Performance
The Grand Vitara’s petrol engines are disappointing. The three-door has a 1.6 that provides slow acceleration, while the five-door’s 2.0 is better, but still sluggish. The five-door 1.9 diesel is the best bet – it’s still not brilliant but has useful extra mid-range grunt. In all three, a heavy gearshift blunts smooth progress at times.

Ride & handling
The firm suspension limits body movement, so the Vitara remains composed through corners. Good grip and well weighted steering also help. The downside is an unforgiving ride, which never settles. It’s even choppier in the three-door version.

Refinement
This is one of the Grand Vitara’s weak points. All of the engines are noisy, particularly at speed, although the 1.6 is the worst offender and the diesel is least afflicted. The petrols also suffer some transmission whine. Road noise isn’t too intrusive, but there’s an irritating amount of wind noise on the motorway.

Quality & reliability
Suzuki has raised its game when it comes to interior quality. The cabin is solidly built, stylish and the materials all look like they’ll stand up to hard use. The previous model’s reliability was no better than average, so Suzuki will be looking for improvements in this area.

Safety & security
Unlike some rivals, the Grand Vitara comes with front, side and curtain airbags as standard. Anti-lock brakes with electronic distribution of stopping power are also fitted, but while permanent four-wheel drive is standard, neither traction nor stability control are available. Deadlocks and a visible VIN are fitted to deter thieves.

Behind the wheel
The five-door provides a more flexible driving position than the three-door, since it has driver’s seat-height adjustment as standard. The dash is sensibly arranged and has big, bold switches, while visibility is excellent.

Space & practicality
The Grand Vitara provides plenty of leg- and headroom in both the front and back seats, and five adults will fit comfortably thanks to the low central tunnel. The boot is a useful size, too, but it has a side-hinged door, which can make it tricky to load up if someone parks behind you or if you're towing. The rear seats tumble forward should you need extra load space, but they stack behind the front seats instead of laying flat, so the space isn't especially long.

Equipment
The cheapest three-door model – the 1.6 VVT misses out on alloy wheels, but climate control, a CD player, remote central locking and electric front windows are standard. Stepping up to VVT+ adds alloys, fog lamps and electric, heated door mirrors. Five-door cars come in one trim, which includes electric rear windows, a full spare wheel cover and extra cabin storage.