Used Suzuki Grand Vitara: a perpetual automatic machine and a suicide motor. Which crossover is better: Suzuki Grand Vitara or Mitsubishi Outlander Which is better than Suzuki Grand Vitara

31.01.2017

Suzuki Grand Vitara 2 (SUZUKI Grand Vitara) Is the most popular car in the Suzuki range. This model, according to many experts, is considered the best among crossovers in terms of price-quality ratio and off-road capabilities, plus, the car boasts a real Japanese assembly. Many owners attribute this car to the category of non-kill ones, arguing that it is unpretentious and endurance. But how things are with the reliability of a used Suzuki Grand Vitara in fact and what you should pay attention to when choosing this car in the secondary market, now we will try to find out.

A bit of history:

The debut of the first generation Suzuki Grant Vitara took place in 1997. Initially, this car was a rear-wheel drive frame SUV with a rigidly connected front-wheel drive. The second generation of the car was introduced in 2005. Unlike the previous version, the novelty has lost the standard frame body structure (the frame is integrated into the body), and the all-wheel drive has become permanent with the presence of crawler gears and center differential locks. In 2008, the car underwent a restyling, as a result of which the front bumper, radiator grille, front fenders and mirrors were changed. But, the main innovations affected the technical part - the drum brakes were replaced with disc brakes, the transmission was modernized, and two new engines also appeared. In 2010, the car underwent a minor modernization, as a result of which the trunk lid lost its spare wheel, thanks to which Vitara became shorter by 200 mm, and the diesel engine was upgraded to comply with the Euro 5 level. This model was available for purchase in three and five-door bodies. In 2015, the production of this crossover was finally discontinued.

Problematic places and disadvantages of Suzuki Grand Vitara

The body elements of the Suzuki Grand Vitara are fitted qualitatively. Also, there are no significant comments on the quality of the paintwork and anti-corrosion coating, and if there is a large amount of rust on a used copy, then this is the first sign that the car was being restored after an accident. Of the shortcomings of the body elements, only thin metal on the hood can be distinguished (even from minor contact dents remain) and the sagging of the rear door, this is due to the influence of the heavy spare wheel that is installed on it. In order to fix the problem, it is necessary to adjust the hinges.

Engines

Suzuki Grand Vitara, as for a Japanese-made car, has a fairly wide range of power units: gasoline - 1.6 (106 hp), 2.0 (140 hp), 2.4 (166 hp) 3.2 (233 hp). with.); diesel 1.9 (129 hp). Operating experience has shown that all engines are reliable enough, but some characteristic sores in them were nevertheless identified. So, in particular, a 1.6-liter engine is afraid of overheating, and it also painfully tolerates oil starvation. A timing chain drive is installed on the motor, as a rule, up to 100-120 thousand km, this unit does not cause any problems, in order to increase the resource of the chain, it is necessary to use high-quality oil, also try to warm up the engine well in severe frosts. After 200,000 km, the oil consumption increases, and if they liked to “light up” the car, then the oil consumption can be an unpleasant surprise (up to 400 grams for 1000 km). In order to fix the problem, it is necessary to change the rings and valve stem seals.

Among the disadvantages of engines with a volume of 2.0 and 2.4 liters, a small resource of the drive belt rollers (40-50 thousand km) can be noted. Also, on some copies, the chain stretches quite early and its tensioner fails. A diesel rumble and metallic ringing when starting a cold engine will signal a problem. All four-cylinder engines are not equipped with hydraulic lifters, which is why it is necessary to adjust the clearances in the valve drive every 40,000 km. All engines are quite sensitive to the quality of fuel, when using low-quality fuel, the spark plugs, the fuel filter (comes complete with the fuel pump) and the catalyst are the first to suffer. The car with the most powerful 3.2-liter V6 engine has established itself as the most reliable, but has a very high fuel consumption (20-22 liters per hundred in the city).

Diesel engine 1.9 - development of the French manufacturer Renault. This engine does not have outstanding performance and has a number of disadvantages. In our reality, most often, the owners complain about the small resource of the turbocharger, pump, and DPF filter. Also, the disadvantages include high fuel consumption (8-10 liters per hundred) and high maintenance costs.

Transmission

This model is equipped with two types of gearboxes - five-speed mechanics and four-speed automatic. As paradoxical as it may sound, an automatic transmission is much more reliable than mechanics. One of the significant shortcomings of the mechanics is the deterioration of the operational qualities of the box (fuzzy inclusion of the 1st 2nd and 3rd gears). There may be several reasons for incorrect transmission robots - failure of bearings or gear selection mechanism, also, the problem manifests itself with partial wear of the clutch. Despite this, the clutch lasts long enough - 100-120 thousand km. Automatic transmission, as a rule, does not require interventions of 200-250 thousand km, but only under the condition of proper maintenance (oil change every 60,000 km) and operation. The disadvantages of automatic transmission include long delays when changing gears.

The all-wheel drive system is one of the advantages of the Suzuki Grand Vitara. There are inter-axle differential locks and a reduction gear. Among the shortcomings, one can note the noisy operation of the front axle gearbox (60-80 thousand km starts to buzz, if you often storm off-road terrain, it can buzz even after 30,000 thousand km). Often, an oil change helps to eliminate hum. Once every 100-120 thousand km, replacement of the oil seals of the front gearbox is required, a little earlier, by 60-80 thousand km, the oil seal of the transfer case begins to leak, it is better not to tighten it with its replacement, since a decrease in the oil level in the transfer case will eventually lead to expensive unit repair.

Suspension weaknesses of the Suzuki Grand Vitara

Suzuki Grand Vitara is equipped with a fully independent suspension, despite this, the car is not the standard of comfort and handling. If we talk about the reliability of the chassis, then it is quite hardy, even despite the small resource of some elements. Most often, bushings and stabilizer struts require attention, on average, they serve about 30,000 km, but they can begin to creak even after 10000 km... If, after replacing the bushings, there is still a tapping when driving on an uneven road, then it is necessary to install rubber spacers between the bracket and the bushing or replace the brackets. The front shock absorbers are rather weak and on most copies serve no more than 80,000 km, and in severe operating conditions their resource is halved. Breakup levers, wheel bearings and ball joints can please owners with a range of 120,000 km.

The rear wheel bearing is less durable and serves only 60-80 thousand km (it changes assembled with the hub). The rest of the rear suspension elements serve about 100,000 km, but many owners recommend that you regularly check the camber and change the tires every 15,000 km. The steering does not cause any special remarks, the only thing the owners have complaints about is the howling pump of the power steering, it is worth noting that with the onset of cold weather the hum increases (in some cases, replacing the power steering fluid helps to eliminate the problem). Also, on cars of the first years of production, the pipes of the hydraulic booster cooling system are not famous for the reliability (fluid leaks appear at the junction). Front brake pads, on average, take care of 30-40 thousand km, rear up to 60,000 km, discs - twice as long.

Salon

Despite the fact that the interior trim of the second generation Suzuki Grand Vitara is made of simple materials, it is assembled very efficiently, thanks to which extraneous squeaks and knocks rarely bother car owners. The main sources of squeaks are: the front seats, the trunk shelf, and the plastic pillars of the pillars. The electrical equipment is quite reliable and, even after many years of operation, does not cause any trouble. The only thing that can bother is the stove fan motor (brushes and relays fail).

Outcome:

Suzuki Grand Vitara is a fairly reliable car with good off-road potential, and if only original parts are used, then it will not often cause trouble. But, if you are looking for a comfortable, family crossover with good cross-country ability, then it is better to pay attention to another car, for example.

If you are the owner of this car model, please describe the problems that you had to face during the operation of the car. Perhaps it is your feedback that will help the readers of our site when choosing a car.

Best regards, editors AvtoAvenu

When creating the Suzuki Grand Vitara 2, they abandoned the frame and continuous axles, but left a full-fledged all-wheel drive. Therefore, reading the "paper" characteristics of the car it is not always clear to what class it belongs. Whether it is for the price of a crossover, or with an appetite for an SUV. In the article, we will sort through all the pros and cons of a used model.

A bit of history

The Japanese Vitara family began its history back in 1988. The frame, plug-in front axle, small size and weight have made the model popular in certain circles of off-road enthusiasts. Low-power engines slightly limited off-road capabilities, but made the price of the car affordable for most people.

The second generation (1998-2005) became larger, more powerful and received the Grand prefix. Therefore, in fact, Suzuki is in the third generation review, but taking into account the "grandeur" - the second. The Vitara was not the first off-road, and it was not very suitable for urban conditions at all, so the second reincarnation was not particularly popular.

In the third generation, the Suzuki company decided to take into account previous mistakes and made a cardinal change of priorities. In 2005, the fashion for crossovers was just gaining momentum. Therefore, the model received a good appearance, permanent four-wheel drive with a low gear and a monocoque body instead of a frame. Combined with an affordable price tag, this has ensured a fairly consistent popularity.

Body and equipment

In addition to the standard five-door modification, it is not so common, but there is also a three-door one - a good option for urban conditions with bad roads. The body of the Grand Vitara is galvanized on both sides, but after damage it starts to rust very quickly. Therefore, it is better to remove chips and scratches immediately after occurrence.

The list of additional equipment is much shorter than that of the German premium brands. But for a comfortable movement there is everything you need even in the "base". All Suzuki Grand Vitara 2 have:

• full power accessories;
• climate control (not everyone, however, likes the algorithm of its work);
• heated front seats;
• two airbags (driver, passenger);
• ABS and EBD brake force distribution.

In more expensive trim levels, the ESP system monitors directional stability. Of the "buns" can be leather upholstery, cruise control, keyless entry, parking sensors and more expensive music with a changer. Top-end Vitaras with a 3.2 liter engine were also supplied with electronic assistants for descent and ascent.

The salon is spacious and simple. The plastic of the panel is hard, but soft on the door cards. Crickets and rattling often occur in the area of ​​the torpedo and rear seats. Sound insulation is at an average level, after restyling it was slightly improved.

There were two restyles in total. In 2008, they changed the radiator grille, a couple of little things in appearance and stuck the information display into the front panel. Now you can choose a gasoline engine. An improved 2.4-liter and a top-end V6 3.2 liter, which was not officially supplied to our region, was added to the only two-liter, so it is rare. In 2012, the exterior was slightly tweaked and the six-cylinder engine was discontinued.

Off-road and razdatka

Full-time all-wheel drive is good, but you shouldn't count on "super" cross-country ability. It is higher than that of the average SUV, but do not exclude the factor of the “correct” rubber and gasket between the steering wheel and the driver's seat. Additional features always require additional costs, or at least attention.

When choosing a used Suzuki Grand Vitara, it is better not to take copies with leaking front axle oil seals. Without oil, the gearbox quickly fails, and it is not known how long the car has already passed with a leak. Most often, the right-hand drive oil seal leaks and changes without any problems. If the drip is front, then you will have to disassemble the entire distribution box. In this case, they change at the same time all the other oil seals so as not to return to this issue for the next 70-80 thousand mileage.

Even if there are no oil leaks, then after purchase, be sure to change the oil in the front gearbox. Due to the location of the breather, water gets into it. And for this it is not necessary to drive along deep fords. There is a solution to the problem:

1. Original extended hose kit (27891-65D10) breather and retainer (27892-65D00).
2. Construction of a petrol resistant Zhiguli hose, two clamps and a filter.

In the rear gearbox, the breather is brought into the axle, so there are no such problems. But if you "park" in a deep puddle for a long time, then moisture can still penetrate inside. Therefore, fans of extreme off-road conditions are advised to change the lubricant in the rear gearbox twice as often as during normal operation.

If you change the oil seals and oil in both razdatki on time, then the Suzuki Grand Vitara all-wheel drive system will regularly serve 250+ thousand km. Unfortunately, not all owners pay due attention to regular diagnostics.

Suspension

The chassis of the Grand Vitara is reliable, but there are several weak points:

1. 1. Front arm bushing.In the original, the front levers are changed only as an assembly. At the same time, the ball joint "nurses" much more than the rear silent blocks, which live 70-100 thousand km. It can be solved in two ways:
      1. replacement of the lever assembly;
      2. replacement of the silent blocks themselves with alternative ones. For example: Hyundai 54584-2E000 or Sidem 877611.
   2. Rear camber bolts. They are supplied without any anti-corrosion protection, so over time they become one with the rear bushings. Because of this, it is impossible to adjust the camber of the rear axle. This is fraught with accelerated wear of rubber and "treated" by replacing all rear silent blocks together with the bolts. To prevent such a situation, regular (every 20-30 thousand km) prophylaxis of bolts (graphite lubricant) is recommended.
   3. Front stabilizer bar bushings. Almost a consumable with a service life of 10-30 thousand km. Depends on driving style, hub quality and roads. For owners of two-liter Vitars, it is advisable to use bushings and staples from the 2.4-liter version. References 42412-78K00 Sleeve and 42415-78K00 Mounting Bracket.

Hub p Bearings are supplied assembled with a hub, but their service life is usually enough for 100+ thousand km in normal urban use. The rear brakes of the Grand Vitara are drum and pads are usually enough for at least 80 thousand km. The front ones will have to be changed twice as often.

Engines

In this section, Suzuki has a minimum of variety. From 2005 to 2008, in fact, there was only one option - a two-liter gasoline engineJ20A, with a capacity of 140 liters. with.For the weight of the car and all-wheel drive, it is not enough, so the consumption in the city rarely drops below 14 liters.

Cars with a more frisky six-cylinder were brought from America.2.7 liters (H27A, 185 HP)... Reliable and unpretentious, not a bad option to buy, but finding a Grand Vitara 2 in good condition with such a motor is difficult. Found only on pre-styling Vitaras.

From the exotic category, you can find Vitara with1.9 liter dieselfrom Renault. Of the one and a half thousand announcements for the sale of SGV on AvtoRu, there are already 16 diesel ones. The turbine engine is not very reliable and fuel equipment becomes prohibitively expensive with age. To save on fuel, it is better to choose a gasoline engine with an installed LPG system.Gas equipmentpays off quickly, but there isrisk of burnout of exhaust valveswith incorrect tuning and adjustment of the fuel mixture.

The second most common is gasolineJ24B ​​2.4 liters... Additional 29 liters. with. increased consumption by 2 liters. It appeared after the first restyling and is, in fact, a wasted two-literJB420... In terms of dynamics, the two-liter engine on the mechanics can be equated with 2.4 on the machine.

The JB series motors have their weaknesses / features:

1. Timing chain drive.Its service life rarely exceeds 80-90 thousand km, almost like on belt-driven machines. The chain stretches, the tensioners become loose, so the first signs of future repairs can be easily identified by ear. Do not forget to open the hood before buying and listen carefully to the sound of the engine - there should be no metallic tapping or rattling.
2. Zhor of oil.Usually begins to appear after 100 thousand run. Up to 2 liters from replacement to replacement is nothing to worry about. If you regularly drive with the oil level below the minimum, then the engine is repaired. Replacement of valve stem seals and piston rings helps. For starters, you can try changing the viscosity of the engine oil.
3. Oil pressure sensor.Another source of lubrication loss. Oil starts to run through it, only replacement.
4. Adjustment of valves.There are no hydraulic lifters in these motors, therefore, according to the regulations, it is supposed to adjust the valves every 40 thousand km. In fact, rarely does anyone do such a service more than once 100 thousand run.

It remains only to mention the most powerful V6 3.2 liters (N32A, 233 HP) and the weakest 1.6 (M16A, 106 HP). The first one comes from General Motors and in good and serviced condition will not cause problems. The only engine in the Suzuki Grand Vitara 2 with hydraulic lifters and does not require valve adjustment. In case of repair, the six-cylinder engine will, in principle, be expensive.

The younger 1.6-liter engine was installed only on the three-door SGV2, also with a simplified transmission. Reliable, but frankly weak unit. Suitable only for smooth movement around the city.

Transmissions

The manual transmission of the Grand Vitara 2 is generally reliable, but the problem with the first gear is quite common. It does not turn on when the car is warm, or it sticks very tightly. There may be several reasons and solutions to the problem:

• "Dying" clutch - to be treated by replacement;
• bad oil in the box - change to 2 liters of Castrol Syntrans Transaxle 75W-90;
• airing the hydraulic system - replacing and pumping brake fluid;
• synchronizer - repair with check point disassembly.

All Grand Vitara 2s were fitted with a rather ancient but reliable four-speed Aisin automatic. There are fewer problems with it than with mechanics. Shifts thoughtfully, but smoothly, while increasing the average consumption by a couple of liters (compared to manual transmission).

The only exception was the SGV with V6 engines. They were supplied with the same Japanese automatic transmission, only with five steps. According to the algorithm of operation and reliability, they do not differ.

Outcome

The second generation Suzuki Grand Vitara attracts with its affordable starting price. For a reasonable price, you can get an almost full-fledged SUV with an adequate cost of maintenance.

Good day, dear reader of my blog. In this article I will present an overview of one interesting, in my opinion, car. It will be a crossover, although I myself am rather skeptical of this class of cars, since I think that most owners of cars of this class do not often need increased cross-country ability, and the car mainly emphasizes the status of the owner. Who would not say what, but in our country it is quite prestigious to have a crossover, even a relatively budget one.

This car is far from the most comfortable in its class, not the most economical, but rather the opposite, and not the most prestigious. Nevertheless, the army of owners of this SUV is huge. That's right, it is an SUV, since this car differs from its counterparts in advanced capabilities when driving over rough terrain. No, this is not Niva, because such thoughts could appear after reading the first part of the article.

Today there will be a review of the Suzuki Grand Vitara or Suzuki Escudo, this is how the car was called in its homeland. And the homeland of this car was Japan, and by the way, all Vitaras officially sold in Russia were from there. Today we will focus on the most popular generation of this model, which has been produced for more than 10 years from 2005 to 2015 without fundamental changes. The car was very popular and was bought by a huge number of motorists.

A billion Chinese can't be wrong

Model life cycle

As I already wrote, the car appeared on our market in 2005. Even at the beginning of its journey, the car did not make a splash. It was a typical middle peasant with a fairly modern appearance for those years and inexpensive interior materials. The configurations were fixed, that is, it was impossible to add one or another equipment, and we had to choose the next configuration.

2008 restyling

The first restyling took place in 2008. It is quite problematic for an untrained person to track the changes made. I will list the main innovations:

• The drum brakes from the rear axle disappeared and disc brakes appeared;
• The turn signal repeaters have migrated from the front fenders to the rear-view mirror housings;
• The on-board computer screen from the center of the dashboard was removed and now its readings could be read from the instrument cluster;
• The radiator grill has been slightly changed;
• The range of engines has been expanded, 2.4 and 3.2 liters have been added;
• The design of light-alloy wheels of 17 diameter has changed, and 18-inch ones have been installed on cars equipped with a 3.2-liter engine;

There were also other changes, but they are less significant, and we will not talk about them.

Restyling 2012

The second restyling took place in 2012. By this time, the popularity of the car had dropped significantly and the reason was not that the car had changed for the worse, but that the changes in 2008 and 2012 were insignificant. Meanwhile, competitors have new generations, facelifts and, frankly, outdated Vitara looked rather pale against their background.

The visual changes of the restyled car are already more obvious here. What has changed:

• There were two new configurations, the main differences of which were a multimedia system with navigation;
• Other seat upholstery material;
• The front of the car is heavily modified (bumper, radiator grille, etc.)

And in 2015, after a sharp change in the exchange rate of the ruble against the dollar, production was discontinued, and the car left the dealerships.

Engines and equipment

Before restyling, the three-door car was equipped only with a 1.6-liter (106 hp) engine, paired with a five-speed manual transmission. The five-door Grand Vitara was available only with 2.0 (140 hp), which was aggregated either with a 5-speed manual transmission or with a four-speed one.

The basic equipment of the car was quite generous. There were 6 airbags, heated front seats, music control on the steering wheel and much more. The photo shows how the car looks like in the basic configuration before restyling.

The greatest interest was enjoyed by the two-liter Grand Vitara with a gun. Such a car was available in only two trim levels. The first one is basic, but with 17-diameter light alloy wheels. The second - at that time very rich, included: keyless access, xenon headlights, CD-changer for 6 discs, leather upholstery of seats, ESP and so on.

After restyling carried out in 2008, the short Vitara, in addition to the previous 1.6 (106 hp) and manual transmission, finally got an automatic, but it was only available in tandem with a 2.4-liter engine with a capacity of 166 hp. with. The same engine was relied on for the five-door, but here there was already a choice of 5MKPP or 4AKPP.

The two-liter engine remains unchanged. And there was a new 3.2 engine (233 hp) for the Grand Vitara, available only with a five-speed automatic. Only this engine, according to car owners, turned the "vegetable" Vitara into a car capable of accelerating, but the high transport tax and fuel consumption did not allow this bundle to become popular.

The last restyling of 2012 did not bring any changes to the engine line-up, only the 3.2-liter six-cylinder V-shaped engine is a thing of the past.

Dignity

Here I will describe those aspects of the car that are positive in my opinion. I also want to say that I know about this car firsthand, I drove more than one thousand kilometers behind the wheel, and not just was on a test drive.

I note the very spacious interior of the car, both in length and in width. Many classmates are closer. despite its much greater length, its back row is cramped at the knees, and in the presence of a panoramic roof, you can reach the ceiling with the top of your head. The situation is similar with Ford Kuga, Hyundai ix-35 (tucson), Kia Sportage (regardless of generation). Additional comfort for passengers is created by the rear seat backrest adjustable on the angle of inclination, as well as the almost complete absence of a "gimbal" tunnel.

Despite the hard plastic, the build quality of the interior parts is at a high level. If there are crickets, it is quite rare and the reason for this is most often the intervention of the hands, which grow far from the shoulders. Also, regardless of the configuration, there is a huge amount of space for all sorts of small things.

Well, the main advantage is the design of the transmission. The transmission is similar to the VAZ 2121 Niva, that is, a permanent all-wheel drive with a lowered range and a center differential lock. For complete happiness and the owner lacks at least one cross-axle differential lock. Permanent all-wheel drive, in contrast to the one connected with the help of a clutch, makes it possible to safely move along unclean winter roads for an indefinite period of time without fear of overheating the clutch. And the blocking helps to distribute the torque between the axles equally.

Suzuki Grand Vitara has good handling. It has a heavy but very precise steering wheel with very decent feedback.

disadvantages

Here we have the downside of permanent all-wheel drive, this is a high fuel consumption compared to classmates. There is even a two-liter engine on the mechanics in the city !!! can eat 15 liters per hundred, not to mention the automatic machine and larger engines 2.4 and 3.2 liters. Even when driving on the highway, it is not always possible to keep within the cherished 10 liters per 100 km.

Trunk volume. This is not entirely a disadvantage, for some it may not be a negative at all. The trunk has a large height with a short length. Therefore, it seems that the volume turns out to be decent if you load it under the very shelf, and the trunk area is relatively small.

The disadvantages include the low level of acoustic comfort. And this is not only my opinion, but the opinion of the majority of owners. The first part is played by the engine, which is clearly audible in almost all modes. Plus, as the speed increases, noise is added to the sound of the engine due to poor aerodynamics.

Is it worth buying?

Rather yes than no. And here, first of all, it is worth looking not at the advantages and disadvantages described above, but at the reliability of the car design as a whole. There are no turbocharged engines, either diesel or gasoline. The transmission employs a classic hydromechanical automatic. In no case do I want to offend the owners of cars with robotic transmissions and variators, which have their positive sides, but a hydromechanical transmission, all other things being equal, has a greater, and much greater resource. Whether it is important to a person purchasing a used car. It is important for the buyer to know that after the purchase he will not get into an expensive repair, and maybe even a replacement of a robot or a variator. And before buying, be sure to check the conformity of the configuration and color of the car with the information encoded in the VIN number, to help you.

This concludes the publication. I will be glad to answer your questions, as well as help with practical advice. I recommend reading the second generation, which I owned for more than 6 years. See you soon on the blog pages! Bye!

We don't have a three-wheel drive Vitara, although such theoretically existed in the United States. Five-door cars are equipped with a full-fledged transfer case with permanent all-wheel drive and a reduction gear, but three-doors with a 1.6-liter engine are content with a simpler one without lowering, with a completely ineffective cam "self-block". You can also find cars from the United States with a plug-in front axle, but this is very rare. However, this is easily fixable if a person is ready to get confused with altering not only the transfer case itself, but also the electronics that control it, as well as replacing the wiring harness.

Full-time all-wheel drive with center lock and downshift, and even with an optional rear axle lock - this is quite a serious arsenal for an SUV. And it's also at least four transmission units versus one or two on most crossovers. And for complete happiness - two driveshafts. Of course, all this economy, although it works very reliably, but, nevertheless, requires maintenance. It is necessary to regularly change the oil, and, judging by the reviews, it is best to pour not the original mineral water, but transmission semisynthetics with a low viscosity. Oil seals should be checked regularly for leaks. But with us it is quite easy to do this: any oil leak is clearly visible against the background of a dirty unit.

On machines of the first and second restyling, the reliability of the front axle gearboxes is extremely low. Any excessive load quickly leads to the failure of the bearings, and if you start the situation, then the main pair. Additional risk factors are heating from the engine and poor location of the gearbox breather: when forcing even a shallow ford, water can get inside. Of course, the breather is led into a rubber tube, the end of which is fixed at the very top of the engine compartment, but for most cars the system works normally, which means it is not very reliable.

The transfer case is not "foolproof", so the 4HL interlock mode will not shut off at high speeds and on hard surfaces, and the load on the transmission can be overwhelming.

The quality of the oil seals, unfortunately, is far from ideal. They flow, both on new cars and on runners. Replacement does not always solve the problem for a long time. An unsuccessful tool, dirty surfaces, a bad supplier - and here again everything for replacement ... But there are more than a dozen oil seals. In general, it will have to be changed often, and sometimes it is corny to "hammer" if the oil leak is insignificant.

The driveshafts here aren't really driveshafts. They have CV joints, except that the oldest cars produced in 2005-2007 have exactly cardan joints in the drive. And the CV joints have covers that sometimes break, and it is better to change them right away. But there are no officially covers on sale, and there are no CV joints, there are only assembled shafts, which, as you know, costs absolutely indecent money. All these factors lead to the fact that transmission breakdowns on older cars are one of the most frequent and expensive malfunctions, and also one of the most troublesome. By the way, if all three transmission mode lamps are blinking, then do not rush to repair the transfer case. Most likely, the matter is either in the wiring, or in ESP failures, or in the failure of the ignition system. There are no buggy sensors or vacuum drives here.

Manual transmissions are generally very sturdy. But the clutches, which wear out early, and the gearshift mechanism with weak traction fail. The second problem was eventually solved by cardinal strengthening of the part. But the clutch with the hydraulic release remained the same, not particularly resourceful and not very convenient. If you remove the restrictor jet from the drive, it will be more convenient to use. But the price of a hydraulic cylinder combined with a release bearing is still high. It is easy to damage it if the clutch is not installed successfully, but the clutch itself is still weak and requires very careful handling. Most owners will have to change it every 60-80 thousand kilometers. It is rare for anyone to run more than 150 thousand on one set, and the risk is not justified: when the disc is worn out, the basket breaks very easily, which entails additional costs. In addition, the operation of replacing the clutch is expensive and "traumatic": with careless removal, it is easy to damage the wiring or something else. But otherwise, cars with manual transmissions do not have any serious difficulties.

Photo: Suzuki Grand Vitara "2012 – present.

With automatic transmission, too, special surprises can not be expected. Suzuki installed two Aisin automatic transmissions on the Grand Vitara, with the best Toyota series. With engines 1.6, 2.0 and 2.4 liters, and sometimes with 2.7, the four-speed A44DE box, aka AW03-72, worked. If you don't remember that, then it was on the rear-wheel drive Previa and Mark II. And with 2.7 and 3.2 liter engines for the American market, they began to install a more advanced five-speed TB-50LS / Aisin A750F. It is also a "Toyota" series, and it can also be found on the Lexus LX470, Toyota Tundra and many other cars from this manufacturer. All boxes are very strong and reliable, capable of going through more than the engine and the whole car with good maintenance.

The four-speed box is only threatened by overheating due to dirty radiators, extremely cruel treatment with a complete lack of maintenance, and runs far beyond 300. Very "racers" may have an "early" (with runs of 200 thousand kilometers) failure of the gas turbine engine blocking linings. Then you can wait for the failure of the gas turbine bushing, its oil seal and oil leakage.

A reliable valve body, reliable electronics and a solid mechanical part leave almost no chance to break this harsh unit without the help of “smart” servicemen or personal efforts. If the box works, then most likely it will continue to work. It is enough to change the oil on time, and even if there are already jerks, you just need to flush the automatic transmission with the valve body removed, and it will go again. Surprising survivability at the present time! True, fuel consumption and dynamics are no longer so pleasing.

The five-speed automatic transmission is the same unkillable, but with a mileage of more than 200 thousand kilometers, you will have to change the solenoids. By 250 thousand mileage, the blocking linings of the gas turbine engine often wear out. And the consequences of working with worn out linings come earlier and are more expensive. All in all, this is one of the most reliable five-speed transmissions, and also quite dynamic and modern.

Surprisingly, the Grand Vitara has gearboxes that create the least drivetrain hassle. The rest of the nodes are much more troublesome.

Motors

The most popular engines are in-line fours with a volume of 2 and 2.4 liters. Engines with a volume of 1.6 liters are less common, the old "Suzukov" V6 2.7 liters were installed only on American cars, but with a 3.2 liter engine from GM (the same as on the Chevrolet Captiva), the car was officially supplied to us for some time ... Diesel engines were also not officially supplied to us, but cars with a Renault 1.9 engine are still found. All engines are good, although Suzuki's inline-fours tend to have an oily appetite, and the 2008 2.4L engines also had problems with the cylinder block that was leaking right through the wall. And since modern engines are made from incomprehensible waste by stamping aluminum cans from cola, it turned out to be practically impossible to brew or somehow eliminate this problem outside the plant. However, more on that below.

Common problems with all motors are related to the design of the cooling system. Radiators are frankly weak, often flow along the junction of the plastic and aluminum parts, and the expansion tank cap does not release excessive pressure.

A common problem with 1.6 liter and 2.0 liter engines is the passage of gases through the cylinder head gasket. And this also does not contribute to the long and normal life of the cooling system.

Catalysts and a weak exhaust system are another common "problem" of all Suzuki and GM engines. The catalyst resource is usually less than 200 thousand mileage, and the exhaust system often does not survive without losses and up to hundreds of thousands of mileage. Of course, first of all, cars that go into the mud and off-road suffer, but even in cars with a purely urban mode of operation, the exhaust system looks completely unpresentable already in the fifth or sixth year of service.

Oil leaks due to a very simple crankcase ventilation system and not the best oil seals on in-line fours are also a common problem, especially the weakness of the rear crankshaft oil seal, for the sake of replacing which you will have to remove the gearbox.

A 2-liter gasoline engine is the most common. The design of its very venerable age: the j20a / JB420A series was put on the last generation of the model. This motor is 16-valve, with a timing chain drive and is quite reliable. True, his character is not very suitable for a heavy car. Despite the presence of a phase shifter on the intake shaft, there is not enough thrust at low revs, but the "tops" are quite lively. The piston group's resource is quite decent, about 250-300 thousand mileage before overhaul. But this is - if you do not allow excessive loss of oil through the valve seals and leaks. He does not tolerate a low oil level, the liners are rolled up with a guarantee, damaging the crankshaft and yokes of the block.

Running motors prefer a thicker oil, at least SAE40. The pressure on motors with runs above one and a half hundred may no longer be enough, and this leads to accelerated wear of the crankshaft liners.

Valve seals and oil seals are a sore spot, they will have to be changed quite often. After hundreds of thousands of kilometers traveled, it is recommended to replace the caps so that the piston rings do not coke. At the same time, it is worth cleaning the intake manifold, it also becomes very dirty.

At a mileage of 200 thousand, a complete revision of the engine is recommended, and the piston group may still be in excellent condition, but the cylinder head will almost certainly require serious repairs. Fortunately, the motor is highly maintainable. There are repair sizes for almost all wearing parts, and spare parts do not cost space money. And two piston overhaul sizes are just a holiday for these times, although they are rarely needed. In a good scenario, you can get by with repairing the cylinder head and replacing the liners, and the piston group will withstand another hundred to one and a half thousand mileage.

Timing chain 2.0 lower

price for original

2 668 rubles

The resource of the timing chain cannot be called gigantic, but it usually nurses 120-150 thousand, which is a good indicator by now. The main thing is that there is no need to be afraid of early chain slippages. Although cases of the appearance of extraneous noise in the timing belt with runs of less than a hundred thousand are still encountered, they do not always end with the replacement of the chain and tensioners.

Ignition modules and spark plugs require constant attention. Otherwise, the consumption rises, and the dynamics drops dramatically. Weak plug tips need annual service, and plugs need to be replaced. Moreover, the motor is sometimes able to "eat up" the iridium Denso, which for some reason it is supposed to be according to the passport. This is especially true for engines that run on 92nd gasoline. So checking and replacing candles every 30 thousand kilometers is highly recommended. It is also not necessary to go broke for "platinum" or iridium, ordinary NGKs work just as well.

The engine mounts also do not differ in excessive reliability; if the vibration level increases, they must be checked. There is a possibility that the motor is already just lying on the rubber cushions.

The 2.4 liter engine is very similar to the "little brother", but has several features. Firstly, the block is new, and it is not cast, but stamped from secondary aluminum. Until 2008, a robot at the factory was pulling the cylinder head studs. It would seem, what is the connection? It's simple: the material turned out to be weak, the block began to flow over time. A typical problem is the leakage of antifreeze from the cooling jacket under the exhaust manifold. Less common is oil leakage. It will not be possible to weld a crack accurately, extruded aluminum does not hold welding, and such procedures are not recommended due to thermal deformation. Drilling out and placing a patch from "cold welding", as is done on cast-iron blocks, will also fail: the block is weak and the patch will loosen the vibrations quickly enough. Usually the block is simply replaced. Moreover, the complete shot block changes. Exactly such an operation was carried out with all the warranty machines, but there was no recallable company, so you can find a car with a "leak on the side".

Another nuance is the lack of overhaul dimensions of the piston group. This is not a critical issue as pistons are cheap and liners can be removed with liquid nitrogen and replaced. And the materials are quite durable, the resource of the piston group during normal operation is more than 300 thousand kilometers. The crankshaft has one repair size, but the cylinder head must also be replaced when worn. However, there are always options. In general, the motor is also quite successful, and even pleases with a higher thrust, which is so lacking in a heavy machine. But again, his character is torsional, high-speed.

The small 1.6-liter JB416 three-door engine is a lot like its two-liter sibling. It is not considered especially problematic, but at age it also begins to suffer from an oil appetite, which can lead to serious damage.

V6 engines fit the car much better. Both the native Suzukovsky 2.7 J27, and the GM 3.2, which here received the "name" JB 632. But they are too rare. I have already written about GM motors and will not repeat myself. In short, it has a very successful design, but the timing resource is small and it is very demanding on the operation of the cooling system.

Suzuki's V6 is a little more troublesome. Firstly, the resource of the timing chain is far from unlimited here, but when noise appears on the right cylinder head, you should immediately change the entire timing kit, it is prone to jumping, as a result of which the valves on one of the cylinder head bends, and on the second they work normally the timing mechanism is already arranged. Usually the consequences are even worse than when the circuit is broken. The motor continues to run, ripping off the valve caps and grinding the pistons and cylinders. There will be nothing to repair there. Of the advantages - the availability of repair dimensions and a common resource. With spare parts, everything is quite complicated, such machines were not supplied to us and there are not many of them in Japan. However, there is a whole paragraph below about the features of contract motors.

For most Japanese cars, contract units from Japan can be easily purchased. This means guaranteed high quality and not a high price for motors. But in Suzuki's case, something went wrong. Motors of 2.0, 2.4 and 2.7 liters are difficult to purchase inexpensively. Prices even outside the Urals start at 80 thousand rubles for the JB420A, and the V6 is even more expensive. You will have to repair the motor, but only if there is something to repair. In addition, a fairly large number of versions of the block and piston group will deliver a lot of trouble. The lack of mounting holes in the block and a completely different cylinder head can be an unpleasant surprise for those who replace the power unit assembly. In general, in terms of parts, Suzuki is not your typical Japanese car. Maybe this is a view from the European part of Russia, but everything is different with you? Are there specialists who can find the right node and sellers selling it for a penny? Maybe so. But to warn future owners about this "nuance" is definitely worth it.

Renault diesel engines are rare, but a few reviews suggest that they proved to be very mediocre, if not worse.

Summary

Suzuki Grand Vitara is very interesting from a technical point of view. Indeed, under the typical crossover appearance, there is a real "rogue". Only now its capabilities will not be used to the fullest anyway, because they buy it precisely as a crossover. And in this hypostasis he is not very strong. It rides hard, handles mediocre, and you don't have to nod at four-wheel drive, it just doesn't contribute to good handling. Vitara eats a lot of fuel and is much more difficult to maintain than a typical crossover with a motor "across" and a clutch in the rear wheel drive.

True, Suzuki tried very hard to make it strong. The Grand Vitara has very good engines, excellent automatic transmissions and a sturdy body that can withstand tough off-road operation. But an old anecdote comes to mind: "Mom, why do we need all these bells and whistles in the zoo?" So I don’t understand. But if you are looking for a serious car for serious tasks, then consider this car. With a little preparation, it will plug many larger and heavier players into the belt, and at the same time it will be much more convenient in everyday use.

The popularity of the Suzuki Grand Vitara is so great that for many years it was produced all over the world and under different names.

Success and international recognition are objectively deserved - the versatility of the model in the aggregate of qualities is unmatched.

ATTENTION! Found a completely simple way to reduce fuel consumption! Don't believe me? An auto mechanic with 15 years of experience also did not believe until he tried it. And now he saves 35,000 rubles a year on gasoline!

For a long time, the compact SUV remained the best-selling, and the car took its rightful place in the Russian market, and on a par with the right-hand drive twin brother Suzuki Escudo.

Whoever drove, he knows, he will understand

The Grand Vitara is interesting and unique in that it is the most off-road in its class. Because there is a permanent all-wheel drive, a ladder-type frame is built into the body, there is a center differential between the front and rear of the transfer case, there is a differential locking system and a reduced speed, which gives improved off-road qualities. The interior of the model is not particularly outstanding, solid, laconic, simple, not attracting attention, but not old-fashioned.

In the constant all-wheel drive of the Japanese on the track, even in bad weather conditions - ice, rain, winter road, there is a feeling of complete safety and reliability. If you happen to get into more serious off-road conditions, a differential lock and a low gear will come to the rescue.

Of course, we must remember that this is not a classic all-terrain vehicle, but an urban crossover and its suspension is low, the ground clearance is only 200 mm, but the car honestly works out on it and passes where most classmates get stuck.

Add to this reliability, does not break, unsurpassed quality and non-lethality together with an excellent price tag, it turns out the most honest car in terms of hardware, and cross-country ability and functional ratio.

A bit of history

In fact, 1988 can be considered the starting point of creation, when the first Suzuki Escudo came out. But officially, under the name Grand Vitara, it rolled off the assembly line in 1997. In Japan it is called the Suzuki Escudo, in the USA it is called the Chevrolet Tracker. In Russia, the start of sales took place together with everyone and ended with the end of production in 2014. It was replaced by the Suzuki Vitara until 2016.

The debut of the new generation is scheduled for 2020 - 2021, according to the top manager of the Russian representative office of the Takayuki Hasegawa brand, due to the continuing demand from the customers of the division and dealers, who confirm that Russia lacks such a car. Most likely, it will be built on its own original base, and not on the inheritance of the carts from Vitara.

1st generation (09.1997-08.2005)

On sale three (an open-top version is available) and a five-door frame crossover with rear-wheel drive and the Part Time 4FWD system, the essence of which is the ability to manually connect / disconnect the front axle by the driver at a speed of no more than 100 km / h, and turn on the downshift only at full stop.

In 2001, the lineup was replenished with an elongated modification (the wheelbase increased by 32 cm) XL-7 (Grand Escudo) with a three-row cabin for seven people. The giant is equipped with a 2.7-liter V6 power unit that develops up to 185 hp.

The first Grand Vitara is equipped with 1.6 and 2.0 petrol inline fours with 94 and 140 hp. and V-shaped six-cylinder, giving out up to 158 hp. In some countries, a 2-liter diesel engine was exported, developing up to 109 forces. A five-band mechanical or 4-zone automatic transmission is completed in tandem with an internal combustion engine.

2nd generation (09.2005-07.2016)

This is the most bought generation, produced for 10 years without radical changes, the happy owners of which were a huge army of car owners. What is remarkable, all cars for the domestic consumer were assembled in Japan.

The second Grand Vitara received a frame integrated into the body and a permanent all-wheel drive with a differential lock and a reduction speed. In Japan, the novelty is available in four design solutions - Helly Hanson (especially for outdoor enthusiasts), Salomon (chrome body trim), Supersound Edition (for music lovers) and FieldTrek (luxury equipment).

In 2008, the manufacturer carried out the first minor modernization - the front bumper was changed, the front fenders became new and the wheel arches, the radiator grille were highlighted, the noise insulation was strengthened, a display appeared in the center of the dashboard. The restyled version acquired two new engines - 2.4 liters 169 hp and the most powerful 3.2 liters 233 hp. The latter was not officially supplied to Russia, as well as the diesel 1.9 liter Renault, which was exported to other markets. The gearbox for all cars is a five-speed manual or a four-speed, electronically controlled automatic with two modes - normal and sport.

On a short three-door four-seater baby, only a 1.6 liter engine with 106 hp is put, its base is 2.2 meters, a small trunk and rear seats that fold separately. In a five-door configuration, five passengers are quite comfortable, and a two-liter engine with 140 hp. enough for full everyday driving in the city. To transport oversized luggage, the rear row folds out in parts, and the volume of the cargo compartment is increased from 275 to 605 liters.

The second change to the Grand Vitara in 2011 concerned cars for the foreign market. The spare wheel was dismantled from the cargo compartment door, thus the length of the car was reduced by 20 cm. The ecological level of the diesel engine was brought up to Euro 5. All basic configurations received an electronic drive in the transfer case for turning on / off the reduced speed and a self-locking differential. The forced lock button is located on the center console.

Additionally, an option is available - a driver assistance system when driving down a hill. It maintains a speed of 5 or 10 km / h according to the transmission mode. And also at the start of the rise and the ESP skid prevention system. The three-door car did not receive an improved transmission, therefore, it does not have increased cross-country ability.

What are the engines on the Suzuki Grand Vitara

More pluses

Among the advantages of the Suzuki Grand Vitara, besides the main one - the transmission, along with the cost, dynamism and reliability, good controllability, one can note a high level of safety with the highest scores according to the results of crash tests.

On the exterior, an important advantage is the spacious interior, both for the legs, above the head and to the sides, which the majority in the class do not have. Excellent visibility. The plastic, although tough, is of high quality, with plenty of space for every little thing.

... and cons

There are drawbacks, like everyone else. Of the important - high fuel consumption, as a payback for four-wheel drive. In the city, a 2.0-liter with a manual transmission eats up to 15 liters per 100 km. What can we say, about more powerful and with a gun. A rare case, on the highway it turns out to keep within 10 l / 100 km. Most car owners note the low level of aerodynamics. The car is noisy and tough. The volume of the trunk is not small, but the shape is not comfortable - high and narrow.

Is it worth buying, if yes, with which engine

Having weighed all the pros and cons, rather yes. Because there are few good, reliable, durable cars now. Manufacturers have not been interested in playing long games for a long time. They need to frequently change units, parts, mechanisms, machines for new ones. The Suzuki Grand Vitara is different. There are many timeless classics that will serve well for decades.

There are no turbocharged internal combustion engines, no robots, no variators - perfectly smoothly and imperceptibly working hydromechanics with a long resource. The most important thing when buying a commercial vehicle is not to get expensive repairs or frequent replacement of expensive items. Choosing this Japanese also the price will be more than adequate.

Objectively, for a 5-door car, two liters, and with passengers on a trip out of town and beyond, will not be enough. Around the city, from work, home, shopping - enough. Therefore, 2.4 liters with 166 hp. - just right, and 233 horses, which produces a 3.2 liter, is too much. For such power, the car is light, it becomes dangerous, maneuverability is lost.

In general, the car is a real Japanese shy woman, who has everything you need to feel calm and safe on the road, to know and be confident, and not to guess whether it will stretch or will not stretch out on the off road section. When creating the Grand Vitara, Suzuki did not spend on creating a super-fashionable design, placing emphasis on the main thing.