Suzuki Grand Vitara

Suzuki Grand Vitara at a glance: segment, body styles, where it is built

The Grand Vitara is Suzuki's compact off-roader, one size up from the original Vitara of 1988 and sold in Japan as the Escudo. The European JT was offered as a three-door on a 2,440 mm (96.1 in) wheelbase and a five-door on 2,640 mm (103.9 in). Cars for Europe are reported to have come from Suzuki's Iwata plant in Japan. Background on the maker is in the history of Suzuki and the full Suzuki range.

English-language references number the generations differently because they count the Vitara family from 1988. This page follows the German and ADAC convention and gives the years each time.

First generation (1998–2005)

The first Grand Vitara was announced in November 1997 and launched in March 1998. It used a ladder-frame construction and part-time, switchable four-wheel drive, the layout of a traditional off-roader. Suzuki added the XL-7 in September 2001, a 4.70 m long version sold only with a V6. Related models include the Mazda Proceed Levante and the North American Chevrolet Tracker.

Second generation, JT (2005–2015)

The JT appeared in September 2005 as an all-new car. Its body is a monocoque with an integrated ladder frame, and the suspension is independent all round, with MacPherson struts at the front and a multi-link layout at the back.

Two updates shaped the JT. In 2008 the 2.0 and 2.7 were replaced by a 2.4 four-cylinder and a 3.2 V6, extra airbags arrived and traction control became standard. A 2012 facelift for model year 2013 brought a new grille, bumpers, wheels and lights, and the V6 was dropped. European sales ended in 2015, while the Japanese Escudo is reported to have continued until April 2017.

The India-built Grand Vitara (2022–)

Since September 2022 Maruti Suzuki has built a new Grand Vitara in India. It shares its platform with the Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder, uses a 1.5-litre petrol engine as a mild hybrid with 76 kW (103 PS) or a strong hybrid with 85 kW (116 PS), and replaced the S-Cross there. It is not sold in Europe. In Europe the JT was succeeded in 2015 by the Suzuki Vitara, built in Esztergom, Hungary.

Engines, transmissions and performance

The JT had six engines over its life, but not all at the same time. The 1.6 was reserved for the three-door and the diesel came from Renault.

The lower 2.4 figures are for the three-door. English sources list the 3.2 at 172 kW and the diesel at 93 kW (127 PS).

The four-wheel-drive system is the JT's main technical strength. Drive is permanent through a torque-sensing centre differential with a 47:53 front-to-rear split. A rotary switch selects 4H Lock, which locks the centre differential, and 4L Lock, which adds a 1.97:1 reduction. Early three-doors did not all have the lock and low range; from the 2008 update they were fitted across the range.

Dimensions, interior space and boot capacity

ADAC's European data for the 2.4 automatic five-door built from January 2013 to August 2015 are shown below; performance is modest, and the 1.6 is often called underpowered. Length varies between sources because not all cars carry the spare wheel on the tailgate.

Loaded to the window line rather than the roof, the five-door boot holds 758 L (26.8 cu ft). The three-door is shorter and has a smaller boot, so the 398 L figure does not apply to it.

Fuel economy and running costs

The Grand Vitara is thirsty by modern standards. On the NEDC cycle ADAC lists the 2.4 automatic at 9.6 L/100 km (29.4 mpg UK) combined, 12.1 L/100 km urban and 8.1 L/100 km extra-urban, with 221 g/km of CO2. Real-world figures are usually higher, and AutoScout24 calls the 3.2 V6 thirsty.

Safety ratings: Euro NCAP 2007

Euro NCAP published its result for the five-door JT in March 2007: four stars for adult occupant protection, three stars for child occupants and three stars for pedestrian protection. Testers criticised the driver airbag, the risk of injury to the feet and from the dashboard and the fact that the passenger airbag could not be switched off. The rating covers the 2005–2008 car only, not the first generation or the 2015 Vitara. We found no IIHS rating for the JT.

According to AutoScout24, ESP was not standard at the 2005 launch but became standard from 2008. ADAC lists front, front side and curtain airbags, ESP, traction control, ABS and rear ISOFIX mountings as standard on 2013–2015 cars.

Reliability, recalls and common problems

Age shows in the brakes, lights and steering. Auto Bild's summary of the TÜV Report 2026 says brake lines are criticised about 2.5 times as often as the average car, brake discs score clearly worse than average, dipped beams and indicators are weak points, and steering faults rise slightly above average with age. Oil leaks are less frequent than average.

Recalls listed by the German KBA cover incorrectly routed engine wiring harnesses, faulty charge-air hoses on the diesel and a risk of power-steering assist failure. ADAC also records a March 2017 recall because the gear-lever shaft could break, affecting 4,462 vehicles in Germany.

For the 1.9 DDiS, AutoScout24 reports chronic oil loss, fault-prone turbochargers and starter motor failures, and recommends a petrol engine instead. Auto Bild also mentions vague steering, a notchy gearshift, noise at speed and occasional rust.

Rivals: how the Suzuki Grand Vitara compares

Many compact SUVs of its time were car-based, and few offered a low range, so the Grand Vitara's transfer box and centre-differential lock gave it a real advantage off the road. On the road it is noisier than car-based rivals. In the same March 2007 Euro NCAP round, the Land Rover Freelander 2 was reported as the first car in its class to earn five stars. For more choices, see our overview of Japanese SUVs and the wider list of Japanese cars.