Reviewed by Susan Frissell

I vividly remember the introduction of the first Suzuki Vitara, held in southern Missouri. At the time, it was the first and only SUV offering a V-6 engine; albeit, a woefully under-powered V-6. I liked the car then, and while still a decent smaller SUV, gets lost in what has become a crowded vehicle category.

Our test Grand Vitara-a new edition and one of seven available trim levels/models, the Adventure edition is equipped with a long list of standard equipment, including water-resistant seat fabric; the only real change to the Vitara lineup. The available models include the Grand Vitara RWD ($19,499), Grand Vitara Premium RWD ($21,399), Ultimate Adventure Edition RWD ($22,299), Limited RWD ($23,749), Premium 4WD ($22, 849), Ultimate Adventure Edition 4WD ($23,949) and Limited 4WD ($25,249. Whew!

Although coming into the marketplace with fare pricing, the Grand Vitara feels dated; a basic SUV with so-so looks. Buyers can feel they are getting a lot of features for their dollar, but have to put up with a rather wheezy 4-cylinder engine, and little support when navigating flat roadways, but an improved unibody chassis. . The powertrain in the Vitara also seems old.

Our Adventure edition came equipped with a few options, including very sturdy All-weather floor mats ($125), First aid kit and cargo mat ($115), Premium Metallic paint ($130), and Bluetooth with screen graphics ($250).

Safety features on the Grand Vitara Adventure include tire pressure monitoring system, brake assist, ABS, Electronic stability control, Traction control, Side curtain airbags, front seat side impact supplemental airbags, side curtain airbags with rollover sensor and daytime running lights. Power windows, locks and mirrors are standard, as is cruise control, keyless entry with panic alarm, heated front seats, leather wrapped steering wheel, fog lamps, side view mirror with turn signals and 18-inch smoked alloy wheels.

Beginning with a basic line, the Vitara came in a 4-door and 2-door model. Born with truck roots, Vitara had a body-on-frame construction, was available in RWD and 4WD and wasn’t a terribly comfortable nor practical offering. Slow to accelerate, lousy on the bumps, and a manual transmission that was difficult to shift, Vitara’s SUV had cramped rear seat room and not a lot of cargo space. From 1999-2004, Vitara offered the 2-door soft top convertible (which was a fun car), with Suzuki’s 1.6-liter, 4-cylinder enginen with 97 horsepower as the base engine. A 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine with 127 horse was optional on the 2-door Vitara and standard on the 4-door. Both came equipped with a 5-speed manual transmission or 4-speed automatic, with a shift-on-the-fly drive option.

SPECS

MSRP: $23,949; total vehicle price $24,569

Engine: 2.4-liter DOHC, 4-cylinder, 166 hp., 162 lb. ft. torque

Transmission: Automatic, full-time 4-whl drive

Wheelbase: 103.9 in.

Height: 66.3 in.

Length: 177.2 in.

Tires: P225/60R18

Wheels: optional 18-inch

Warranty: 100,000-mile, 7 yr. transferrable powertrain limited; 24/7/365 Roadside Assistance