I really liked the trio of bright, crisp LED gauges, housed in an aluminum-trimmed integrated cluster. Nighttime, they become black with multi-coloured backlighting which I thought was nifty, but were too much for a friend who remarked that the white, red, green and blue colour scheme was a bit garish.
Rather than a conventional hatch--access to the rear cargo space is gained through a side-opening door. A great idea, but it opens closer to the flow of traffic rather than the curb, which would be safer.
Driving Impressions
My tester was a four-wheel drive version, complete with the aforementioned low-range gearing suitable for clambering over rocks and logs. Clearance is 7.9 inches, which is less than competitor Nissan Xterra, but I didn't notice that hampered its ability during Testfest's Offroad portion. Under the hood is a 2.7-litre, 185-horsepower V6, mated to a five-speed automatic transmission.
I found the Grand Vitara to be pleasantly silent while driving--wind and road noise aren't noticeable, there are no annoying rattles or squeaks (other than an odd buzz emanating from the rear of the cabin which we later determined to be a seat belt fasterner vibrating against a side pillar).
Until you step on the gas, that is. It's under acceleration that this SUV's biggest flaw is revealed. The engine labours hard under acceleration and is quite vocal about its displeasure. The transmission downshifts more often than it should in order to accomodate for the lack of extra power. But when not pushed, the engine is more than adequate and smooth-running.
There's a nearly perfect 50/50 weight distribution, and the vehicle is well balanced and feels planted in corners. The Grand Vitara incorporates a unibody structure, on a truck-style ladder frame--adding strength and reinforcement for increased towing capacity and enhanced offroad prowess.
Rather than a conventional hatch--access to the rear cargo space is gained through a side-opening door. A great idea, but it opens closer to the flow of traffic rather than the curb, which would be safer.
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| The 185-hp 2.7L V6 is a little underpowered and fairly noisy. |
Driving Impressions
My tester was a four-wheel drive version, complete with the aforementioned low-range gearing suitable for clambering over rocks and logs. Clearance is 7.9 inches, which is less than competitor Nissan Xterra, but I didn't notice that hampered its ability during Testfest's Offroad portion. Under the hood is a 2.7-litre, 185-horsepower V6, mated to a five-speed automatic transmission.
I found the Grand Vitara to be pleasantly silent while driving--wind and road noise aren't noticeable, there are no annoying rattles or squeaks (other than an odd buzz emanating from the rear of the cabin which we later determined to be a seat belt fasterner vibrating against a side pillar).
Until you step on the gas, that is. It's under acceleration that this SUV's biggest flaw is revealed. The engine labours hard under acceleration and is quite vocal about its displeasure. The transmission downshifts more often than it should in order to accomodate for the lack of extra power. But when not pushed, the engine is more than adequate and smooth-running.
There's a nearly perfect 50/50 weight distribution, and the vehicle is well balanced and feels planted in corners. The Grand Vitara incorporates a unibody structure, on a truck-style ladder frame--adding strength and reinforcement for increased towing capacity and enhanced offroad prowess.
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| Other than engine noise, the Grand Vitara is pleasantly silent while driving. |