Huntsville, Ontario - Suzuki Canada's president, Seiichi Maruyama, is a man with a lot to say. His company is growing notably faster than the rest of the auto industry, and they're gearing up to release an updated version of a staple SUV product: the Grand Vitara.
Despite the excitement apparent of him and his team for the refreshed model, his presentation to members of Canadian media was notably short and sweet. In not quite so few words, he said that the Grand Vitara would speak for itself once driven.
On paper, the hardware all in place back this claim up. The model is aimed towards a customer shopping for an aggressively-priced SUV that puts a heavy focus on ruggedness.
Evidence?
The integrated 'ladder-frame' body construction has benefits in safety, handling and strength. It's strong enough to enable a 3,000-lb. towing capacity, even in models making due with the new four-cylinder engine. That's considerably more than anything in its class, and double as much in many cases.
A transfer case four-wheel drive system is fitted as well. It offers 3 drive settings starting with 4-HI, which acts as an all-purpose 4x4 mode for any surface. A 4-HI LOCK setting locks the front and rear axles together for more demanding off-road conditions, and a 4-LO LOCK mode offers the torque multiplication needed for more serious crawling, climbing and various terrain-terrorizing antics.
With a driver selectable transfer case in place of an automatic all-wheel drive system, traction is available at all times before the wheels begin to slip. Allowing the driver to call the shots ensures that Grand Vitara will make it unscathed out of nearly any trail it's called upon to tackle.
Available is a 3.2-litre V6 that generates 230 horsepower and 213 lb-ft of torque. With V6 power on board, the model gets the same 3,000-lb. towing capacity as the four-cylinder while providing more confidence during acceleration and hill-climbing.
Suzuki says that the buying public is lately showing a nearly even split in preference between a four-banger or a V6 in this segment. For that reason, an all-new four-cylinder engine is now available--namely a 2.4-litre, 166-horsepower unit.
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| Price starts under $26,000 for the four-cylinder model, and tops out around $32,700 for a nicely-loaded V6. |
Despite the excitement apparent of him and his team for the refreshed model, his presentation to members of Canadian media was notably short and sweet. In not quite so few words, he said that the Grand Vitara would speak for itself once driven.
On paper, the hardware all in place back this claim up. The model is aimed towards a customer shopping for an aggressively-priced SUV that puts a heavy focus on ruggedness.
Evidence?
The integrated 'ladder-frame' body construction has benefits in safety, handling and strength. It's strong enough to enable a 3,000-lb. towing capacity, even in models making due with the new four-cylinder engine. That's considerably more than anything in its class, and double as much in many cases.
A transfer case four-wheel drive system is fitted as well. It offers 3 drive settings starting with 4-HI, which acts as an all-purpose 4x4 mode for any surface. A 4-HI LOCK setting locks the front and rear axles together for more demanding off-road conditions, and a 4-LO LOCK mode offers the torque multiplication needed for more serious crawling, climbing and various terrain-terrorizing antics.
With a driver selectable transfer case in place of an automatic all-wheel drive system, traction is available at all times before the wheels begin to slip. Allowing the driver to call the shots ensures that Grand Vitara will make it unscathed out of nearly any trail it's called upon to tackle.
Available is a 3.2-litre V6 that generates 230 horsepower and 213 lb-ft of torque. With V6 power on board, the model gets the same 3,000-lb. towing capacity as the four-cylinder while providing more confidence during acceleration and hill-climbing.
Suzuki says that the buying public is lately showing a nearly even split in preference between a four-banger or a V6 in this segment. For that reason, an all-new four-cylinder engine is now available--namely a 2.4-litre, 166-horsepower unit.
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| The integrated 'ladder-frame' body construction has benefits in safety, handling and strength. |