create a brand image for itself all over the world with its aggressive revival strategy. Swift has already made its presence felt and the new GV is yet another new gen vehicle in its product line-up. Even before the Suzuki’s SX4 has sunk in, Maruti Udyog has gone ahead and launched the Grand Vitara. Suzuki’s Vitara was one of the earliest SUVs that created this class called the ‘Urban SUV’ …the new fad that is. Frankly, this is the only available soft-roader in India that can genuinely go anywhere.

In terms of SUV styling the new Grand Vitara definetely looks the part. The defining line made by the clamshell type hood on top of the grille and headlamps gives the GV an expressive face. The bulged out wheel arches which blend neatly in to the bumpers give the GV a more mannish stance than any other of its competition. A classy U-shaped chromed lip sits under the grille and a big Suzuki ‘S’ emblem on the blacked out grille is something we Indians wouldn’t complain about. Unlike the Honda CR-V, the Grand Vitara doesn’t have a hatch but instead, a hinged door with the spare wheel mounted on it. The things at the rear like; the flared wheel arches, the D-pillar blending into the tail lamps and the jutting spare wheel work together to beef up the Grand Vitara’s off-road SUV image. In fact (IMHO) the GV looks the best from the rear 3-quarters angle.

Seats are very comfortable and the driver’s seat & steering are hieght adjustible. The dashboard is the best among all the Suzukis we’ve seen so far. It is tightly packed & well laid out but a bit boring. Boring because of the many familiar common parts like air-con vents, steering wheel, power window switches and the climate control knobs that are shared with Suzuki’s SX4 and Swift. Some of the good things inside are, the center console flanked by two running silver strips, and the instrument console with silver ringed dials.

One distinctive thing that’ll grab our attention is the exciting driveline selector knob that sits under the climate controls. For the kind of a person who enjoys or goes off the road, be it occasional or always, it can’t get any better than this. There are 4 modes that can be selected here:

• 4 High: This is mode for normal driving where power is sent to all the wheels.
• 4 High Lock: for medium off-roading and slippery surfaces, where the central differential is locked sending power to front and rear wheels equally.
• 4 Low Lock: for some serious off-roading on uneven surfaces like mud & sand and tackling heavy inclines. In this mode the central differential is locked and a low-ratio gearing is selected with increased torque.
• Neutral: This is quite obvious, no power to any of the wheels, ideal for towing.

Structurally, the new GV has a ladder frame merged into its monocoque structure for additional rigidity. The aim of this design is to achieve good refined on-road as well as tough off-road abilities. With this design along with the Suzuki’s new full time four-wheel-drive system and the independent suspension setup (MacPherson struts in front and a multi-link design in the rear) the GV handles very well but compromizes a bit on the ride quality. The Grand Vitara features, vented front disc brakes and rear drum brakes, ABS with EBD, and a 225/70R16 tire & alloy package.

Only one engine is currently offered, a 1995cc inline-4 16V DOHC petrol which produces 120 bhp @ 5500 rpm and a peak torque of 170 Nm @ 3500 rpm. This engine boasts of features like drive-by-wire throttle control and chain driven cams. It has a feature called the ‘Variable Induction System’ which essentially improves the power & torque at low & high revs. MUL is also offering an AT version the ex-showroom prices in bangalore are:
Grand Vitara MT: Rs 14,10,000
Grand Vitara AT: Rs 15,10,000