2003 Suzuki Grand Vitara

It has been about four years since I reviewed a Grand Vitara, Suzuki’s SUV that doubles as the Chevrolet Tracker. Although it was among the first entries in this compact segment, many happy little SUVs have followed, making this class of cutesies one mean catfight. That usually means those who came first wind up last. Not so for the Grand Vitara, however. It has continued to evolve with the times, while making sure it maintains a niche. The question is: Is that enough in this tough class?

The Good News
There’s no question the Grand Vitara has come a long way from its rather humble beginnings as the beleaguered Suzuki Sidekick. Along with vast improvements, Suzuki gave it a brand new name in 1999 in an effort to further distance what it is from what it was.

What it is is an economically priced, compact SUV that’s built for the off-road with some on-road luxuries. Its sturdy body-on-frame construction, standard 165-horsepower 2.5 twin came 24-valve V6 not only distinguish it on paper from the ever-popular 4-cylinder car-based Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4, these characteristics also make it the manliest entry in the class. Whereas the car-based chaps keep in touch with their feminine side, the Grand Vitara keeps the four-door truck spirit alive with its rugged construction, exterior bravado and shift-on-the-fly four-wheel drive as an option.

Mine was only a rear-wheel-drive version, however. That means it was well-priced, if not well-equipped to do what the Grand Vitara does best: i.e. take the muddy shortcuts.

I didn’t mind. After so many overloaded, overpriced cars, I can appreciate a less complicated rig, standard five-speed manual transmission and all.

But they don’t call it “Grand” for nothing. The package includes air conditioning with climate control, cruise control, tilt steering wheel with remote audio controls, remote keyless entry and power accessories. Furthermore, the Grand Vitara receives a total interior makeover for 2003, giving it a more expensive look. Instruments are new, as is the in-dash CD player with seven speakers including subwoofer.

This new design joins the handsome, muscular-looking exterior I have always admired. All in all, some nice stuff for under $20,000.

The Bad News
The Grand Vitara’s off-road toughness is admirable, but tradeoffs may prove too costly. Its pavement manners -- from ride quality to engine and wind noise levels to maneuverability – are less refined compared to the car-based pack. The fact that most people view these SUVs as cars and could care less about off-road doesn’t bode well for this Vitara’s niche.

Cargo capacity doesn’t stack up well, either. Compare the Grand Vitara’s 50.2 cubic feet of rear cargo with seats folded down to RAV4’s 68 and CR-V’s 72 cubic feet. The Grand Vitara does come with a handy split-folding rear seat, however.

Even though having a V-6 at this price seems impressive, the power is not that much more than Honda’s thrifty 4-cylinder. Acceleration times are much the same in independent tests, which surprised me. This Grand Vitara feels pokey to me, whereas the Honda CR-V with automatic I recently drove did not.

Of course, if you get into the other V6-equipped compact SUVs, like the Ford Escape/Mazda Tribute’s 201 horses, the Grand Vitara gets blown away. But you also pay more for those V-6s.

Gas mileage
EPA rated at 19 mpg city/22 highway. Another bit of bad news.

Price
Manufacturer’s base, $18,599;
Price as tested, $19,174

Is it worth it?
I went back and read my initial review of the Grand Vitara when it morphed from the Sidekick back in ’98 as a ’99. At the time, I noted its ride, power, handling and off-road engineering as highlights. Now, I rate these first three items as mediocre assets at best, drawbacks at worst. It’s not that the Grand Vitara has declined over the years; it’s that the competition has gotten that much better.

But that doesn’t put it out of the race. Deciding how much of a value the 2WD Grand Vitara is depends on your priorities. If you like its image, new interior and standard equipment and want to brag about your V6 for under $20,000, this is your SUV.

But if you prefer a more carlike ride-and-drive experience, want some form of all-wheel-drive, better fuel economy and more cargo space – and are still on that darn budget – my advice is shop around.

Beth Stein is a life-long car buff and free-lance journalist living in Nashville. She has reviewed new vehicles in print for 12 years as a weekly columnist for Nashville's daily newspapers and on television for Road Test Magazine and Motor Trend Television. Currently, her reviews appear nationally on Car And Driver Television.