Trail testing the Suzuki Vitara 4×4
Small but living large: Grand Vitara 4x4
For years I’ve wanted test a Suzuki 4×4 on the trails. I’ve read great things about their off road performance and was eager to determine for myself whether or not the Vitara could live up to the legend. It does.
For those who actually take their 4×4 off road and who don’t need to haul an obscene amount of people or gear around with them everywhere they go, it would be hard to find a better choice than a used 1999-2005 Suzuki Vitara 4×4.
It’s road manners are great, it’s trail prowess is excellent, used prices are reasonable, availability is good, reliability is typical Suzuki, and there are plenty of after-market accessories to bolt on. It’s far more refined than the older version (Tracker/Sidekick/Escudo) but almost certainly just as capable off road–and has a larger engine to boot.
With a roof rack or top box, or a small trailer if you prefer, the 5 passenger 5 door Vitara should be able to carry just about anything you might need just about anywhere you want to go. If you have kids, a weekend (or week long) expedition will be a tight fit, but you will fit. And when the road gets rough or you just can’t resist exploring that side road leading into the far off hills, the Vitara will get you there and back with aplomb–with plenty of fuel left over.
Although perhaps not as iron-pig tough as a Landcruiser, as spacious as a Pajero, as capable out of the box as a 4Runner/Hi Lux, or as long-lived as a Trooper/Bighorn, the little Suzuki is something none of those other 4×4′s are: capable, unique, fuel efficient, comparably inexpensive, and a lot of fun to wheel and drive. Sure, it might be cute…but mud splashes and trail pin stripes work wonders for that.
Getting there
On the asphalt, the Vitara is nimble and peppy, but with only 127bhp on tap, not especially quick. But that’s ok: not many 4×4′s can return 33Mpg (8.3l/100Km). And with a 64 litre tank, the 4 cylinder Vitara should be able to travel upwards of 730 highway kilometres on one fill up. Not bad.
There’s almost no body roll under normal driving conditions, and the drive is much sportier than any other 4×4 I’ve driven. (Notice I said 4×4: All-wheel drive cars such as the Rav4 or CRV aren’t included in this category).
It still feels like a truck over bumps–which is a good thing–but with the new-for-this model power-assisted rack and pinion steering, it is uncannily responsive in the turns, be they gravel, dirt, or pavement. Purists might prefer the older model’s circulating ball steering system which was tough and simple, but rack and pinion suits any vehicle that will probably spend 90% of its time on-road.
On the Trails
For many reasons the Vitara is a great choice for a daily-driver and regular off-roader. The smaller size and tight turning radius means trail manoeuvrability is excellent, and Suzuki’s part-time four wheel drive system provides exceptional traction (with proper tires) in almost all conditions. Ground clearance and skid-plating could be better, but that’s what the after-market (or good line-choosing) is for.
For this trail test, we headed up to the top of a local mountain to see how the 2.0 litre engine pulls and how the four wheel drive system performs in 4-Lo. Although the road was mostly unmaintained gravel, the incline was steep, loose, and very rocky in places. As expected, the Vitara pulled itself up without any complaints, as neither the low traction or altitude affected the truck.
But the going got a little too rough when I mistakingly found myself on an ATV trail. This can happen in a Vitara, as it inspires a lot of confidence as it claws its way along smaller trails. And since it’s narrower that most 4×4′s, it fits in to all kinds of tight spots.
Fortunately, when the Vitara can no longer go forward, it’s easy to turn around and get back on track. Turns that would have taken spotters and multiple points in larger trucks were handled with nonchalant ease in the Vitara.
Off-Road PROS:
1. Sturdy body-on-frame chassis
2. Low-range transfer case
3. Fuel economy
4. Turning radius
5. Factory LSD (some models)
Off-Road CONS:
1. ‘Limited’ Cargo Capacity
2. Aluminum ft. differential (some models)
3. Lack of skid plates (some models)
4. Ground Clearance
Trail Test Fuel Economy:
Distance travelled: 114.1 km ( 70.9 miles)
Fuel Amount used: 11.3 litres ( 2.99 US gallons 2.49 Imperial gallons)
Cost of Fuel: $1.54 per litre ( $5.83 per US gallon $7 per Imperial gallon)
Fuel Economy: 9.9 litres per 100 km (23.75 miles per US gallon 28.52 miles per Imperial gallon)
Mileage Costs 15.25 ¢ents per km (24.54 ¢ents per mile)
