Suzuki Vitara

2001 August: Suzuki has added 10kW of power to the Grand Vitara's 2.5 litre V6 engine, now 116kW at 6200rpm, and 213Nm at 3500rpm.

2001 April: Suzuki dropped prices on the Grand Vitara Wagon range, now the Suzuki Grand Vitara four cylinder Wagon Sports starts from $27,990 for the manual, and $29,890 for the automatic. The Grand Vitara V6 Wagon Sports starts from $29,990 for the manual, and $31,890 for the automatic ($au 4/2001).

2001 January: The 3-door Suzuki Grand Vitara Sport (right) and four-cylinder wagon join the Sports range. Standard features include dual SRS airbags and new trim. The rear seat of the four-cylinder wagon has been moved back, for longer legs.
Prices 3-door hard-top from $25,390+orc, 4-cylinder wagon from $28,990+orc ($au).

2000 August: As is the fashion, Suzuki is into releasing special editions of its vehicles, here the Grand Vitara Sports and the Grand Vitara Sports Limited.

Standard on both are remote controlled central locking, dual airbags, cargo area cover, and different trim. The Sports Limited gets ABS anti-lock brakes, alloy wheels and leather seats. There are no changes to the 2.5-litre V6 engine and transmissions.

Prices: Sports $31,990, Sports Limited $34,490 + orc ($au 8/2000), also [other prices].

2000, March: Suzuki launched the SWB Vitara soft-top. Prices start at $26,990 (5-speed manual), automatic +$2K, air conditioning +$2K ($au). Standard equipment includes power steering, CD-player, electric windows & mirrors, and central locking. Security features include remote locking and an engine immobiliser. Fuel consumption figures of 8.96L/100km (city) and 6.75L/100km (highway) are claimed.

1999 November: Suzuki Grand Vitara SWB soft-top with a 1.6 litre engine (1590cc, 75mmx90mm, 69kW at 5200rpm, 138Nm at 4000rpm) due to go on sale in Australia. An integral roll-bar is fitted behind the driver and passenger doors, with separate soft-top roof sections fore and aft of it. Price to be decided as of 10/'99.

1999, August: Short wheel base (SWB), 3-door, Suzuki Grand Vitaras are on sale in New South Wales, and Suzuki in Victoria have one or three in preparation. The SWB has the 4-cylinder, 2-litre 16-valve, dohc engine; note the bore of 84mm & stroke of 90mm and the good torque (for a small 4 valves/cyl engine) at 2900rpm, half of maximum power's 6000rpm. Vitaras have a separate chassis, and a two-speed transfer case. Part-time four wheel drive (2Hi->4Hi) can be selected on the move. Unfortunately the new (1998 on) "look" does not suit the short wheel base quite as well as the long, but perhaps it will grow on us. Price: from $24,990 ($au 5/'00), from $24,390 ($au 7/'00).
- www.4wdonline.com/Suzuki/Suzuki.html

• Grand Vitara SWB wagon / hatch, 4-seats, 2-doors
• loa: 3875mm, width: 1695mm, height: 1685mm
• wheelbase: 2200mm, track: 1460mm/1460mm, grnd clearance: 200mm
• turning radius: 4.7m
• weight: 1260kg (unladen), GVM: 1750kg
• J20A, 1995cc, petrol, 4-cyls, mpi, 4-valves/cyl, dohc
• bore: 84mm, stroke: 90mm, c.r.: 9.3:1
• power: 95kW at 6000rpm, torque: 174Nm at 2900rpm
• transmission: 5m (3.652:1, 1.947:1, 1.379:1, 1.0:1, 0.795:1; rev 3.67:1) diff' ratio 4.875:1, or 4a (2.826:1, 1.493:1, 1.0:1, 0.689:1; rev 2.703:1) diff' ratio 5.125:1; two-speed transfer case (hi 1.0:1, lo 1.816:1), part-time 4WD
• suspension: indep' strut & coil / live & coil, brakes: disc/drum
• tyres: 215/65R16 (27" oad), fuel-tank: 56L
• rivals: Mitsubishi iO, Toyota RAV4

1998, April: The new-shape LWB Suzuki Vitara went on sale in Australia.

• Vitara LWB station wagon, 5 seats, 4 doors
• loa: 4180mm, width: 1780mm, height: 1740mm
• weight: 1405kg (unladen)
• 2.5L petrol, V6, 4 valves/cyl
  • power; 106kW, torque: 208Nm
• 2L petrol, 4-cyl, 4 valves/cyl
  • power: 94kW, torque: 174Nm
• transmission: 5m; 2-speed transfer case, part-time 4WD, 2WD/4WD selectable at up to 100kph
• suspension: McPherson strut-coils/live-coils
• prices: Grand Vitara 4-cyl wagon, $28,950 (man'), $30,950 (auto); V6 wagon, $30,950 (man'), $32,950 (auto); metallic paint +$200, alloy wheels +$1K, ABS/air-bag +$2400 (V6), $au 2/1999
  prices drop with the GST [7/2000])
• competitors: Kia Sportage, Toyota RAV4

Go to the XL-7 (2000), 1998 & 1997 Vitara and Suzuki pages