Choosing a used Suzuki Grand Vitara. Suzuki Grand Vitara review. Could a billion Chinese be wrong? Suzuki grand vitara sore spots

The history of the Vitara brand is quite interesting. For the first time a car with this name was presented in 1988, and Suzuki itself claimed the laurels of the founder of a new class of compact SUVs (Sport Utility Vehicle). And if the primacy of the abbreviation is difficult to dispute, then from a technical point of view, the Japanese were 11 years late - since 1977, the domestic VAZ has already produced the Niva and supplied it for export. The design of the Vitara itself, with a separate frame and plug-in front-wheel drive without a center differential, was closer to classic SUVs. The result is both not a very good crossover and a rather mediocre SUV at the same time. It was this “generic curse” that ruined the model a quarter of a century later, despite the fact that, under pressure from competitors, the frame turned into a load-bearing body, and the front end was connected through a constantly working center differential. And the presence of a lowered row in the transfer case looked quite advantageous against the background of the main competitors - Toyota RAV4, Honda CR-V and Mitsubishi Outlander.

Who is the old one?

The new Grand Vitara, after them, also became more modern, more comfortable and more environmentally friendly, but at the same time it was more and more distanced from the Vitara, which almost 20 years ago came to the liking of off-road adventurers. Unable to compete on equal terms with the giants of this class, Suzuki additionally attracted with a noticeably lower price, and now the third generation of the Suzuki Grand Vitara (2005–2014) is a very interesting choice on the used car market in this segment: 5-7-year-olds copies were recently sold in the range of 400-900 thousand rubles. depending on the appetites of the owners and the state of the car.

The car was known in other continents as the XL7, Suzuki Grand Nomade or Grand Escudo (the short versions with three doors in many countries did not have the Grand prefix) and was produced since 2005. Despite the common chassis with some models of the General Motors concern, technically with "relatives" had little in common. The only "close" relative was the Suzuki XL7 (since 2007). And we have very rare specimens of the Iranian assembly. In 2006, 175 thousand cars were sold worldwide.

Suzuki Grand Vitara interior

The line of power units was wide enough. Until 2008, the base for the long versions was a 2-liter 4-cylinder JB420 gasoline engine that developed 140 hp. For the American market, a gasoline H27A (V6 2.7 liters, 185 hp) was also offered, but on Russian roads it remained a great rarity.

Suzuki did not produce diesel engines on its own, so the Japanese borrowed a 1.9-liter 4-cylinder turbodiesel (129 hp) from Renault. Until 2008, the M16 diesel engine (1.6 l, 106 hp) was also installed on the short versions. Both modifications were not officially supplied to us and it is quite problematic to find them on the secondary market, and it’s not worth it - it has long been known that modern diesel engines save money only to the first owner.

In the anniversary year for the brand in 2008 (20 years from the beginning of production), the Grand Vitara underwent the first restyling, including new engines, now with variable valve timing - an inline four JB424 (2.4 liters of 168 hp and 225 Nm) and completely new V6 3.2 (221 HP and 284 Nm). French suppliers made minor modifications to the old 1.9 liter turbodiesel (it was registered under the hood of many brands, for example, Volvo S40, Mitsubishi Сarisma).

Advertising brochures at auto shows and in dealerships bravely stuck out updates: “The 3-door modification is now available with a 2.4-liter engine and an automatic transmission. In the updated version, a system for holding the car up and down was introduced (for a gasoline engine with a volume of 3.2 liters), noise insulation was improved, the design of the radiator grille and bumper changed, new body paint colors appeared, the total length and length of the front overhang of the car increased by 30 mm , side mirrors are equipped with integrated turn signal signals, additional airbags have become mandatory for all modifications. "

It was this set that became an important factor that contributed to some restoration of the popularity of sales of the Grand Vitara - after all, it was the only model in the SUV segment with a monocoque body and a lowered row in the transfer case. Subsequent upgrades in 2011 and 2012 affected stylistic decisions, while the technique was no longer changed.

Suzuki Grand Vitara AWD Mode Selector

Morbid nature

But the drivetrain also has its weaknesses. Due to the fact that the Grand Vitara has an “honest” all-wheel drive, the components and assemblies (gearboxes, transfer case, propeller shaft) are heavily loaded compared to passenger cars and require more frequent maintenance. The most vulnerable place in the transmission is the front gearbox, which may require bulkheads as early as 60–70 thousand kilometers. Due to the low position of the ventilation breather, moisture can enter the gearbox, which leads to premature wear of the entire unit. The restoration will cost from 60 thousand rubles. Therefore, overcoming even small puddles, not to mention deep fords, can cause a breakdown.

Since the manufacturer has not done anything to solve this problem, it is advisable to remove the breather on the extension tube under the hood, which will allow the gearbox to work under normal conditions up to 200-250 thousand km planned by the designers. The rear gearbox does not annoy with such design mistakes, it is enough to monitor the integrity of the seals and the level of transmission oil. After a run of 50-60 thousand km, regular inspections of the transfer case and gearbox seals will be required for leaks or fogging. Replacing worn-out seals will cost at least 14 thousand rubles. due to the large amount of work on the dismantling of the units.

Mechanical gearboxes and transfer cases are quite reliable and do not cause problems with regular oil changes (at intervals of 60 thousand and 45 thousand km, respectively). Automatic gearboxes behave no less dignifiedly, since their design Suzuki for the longitudinal arrangement of the engine has long worked out (the main drawback is that due to the antiquity of the design, the unit has only four stages), it is enough to monitor the condition of the oil seals and the oil level. The service life of these units reaches 200-250 thousand km, the obligatory oil change, following the accumulated experience, should be done at least once every 100 thousand km, and with frequent forcing off-road or towing heavy trailers (for example, with motorcycles, ATVs, jet skis etc.) and completely reduce the mileage between replacements to 60-80 thousand km.

The most popular power unit on the Grand Vitara is the JB420 (2 L, 140 HP). This engine is reliable and unpretentious, allows operation on 92nd gasoline, but for a car weight of 1.6 tons, its power characteristics are clearly insufficient. In order to keep up with the city flow, it has to be twisted (and already at the turn of 60-80 thousand km, the oil consumption can reach 2-3 liters per 10 thousand km of run). With insufficient lubrication, the chain drive of the gas distribution mechanism will be the first to suffer, which entails the replacement of not only the chain itself, but also the sprockets with the tensioner assembly - otherwise the resource of the new chain will be extremely small. Under normal conditions, it stably takes care of 150–160 thousand km, and the engine itself, before the first ring replacement, is 250–300 thousand km.

With active city driving, fuel consumption can easily reach the mark of 15-16 l / 100 km, although on the highway it is possible to keep within 11-13 liters. The JB424 engine (2.4 l, 168 hp) is generally similar to its younger brother. The main brand of gasoline is AI-92, but in the summer, with long trips on the highways, the AI-95 will not be superfluous. Due to the low liter power and the successful layout of the engine compartment, the engines are not prone to overheating - another plus during prolonged off-road driving (but this does not negate the regular cleaning of the radiators at the car wash). The older brother - JB424 - differs in operation by a much higher fuel consumption, which in many respects caused a drop in demand for such modifications among residents of megalopolises - in combination with an automatic gearbox, its value could reach 20 l / 100 km!

Another sore spot is catalytic converters. In the Grand Vitara, they lose the required efficiency at the threshold of 60-80 thousand km. Self-repair will cost about 40 thousand rubles. When installing non-original substitutes, the costs will be less - a good location behind the exhaust manifold makes it easy to choose a universal part that is suitable in size, up to the Volgovsky one. The low resource of these expensive units is also noted on other models of this brand, and the loss of efficiency below the allowable value is detected much earlier than the catalyst internals begin to fall apart - this is a clear indication of excessive savings in precious metals in the unit.

Suspension of the Suzuki Grand Vitara resists the Russian realities with dignity and before 80-100 thousand km rarely requires serious repair. Traditionally, the exception was the fastening parts of the front stabilizer to the suspension arms and the body, which, with frequent off-road driving, are rented every 20-25 thousand km, even if they are replaced only with original ones. The resource of wheel bearings strongly depends on the operating modes, on smooth roads and 150 thousand km is far from the limit, and with frequent use far from asphalt, the resource can be halved, and the nodes will ask for replacement after 70-80 thousand km. The bearing changes in assembly with the hub, the cost of the original unit fluctuates between 7-9 thousand rubles. At the turn of 80-90 thousand km, revisions will also require the front levers, which, as a rule, become unusable silent blocks. It also does not hurt to check the condition of the ball bearings, which are made as a single piece with levers.

Tuning for the "rogue"

The main advantage of the Suzuki Grand Vitara is that the off-road car is very good for its class, which expiates many of its flaws. For those who like to "get even deeper" there are a lot of offers on the market for off-road refinement. The simplest are kits that allow you to increase the vehicle's ground clearance by 3-4.5 cm (with a nominal 20 cm). Such an increase in ground clearance does not lead to a critical change in the wheel alignment angles, which has a positive effect on the mileage of tires and suspension parts. The cost of such modifications is 30-50 thousand rubles.

Quite simple solutions, consisting in installing spacers above the springs, quickly kill the standard struts due to the change in the suspension travel and the zero position. With the frequent forcing of water obstacles, the electric drive of the selector for selecting the transmission modes in the transfer case (14 thousand rubles) falls into the risk group, and then not very high-quality seals are brought in.

In general, in the city, the off-road capabilities of the car are clearly excessive (although the confidence on slippery surfaces is akin to the four-wheel drive premium sedans), and for real off-road conditions, it is insufficient.

When buying, it is wiser to give the main priority to copies sold through a network of official dealers, having a confirmed history of maintenance and with remnants of a guarantee - such cars have no problems with "crooked" customs clearance, and the overall probability of running into a copy with a criminal past is not very high - from - for a specific niche of fans, the car was of little interest to the hijackers, although a certain surge in thefts can be expected in order to disassemble cars for parts.

From the history of the model

• On the conveyor: from 2005 to 2014
• Body: 3- or 5-door station wagon
• Russian range of engines: petrol, P4, 1.6 (106 HP), 2.0 (140 HP), 2.4 (169 HP); V6, 3.2 (233 hp)
• Gearboxes: M5, A4, A5
• Drive unit: full
• Restyling: 2008 - new motors 2.4 and 3.2 became available; modified front bumper, fenders and radiator grill; turn signal repeaters were transferred to the outside rear-view mirrors, a multifunction display was built into the dashboard. 2012 - redesigned wheels, front bumper and radiator grille
• Crash tests: 2007, EuroNCAP; protection of the driver and adult passengers - four stars (30 points); child passenger protection - three stars (27 points); pedestrian protection - three stars (19 points)

Sealing gum on the doors quickly wipe the paintwork at the points of contact with the openings. And the seal on the trunk opening leaves a mark on the inner panel of the door.

The Grand Vitara is a popular car. But, despite this fact and the demand of the spare parts market for used body parts, it does not attract the attention of hijackers. With one exception: almost on an industrial scale, the spare wheel cover on the tailgate is stolen. The new casing costs 25,000 rubles and you will have to pay another five thousand if you want the Suzuki inscription on it.

The long life of the car on the conveyor was blossomed by two restyling. However, both did not bring significant changes to the design: technically, the cars of the last years of production are almost identical to copies of ten years ago. An old horse will not spoil the furrow!

Along with the most common five-door version, there is also a shortened three-door. There is a certain demand for its version with a 1.6 engine, only a manual gearbox and a truncated transmission - without blocking the center differential and a reduced number of gears in the transfer case. The rest of the modifications are equipped with a full-fledged off-road transmission.

• With age, a slight sagging of the tailgate is inevitable due to the weighty spare wheel. The issue is solved with minor adjustments.
• Optics is not a hassle: it does not fog up and does not melt. An exception is the modification with xenon dipped beam, which is equipped with a mandatory headlight washer system. Its motor is located at the very bottom of the tank, located behind the front bumper, and is not covered by anything. Two or three years are enough for its terminals coming out of the case to rot due to road dirt. The motor costs 6,000 rubles.
• The engineers clearly miscalculated by making the honeycomb of the engine and air conditioning radiators too small. The gap between them quickly grows overgrown with a mud coat, which interferes with cooling. The engine is the first to sound the alarm (especially versions 2.4 and 3.2), the arrow of the antifreeze temperature indicator goes into the red zone. Service technicians recommend flushing the radiators at least once every two years. To do this, they need to be dismantled.
• At the location of the engine compartment fuse box, on the right in the compartment, moisture constantly accumulates. On every fifth car at the age of seven to ten years, this leads to serious rotting of internal contacts. The disease can be seen: the block is transparent. But it is not collapsible, so you need to change it assembled. Usually, oxidized contacts cause problems with the transfer case. On the panel, the signal illumination of the four-wheel drive systems comes on and the modes stop switching.

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-killable 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 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 grill, 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 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, which 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, 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 can be noted (40-50 thousand km). 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 (in the city 20-22 liters per hundred).

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 mechanics is the deterioration of the operational qualities of the box (indistinct inclusion of the 1st 2nd and 3rd gears). There can 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 center 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 hum, if you often storm off-road, it can hum after 30,000 thousand km). Often, an oil change helps to eliminate the 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 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 instances they 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 intensifies (in some cases, replacing the power steering fluid helps to fix 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 at the joints). 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 luggage compartment 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 AutoAvenu

Most of the cars sold in the Russian Federation are presented on the secondary market, but there are also "American" cars, but their condition much more often turns out to be much worse.

The car was delivered in two body trim levels - three- and five-door. All cars can boast of the build quality - cars from Japan have always been on this parameter in the first sequences. The only thing that is possible note- this is the fifth door. It often happens that on cars with huge mileage, it sags under the weight of the spare wheel.

This trouble can be easily eliminated by adjusting the loops.
Rust on the car can indicate that the car has been in an accident, at the end of which was a poor-quality repair has been made, or the previous owner is not very careful with his things.

electronics and electrical equipment of this car from Japan is reliable, like all Japanese electronics and in most cases does not cause trouble for its owner.
Engines on this model a pair was installed, the most not strong of them - a 1.6-liter gasoline one is often seen in the secondary market. In most cases, there are no troubles with him, and with proper care he helps reliably and for a long time. The only thing to remember is to change the oil in the engine on time and wait for the engine to warm up before driving.

Such precautions will allow the timing chain that was installed on this engine to last much longer.
Remaining motors more wonderful, and other than that, they are not problematic. From time to time, small problems are seen, but they do not appear so often and are not constant.

Purchase of a car in order to like the Suzuki Grand Vitara with gasoline engine implies a decent waste, because besides, not the most wonderful 2.4-liter engine in winter will "eat" up to 20 liters of fuel in urban environments. The turbodiesel was installed only in the amount of 1.9 liters, but it was not officially supplied to Russia due to the poor quality of domestic fuel. We would not recommend taking such a car, because its breakdown due to domestic fuel is very possible, and not every master will undertake to repair it.
Two types of boxes were installed on the machines - a five-speed mechanics and a four-speed automatic. Both boxes are reliable enough, but with a mechanical one there are more troubles and it fails a little more often. One of the reasons for the failure of the clutch on the Grand Vitara is driving along a crossroads and crawling out of difficult-to-pass places without using a lower gear.
Compared to classmates, this jeep looks more no joke - the differential lock and low gear make it more attractive for fans of extreme trips.

Only an inexperienced car enthusiast can buy a used car and not check the suspension, despite the fact that with Grand Vitara it is not such a huge need - for this car it is very reliable. Yes, repairs can cost a lot of money, but it justifies itself - the details go for a very long time and often do not bother the owner.
There are no particular complaints about brake pads or discs, but the masters note the fact that the latter are prone to overheating from time to time.
In a word, the Grand Vitara is considered not only a hardy car in terms of cross-country ability, but also quite reliable in unpretentious repair, despite the fact that it is quite expensive.

• suzuki

Mandatory reading:

Inspection of used suzuki grand vitara 2010 - cheating everywhere.

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Not every SUV combines three qualities at once: excellent cross-country ability, high build quality and an affordable price. One of these was the Suzuki Grand Vitara, but, unfortunately, the car is no longer produced. A driver who chose this SUV over competitors such as Toyota RAV4, Nissan X-Trail or Honda CR-V could not only save several thousand dollars, but also get a real Jeep with excellent suspension, engine and transmission.

The legendary generation will be replaced by a new one that has nothing to do with the previous one. Since 2015, Suzuki Grand Vitara can only be found.

History of Suzuki Grand Vitara

The Vitara line was first introduced in 1988. By releasing this model, the manufacturers wanted to become the pioneers of a new class of cars - compact SUVs. They really managed to be the first to introduce such a classification, but from a technical point of view, AvtoVAZ did it earlier with their Niva. The design features of Vitara bring it closer to ordinary SUVs: a separate frame and a plug-in front-wheel drive. At first, the new Suzuki model could be classified either as a bad crossover or as a parody of an SUV.

After about a quarter of a century, the Grand Vitara was redesigned under pressure from competitors who were ready to oust the car from the market. The manufacturers made the body self-supporting, and the front-wheel drive was connected through a center differential, which worked constantly. In addition, the reduced range of transmission gears turned out to be a very profitable solution against the background of the rest - the Grand Vitara has become very competitive.

In various countries, the car is known as the Suzuki XL7, Grand Nomade and Grand Escudo (while the versions with three doors and a short body did not have the "grand" prefix). So it has been produced since 2005. It is noteworthy that Vitara had a common chassis with some General Motors cars, but from a constructive point of view, these cars were very different.

Properties of a used Suzuki Grand Vitara

It should be borne in mind that the specific completely depends on its operating history. No two identical models can be found. Each Grand Vitara will have its own consequences of use by the past master. One way or another, the car has a number of common features that unite the entire Grand Vitara line.

Now the greatest demand exists for the third generation SUV from Suzuki. It is it that combines excellent driving properties and high quality, while having an affordable price. Thus, the Grand Vitaras, which were produced from 2005 to 2014, are the most coveted among the entire series. Cars 5-7 years old on the secondary market can be found at a price of 400 to 900 thousand rubles.

In the Russian used car market, the most common American and Russian versions of the Grand Vitara. European options, as a rule, are rare, but they are also more expensive, which negates the availability of the model. Their condition speaks in favor of European trim levels. The Russian version, which was used by us, usually has a lower quality, which is due to the constant exposure to salt on the roads in winter. At the same time, Americans are mostly characterized by a careless style of operation - they pour cheap oil into the Grand Vitara, after which they drive it for several years. Due to this use, the condition of the vehicle deteriorates. In addition, such an ailment cannot be corrected by flushing the engine.

Engine

At the time of sales, the Grand Vitara was equipped with four gasoline and two turbodiesel engines. The weakest of all had a volume of 1.6 liters and 94 horsepower (most often installed on the three-door version), while the most dynamic engine had a volume of 2.7 liters and a power of 173 liters. with. (installed only on the five-door version). It should be borne in mind that when buying a Grand Vitara in the secondary market, the driver will be deprived of the opportunity to choose an engine, so you will have to be content with the available one.

More powerful Suzuki engines allow you to quickly pick up speed from the start, but they also consume a lot of fuel. One of the properties of the Grand Vitara's running system is that when driving on slippery roads, a powerful engine coupled with a short wheelbase makes the car slip. This is especially unpleasant for an SUV.

With regard to operation, all Grand Vitara engines are distinguished by their reliability and endurance. Of course, their condition must be maintained by qualified and timely service. As a rule, the Suzuki driver is forced to clean the radiator and change the antifreeze when the mileage counter “winds up” the next 60,000 kilometers.

Most often on the market you can find the Grand Vitara, equipped with a two-liter gasoline engine with a capacity of 140 liters. with. The engine is relatively unpretentious and can be powered by 92nd fuel, but it is clearly not enough to reach the full speed of a one and a half ton SUV. With dynamic trips around the city, it is approximately 15 liters per 100 km.

Transmission

Regardless of the engine, the Grand Vitara was equipped with both a manual and an automatic transmission. This means that any combination of motor and transmission can be found in the secondary market. The mechanical version is characterized by "tight" shifting into reverse gear - you have to make a short pause before the system, which does not have a synchronizer, allows you to switch. The automatic transmission has no complaints about shifting and does an excellent job not only with movement, but also with the transportation of large trailers.

The disadvantage of the Grand Vitara transmission is the "part-time" system. The front axle is connected rigidly in it, which allows the use of four-wheel drive only on slippery roads and for a short time. So, the front axle of Suzuki must always be in a disabled state. When choosing a used model, you should pay attention to this - if the included drive is accompanied by blows, it means that the gearbox is "killed" and it is better not to buy a car.

Suspension

The Suzuki Grand Vitara suspension is excellent for use in Russian conditions. Even on a used car, it needs to be repaired no more often than every 80,000 kilometers. At the same time, there is still a small drawback - the front stabilizer mounts need to be changed every 25,000 kilometers. Their lifespan cannot be increased even by installing original units.

Body

In the five-door versions of the Grand Vitara, the tailgate sags occasionally. The reason for this is the heavy spare wheel. This problem can be corrected with a simple adjustment. Also, over time, the engine fan fails. You can either repair it or buy a new one - such expenses occur no more than once every 2 years. These small flaws are not critical, so the Suzuki body is highly reliable.

Equipment

In the minimum version of the Grand Vitara, you can find pretty good functionality: six airbags, which, together with a rigid body of later versions, provide reliable protection, climate control, anti-lock braking system and central locking.

The most equipped version, in addition to everything, has ESP, curtain airbags, cruise control, built-in computer with navigation, power steering, xenon / bi-xenon and fog optics, leather upholstery, full power accessories and a media system.

Outcome

Each driver should answer the question of whether to buy a used Suzuki Grand Vitara individually. Many car enthusiasts consider this model of an SUV to be a family one and purchase it for their respective needs, but there are also extreme driving fans who. One way or another, for its cost, the Grand Vitara provides the buyer with excellent cross-country properties and high reliability. The disadvantage is the part-time transmission, which is not the best choice for a real SUV. If this is critical, then you should look at the more expensive Toyota RAV4, Nissan X-Trail or Honda CR-V.