We list the “weak points” of one of the simplest and most reliable Japanese off-road vehicles, based on the experience of its owners, and recommend what to look for when choosing such used cars.

Honest rogue

The second generation Suzuki Grand Vitara is one of the most striking examples of a simple, reliable and fairly high-quality car that honestly earns the money paid for it year after year. The combination of such important qualities for buyers of crossovers and SUVs as high cross-country ability, reliability, unpretentiousness and adequate cost made this all-wheel drive model a bestseller of the Suzuki brand in our country.

And thanks to the presence of a reduction gear and a rigid locking of the center differential in the absence of a classic frame, the Grand Vitara is a unique car among modern crossovers. Grand Vitara, supplied to the Russian market exclusively from a factory in the Japanese city of Iwata in the Shizuoka Prefecture, has been in stable demand for all 11 years of sales.

Every year, the model diverged from us with a circulation of 10 to 15 thousand units. And sometimes more. Having not lost its consumer qualities with age, the Suzuki Grand Vitara continues to faithfully serve, sometimes far from the first owners. And the margin of safety of this rogue, combined with the low price of maintenance and repair, makes it a rather attractive offer in the secondary market.

Best the enemy of the good

The “second” Grand Vitara replaced the eponymous predecessor in 2005. Its prototype called "Suzuki Concept-X2" was presented at the International Motor Show in New York. The black five-door concept, created in the spirit of the new corporate philosophy "Lifestyle", was in many ways similar to the resulting production car. Under the hood of the prototype was a 185-horsepower 2.7 V6 gasoline engine from the previous generation of the model, paired with a 5-speed automatic. But unlike its predecessor, the novelty had permanent all-wheel drive and a frame integrated into the load-bearing body instead of the traditional ladder type.

In the new generation of the model, for the first time, the body design features inherent in frameless crossovers were combined, as well as a transmission with a locking center differential and a low gear, like in full-fledged SUVs. By the way, the Japanese developed the “second” Grand Vitara using some components of the GM Theta platform. But at the same time, they were modified, so the Japanese model cannot be called built on the American “trolley”. However, a couple of years later, Suzuki XL7 was released on this “Jiem” platform. It was assembled for the North American market at the CAMI Automotive plant in Canada, side by side with related Chevrolet Equinox and Pontiac Torrent. But this is a completely different car, which has nothing to do with our Grand Vitara.

In Russia, the Suzuki Grand Vitara was officially sold with 3- and 5-door bodies and only with naturally aspirated gasoline engines. At first, these were in-line “fours” 1.6 (106 hp) for the short and 2.0 (140 hp) for the long-wheelbase version of the SUV. The first was aggregated only with a 5-speed manual and a simplified all-wheel drive transmission without a downshift and a center differential lock. And the second, in addition to the mechanics, also with a 4-band automatic. In Europe, the model was also offered with a 129-horsepower 1.9 diesel from Renault and a 106-horsepower 1.6 (for three-doors until 2008), and in America it was sold as a Grand Vitara V6 with a 185-horsepower “six” from the previous generation XL-7.

In 2008, along with a small external update of the bumpers, grille and lighting, as well as new body colors, enhanced sound insulation and turn signals that moved into the mirror housings, Grand Vitara received two more engines: an in-line “four” 2.4 and a V-shaped “six” 3.2 . The first developed 166 forces on a three-door and 169 forces on a five-door, and the second with a capacity of 233 forces was available only with a 5-speed automatic on a long-wheelbase version of the crossover and was sold in Russia only from 2008 to 2009. In 2012, the model was updated again. The crossover received new design wheels, a different grille and a modified bumper. Inside, there was a different seat upholstery and Garmin navigation in the top versions.

After the release of the modern successor in 2015 (already without the prefix Grand), Russian dealers offered the losing popularity of the Grand Vitara to customers for about a year. They sold their last new car in October 2016. In just 11 years, 110,607 crossovers of this generation were sold in Russia. The most popular were five-doors with a 2.0 engine and automatic (44,520 units sold from 2005 to 2016). The second most popular was Grand Vitara 2.0 with mechanics (26,106 units), on the third line is a crossover with the most powerful “four” 2.4 and automatic transmission (25,587 cars). Least of all cars with an American 3.2 V6 engine were sold (613 units). The second generation Suzuki Grand Vitara has been officially discontinued worldwide since 2017.

Suzuki Grand Vitara sales statistics in Russia from 2005 to 2016

Few of all

On the secondary market in Russia, the Suzuki Grand Vitara can be found in every possible combination with almost any engine and transmission pair available for this generation of the model. Including privately imported vehicles from North America with 2.7 V6 and 1.9 diesel with manual gearbox from Europe. But the largest number of offers on the Internet today is presented for five-doors ( 87% ) and mainly with the 2.0 engine ( 58% ). A slightly smaller selection of crossovers with a "four" 2.4 ( 28% ). Used 3-door cars with junior engine 1.6 ( 12% ) is about half that. And it’s almost impossible to find those brought from the Old World and “American women” (according to 1% ). Worst of all are crossovers with the top 3.2 V6 (less 0,5% ). They were sold in Russia for a short time and were not cheap.

Body stuff

You are unlikely to meet a frankly rusty "second" Grand Vitara even at the age of 10. Unless she's been in an accident. The crossover of this generation as a whole is all right with corrosion resistance. At least, the model did not notice any very weak points in protection against the “red plague”. Only the state of the paint can cause concern. It scratches easily, exposing the primer, and also suffers greatly from stones flying from under the wheels. The front, almost vertical edge of the hood is especially prone to chipping. If the damage to the metal is not tinted in a timely manner, then soon a superficial red coating will appear on them. In general, this is not critical, but not beautiful!

Also, the appearance is spoiled by peeling chrome from plastic parts and paint peeling off the leashes of the wipers. And the rubber door seals rub down to the ground and even to the metal a weak paintwork in the doorways. Sagging tailgate under the weight of the spare wheel can be eliminated by simply adjusting the hinges. But her cracked handle from 700 rubles will have to be changed. However, like a cracked windshield from 5,000 rubles. By the way, it could become so because of the past owner's hobbies for off-road trips. Nevertheless, the body of the car is load-bearing and can eventually get tired and weaken from loads. Such "Grand Vitara" is not the best choice. They may have more worn components and assemblies.

Engines

The most well-known engine problems with which the model was officially sold with us are related to gasoline. No, the crossover normally digests the 95th and even the 92nd. But from poor fuel quality in less than 30,000 km, spark plugs and oxygen sensors from 9,200 rubles “die”, a fuel filter worth 27,300 rubles, complete with a gasoline pump, can quickly become clogged. And for 60,000 - 80,000 km, a catalytic converter can “fly” for 77,400 rubles. Typical symptoms of his death are a decrease in power and deterioration in dynamics, difficult (long) starting of the engine, ringing and rattling from the exhaust system, CheckEngine on tidy, a sharp unpleasant smell of exhaust and high fuel consumption.

However, the crossover is famous for its good appetite, and this is often considered normal. And the engines of the Grand Vitara begin to eat up oil with age due to the wear of the piston group. Units 2.0 and 2.4, which can “drink” up to 350 ml per 1000 km, especially suffer from “oil burn”. Some delay the capital of the engine, using oil with a higher viscosity. Therefore, it would be good to ask the owner of the selected crossover what kind of oil is poured into the engine, and what its consumption is, in order to understand whether a major overhaul is coming soon. By the way, a low oil level can halve or triple the resource of the timing chain from 2,700 rubles, which is supposed to go 150,000 km.

And for all motors, after 60,000 - 70,000 km, it may be necessary to replace the left support for 5,100 rubles. On engines located longitudinally under the hood, it wears out earlier, working more to break when you press the gas. The vibrations of the body when the engine is idling will tell you about the imminent death of the support. The rest of the power units of the crossover are quite reliable and unpretentious. The younger engine 1.6 (M16A) is considered one of the most tenacious of the Grand Vitara, since it works with a simplified transmission and on a lighter three-door. The most popular 2.0 (JB420), with proper care, may well go up to 400,000 km to the capital. The more powerful "four" 2.4 (JB424) is also generally trouble-free, but more voracious.

You should know about diesel crossovers rarely found on sale that with the advent of wear and tear, their engines are no longer as profitable as on new cars. Search and selection of an SUV with 2.7 V6 (H27A) - a lottery. With age, in the absence of proper care and timely maintenance, the “six” can cause a lot of trouble and require financial investments due to the wear of the timing chain drive mechanism, as well as leakage of oil seals, gaskets and seals. Owners of the past Grand Vitara XL-7 know this firsthand. And the top 3.2 V6 (N32A), like the Opel Antara and Chevrolet Captiva, is voracious, but overall not bad. When correct. Spare parts for the American unit may have to wait longer, and they can cost more.

Transmission

Complaints about the 5-speed manual "Grand Vitara" are rare due to the reliability of this box. If the oil in it was changed every 45,000 km, and the car was not driven off-road, then there should be no problems with the manual gearbox. Nevertheless, during a test drive, make sure that all gears are engaged clearly and without undue effort, and that there are no hums, extraneous noises and crunches from the box. You should not be afraid of a slight trembling of the gearshift lever - this is a feature of the mechanics on the Grand Vitara. A clutch for 16,000 rubles serves an average of 110,000 - 120,000 km and previously requires replacement only on cars that often left asphalt or towed trailers.

The four-speed automatic, which was installed with the "fours", and the 5-speed with the V6 are reliable units from the Japanese company Aisin, nursing 200,000 - 250,000 km. They are slow in their work, but they do it conscientiously - smoothly. The oil in them should be changed at least 60,000 km, and preferably after 45,000 km, as under severe operating conditions. It is worth asking the owner how often this was done on his car. Check the operation of the automatic transmission in all modes. It should not twitch, slip when switching, and extraneous noise should not come from it. The presence of these symptoms is a reason to look for another car. Repairing a machine, and even more so replacing it, is not a cheap and troublesome task.

The transfer case will not cause trouble if you monitor the oil level in it and change it at the same time as changing the oil in the engine. Look under the car and make sure that the seals - especially between the gearbox and transfer case - are intact and do not leak, and the transmission is clean and dry. Attention requires a front gearbox worth 25,000 rubles. From exposure to moisture due to the low location of the ventilation breather, it may require repair after 60,000 - 70,000 km of run, without having served the required 200,000 - 250,000 km. And on cars produced before the first restyling, when coasting at 80-90 km / h, the main pair can howl in it. Silencing a node will only help by replacing it with a modified one.

Rest

The chassis of the crossover, designed for significant loads, adequately resists bad roads and rarely bothers the owner with breakdowns before 80,000 - 100,000 km of run. On cars that did not leave asphalt, wheel bearings for 9300 rubles complete with a hub run up to 150,000 km, and when driving into the mud, they can “die” after 70,000 km. After about 80,000 km, shock absorbers and worn-out silent blocks, as well as front levers of 8900 rubles each, may be asked to be replaced because of the “ended” ball joints that are structurally the same with them. More often - after 15,000 - 25,000 km - you will only have to change the creaking inexpensive stabilizer bushings.

Inspecting the car you like, make sure that the climate system is working. Check its operation in all modes. At risk is a fan for 3200 rubles, the motor of which can burn out along with the control relay, as well as actuators for stove dampers, temperature control and recirculation. All this can be fixed, but at the cost of time and money. And because of the rotten pipes under the hood, the air conditioner may not work, although the compressor will honestly “thresh”, creating noise and consuming the energy allotted to it.

While inspecting the vehicle from the outside, check that the spare wheel cover on the tailgate is intact. If it is damaged, ask the seller for a discount. The new one is not cheap and costs 27,400 rubles. And also check the operation of the headlight washers if xenon is installed on the car. The cause of non-working nozzles is often rotten contacts of a motor worth 4100 rubles, located at the bottom of the washer reservoir behind the front bumper.

How much?

The price range for the "second" Suzuki Grand Vitara is large - from 350,000 rubles to 1,250,000 rubles. This is due to the long production period of this generation of crossover. After all, the age of the very first cars has already exceeded 11 years, and the freshest ones have not yet turned two. Regardless of the year of manufacture and mileage, almost all Grand Vitara presented on the secondary market are well-groomed and look very attractive. Yes, and their condition can often correspond to the species. Good three-doors can be found at prices up to 440,000 rubles. Five-doors are found from 460,000 - 480,000 rubles. Prices for cars of the second restyling (younger than 2012) start at 750,000 rubles.

Our choice

The most interesting option for buying a Suzuki Grand Vitara, according to Am.ru, will be the most popular and widely represented five-door version on the market with a 140-horsepower 2-liter four and an automatic. This is the most reliable, though not the most dynamic version of the crossover. However, the main buyers of this model are conservative aged drivers. They value the durability and reliability of the car more than the time it takes to accelerate to a hundred. It is best to consider crossovers released after the 2008 restyling. In good condition, such cars can now be found from 600,000 rubles.

The second generation Suzuki Grand Vitara was introduced in 2005. This compact crossover is the leader in popularity among universal and professional SUVs. In the second half of 2008, the Grand Vitara underwent restyling, the changes affected the front bumper and fenders, side mirrors and radiator grille, two 2.4 and 3.2 liter engines appeared in the engine line, sound insulation was improved, and a multifunctional display appeared in the center dashboard.

Engines

For our market, the second generation Suzuki Grand Vitara is offered with 2 engines with a displacement of 2.0 liters (140 hp) and 2.4 liters (169 hp). The 3-door version is equipped with engines of 1.6 liters (106 hp) and 2.4 (169) hp. The most widely used Vitara with a 2.0 liter engine, the 3.2 liter engine was not officially delivered to Russia.

Suzuki Grand Vitara engines have a timing chain drive. You will have to forget about its durability, the chain starts to sound already at a run of more than 80 - 120 thousand km due to stretching. Replacing a chain with "shoes" and a tensioner will cost 30 - 50 thousand rubles.

Motors 2.4 l 2008 - 2010 came under a recall campaign due to problems with the tensioner pulley of the drive belt of mounted units.

With a run of more than 100 thousand km, do not forget to replace the radiator cap; over time, the bypass valve may wedge into the expansion tank, which will lead to an increase in pressure and rupture of the radiator (a crack appears). A catalytic converter can give up already with a run of more than 40 - 80 thousand km.

Transmission

Paired with engines, a manual and automatic transmission is installed. Paradoxically, the "mechanics" is less reliable than the "machine". With a run of more than 60 - 80 thousand km, some owners note a deterioration in the quality of switching on the 1st gear. Mainly due to the approaching end of the clutch, the resource of which is about 100 - 120 thousand km. Replacement will require about 18 - 30 thousand. rubles with work. Automatic transmission Vitara does not present any serious problems that disturb the minds of the owners.

The front axle gearbox can “buzz” with a run of more than 70 - 90 thousand km, and for some lucky ones even earlier with a run of 30 - 40 thousand km. This in no way means that it will have to be replaced, and the hum can be attributed to the features of the transmission. In some cases, the gearbox becomes silent after changing the oil. With a run of more than 120 - 150 thousand km, the oil seal of the right axle shaft of the front gearbox, which operates in harsh conditions, may leak. A leaky razdatka oil seal will most likely have to be replaced with a run of more than 60 - 80 thousand km. It is better not to postpone its replacement, a decrease in the oil level will lead to increased wear of the unit.

Suzuki Grand Vitara (2005-2008)

Chassis

The suspension is not durable enough. The stabilizer bar bushings will most likely be the first to give up with a run of more than 40 - 60 thousand km, which, moreover, often creak in winter. After replacing them, light tapping on uneven roads may not disappear, in which case rubber-plastic spacers must be placed between the metal bracket and the bushing.

Poor design of the A-pillar support leads to contact with the body. It is enough to install a plastic spacer between the support and the body, and the knock will pass.

With a run of more than 50 - 80 thousand km, the front shock absorbers begin to leak, more often in cold weather. The front levers due to the rupture of the salent blocks will have to be replaced with a run of more than 100 - 120 thousand km. New non-original levers will cost 4 - 6 thousand rubles, original ones - about 12 thousand rubles.

Suzuki Grand Vitara (2008-present)

The rear wheel bearing starts to buzz with a run of more than 60 - 100 thousand km, a new hub costs about 5 - 9 thousand rubles.

The front brake pads run about 30 - 50 thousand km, the rear 70 - 90 thousand km. The front brake discs have to be changed every 60 - 80 thousand km.

Over time, the power steering pump often howls, increasing the tone in cold weather. In most cases, changing the fluid allows you to correct the situation.

Suzuki Grand Vitara (2005-2008)

Other problems and malfunctions

When parking in winter, be careful, the bumper can easily burst at the seam after rough contact with an icy snowdrift.

Salon Suzuki Grand Vitara is quite creaky. Its sources are the driver's seat, trunk shelf, plastic pillar lining and front panel. If all this can somehow be corrected, then the rattling rear seats cannot be “treated”.

The “hanging” of the wiper blades is caused by a slight play of the wiper activation handle and burning of the contacts.

Suzuki Grand Vitara (2008-present)

Conclusion

This is the Suzuki Grand Vitara. In fact, its disadvantages are the rapid wear of the timing chain drive, the current transfer case oil seals and the not too strong front suspension. And the rest is quite reliable and strong all-terrain vehicle.

When creating the Suzuki Grand Vitara 2, they abandoned the frame and solid axles, but left a full-fledged all-wheel drive. Therefore, when reading the “paper” characteristics of a car, it is not always clear which class it belongs to. Whether this is at the price of a crossover, or with the appetite of an SUV. In the article, we will sort through all the pros and cons of a used model.

A bit of history

The Japanese Vitara family began its history in 1988. The frame, plug-in front axle, small size and weight made the model popular in certain circles of off-road enthusiasts. Low-power engines slightly limited off-road capabilities, but made the price of a car affordable for most people.

The second generation (1998-2005) became larger, more powerful and received the Grand prefix. Therefore, in fact, Suzuki is in the review of the third generation, but taking into account the "grandness" - the second. Off-road Vitara was not the first, and for urban conditions it was generally not suitable, so the second reincarnation was not particularly popular.

In the third generation, Suzuki decided to take into account previous mistakes and made a radical change in priorities. In 2005, the fashion for crossovers was just gaining momentum. Therefore, the model received a nice appearance, permanent all-wheel drive with a low gear and a load-bearing body instead of a frame. In combination with an affordable price, this has ensured a fairly stable popularity.

Body and equipment

In addition to the standard five-door modification, not so often, but there is also a three-door modification - a good option for urban conditions with bad roads. The body of the Grand Vitara is galvanized on both sides, but after damage it starts to rust very quickly. Therefore, it is better to eliminate chips and scratches immediately after they occur.

The list of additional equipment is much shorter than that of German premium brands. But for comfortable movement there is everything you need even in the “base”. All Suzuki Grand Vitara 2 have:

• full power package;
• climate control (not everyone, however, likes the algorithm of its work);
• heated front seats;
• two airbags (driver, passenger);
• ABS and EBD brake force distribution system.

In more expensive trim levels, the ESP system monitors directional stability. Of the "buns" can be a leather interior, cruise control, keyless entry, parking sensors and more expensive music with a changer. The top-end Vitara with a 3.2-liter engine was also supplied with electronic assistants during descent and ascent.

The salon is spacious and simple. The panel plastic is hard, but soft on the door cards. Crickets and rattling most often occur in the area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe dashboard and rear seats. Noise isolation is average, after restyling it was slightly improved.

There were two restylings in total. In 2008, they changed the grille, a couple of little things in appearance and stuck an information display into the front panel. There was an opportunity to choose a gasoline engine. An improved 2.4-liter and a top-end V6 3.2-liter were added to the only two-liter one, which was not officially delivered to our area, therefore it is rare. In 2012, the appearance was tweaked a little more and the six-cylinder engine was discontinued.

Off-road and distribution

Permanent four-wheel drive is good, but you should not count on "super" patency. It is higher than the average "SUV", but do not exclude the factor of "correct" rubber and gaskets between the steering wheel and the driver's seat. Additional features always require additional costs, or at least attention.

When choosing a Suzuki Grand Vitara with mileage, it is better not to take specimens with leaky front axle seals. Without oil, the gearbox quickly fails, and it is not known how much the car has already driven with a leak. Most often, the right drive oil seal flows and changes without any problems. If the front drip, then you have to disassemble the entire razdatka. In this case, all other oil seals are changed at the same time so as not to return to this issue for the next 70-80 thousand mileage.

Even if there are no oil leaks, be sure to change the oil in the front gearbox after purchase. Due to the location of the breather, water gets into it. And for this it is not necessary to drive on deep fords. There is a solution to the problem:

1. Original long hose kit (27891-65D10) breather and retainer (27892-65D00).
2. The design of the gasoline-resistant Zhiguli hose, two clamps and a filter.

In the rear gearbox, the breather is brought into the bridge, so there are no such problems. But if you “park” in a deep puddle for a long time, then moisture can still penetrate inside. Therefore, extreme off-road enthusiasts are advised to change the lubricant in the rear gearbox twice as often as during normal operation.

If the oil seals and oil in both transfer cases are changed in time, then the Suzuki Grand Vitara all-wheel drive system will regularly last 250+ thousand km. Unfortunately, not all owners pay due attention to regular diagnostics.

Suspension

The chassis of the Grand Vitara is reliable, but there are several weaknesses:

1. 1. Silent blocks of front levers.In the original, the front levers change only as an assembly. At the same time, the ball joint “nurses” much more than the rear silent blocks, which live 70-100 thousand km. Solved in two ways:
      1. replacement of the lever assembly;
      2. replacing the silent blocks themselves with alternative ones. For example: Hyundai 54584-2E000 or Sidem 877611.
   2. Rear break bolts. They are supplied without any anti-corrosion protection, so over time they become one with the rear silent blocks. Because of this, it is impossible to adjust the camber of the rear axle. This is fraught with accelerated wear of rubber and is “treated” by replacing all rear silent blocks along with bolts. To prevent such a situation, regular (every 20-30 thousand km) bolt maintenance (graphite grease) is recommended.
   3. Front stabilizer bushings. Almost a consumable with a service life of 10-30 thousand km. Depending on driving style, quality of bushings and roads. For owners of two-liter Vitars, it can be advised to use bushings and brackets from the 2.4-liter version. Catalog numbers: 42412-78K00 - sleeve and 42415-78K00 - mounting bracket.

Hub n bearings are supplied assembled with a hub, but their resource is usually enough for 100+ thousand km in normal urban operation. The rear brakes of the Grand Vitara are drum and pads are usually enough for at least 80 thousand km. The front will have to be changed twice as often.

Engines

In this section, Suzuki has a minimum of variety. From 2005 to 2008, in fact, there was only one option - a two-liter gasoline engine.J20A, 140 hp With.For the weight of the car and all-wheel drive, it is not enough, so the consumption in the city rarely drops below 14 liters.

Cars were brought from America with a more frisky six-cylinder2.7 liters (H27A, 185 hp). Reliable and unpretentious, a good option to buy, but it is difficult to find a Grand Vitara 2 in good condition with such an engine. Found only on pre-styling Vitara.

From the exotic category, you can find Vitara with1.9 liter dieselfrom Renault. Of the one and a half thousand advertisements for the sale of SGV on AvtoRu, there are already 16 diesel ones. A turbine engine is not very reliable, and with age, fuel equipment becomes prohibitively expensive. To save on fuel, it is better to choose a gasoline engine with an LPG system installed.Gas equipmentpays off quickly, butrisk of burnt exhaust valveswith incorrect setting and adjustment of the fuel mixture.

The second most common is gasolineJ24B ​​2.4 liters. Additional 29 l. With. increased consumption by 2 liters. Appeared after the first restyling and is, in fact, bored two-literJB420. In terms of dynamics, a two-liter engine on the mechanics can be equated with a 2.4 on the machine.

JB series motors have their own weaknesses / features:

1. Timing chain drive.Its service life rarely exceeds 80-90 thousand km, almost like on belt-driven machines. The chain stretches, the tensioners loosen up, so the first signs of a future repair can be easily identified by ear. Do not forget to open the hood before buying and carefully listen to the sound of the engine - there should not be any metallic tapping or rattling.
2. Zhor oil.Usually begins to appear after 100 thousand run. Up to 2 liters from replacement to replacement is nothing to worry about. If you regularly drive with an oil level below the minimum, then engine repair is guaranteed. It helps to replace valve stem seals and piston rings. For starters, you can try changing the viscosity of the engine oil.
3. Oil pressure sensor.Another source of lubrication loss. Oil starts to run through it, just a change.
4. Adjustment of valves.These motors do not have hydraulic lifters, therefore, according to the regulations, it is supposed to adjust the valves every 40 thousand km. In fact, rarely does anyone do this service more than once every 100,000 miles.

It remains only to mention the most powerful V6 3.2 liters (N32A, 233 hp) and the weakest 1.6 (M16A, 106 hp). The first comes from General Motors and in good and serviced condition will not cause problems. The Suzuki Grand Vitara 2 has the only motor with hydraulic lifters and does not require valve adjustment. In the case of repair, a six-cylinder engine, in principle, will be expensive.

The younger 1.6-liter engine was installed only on three-door SGV2, also with a simplified transmission. Reliable, but frankly weak unit. Suitable only for smooth movement around the city.

Gearboxes

The manual transmission of the Grand Vitara 2 is generally reliable, but a problem with first gear is quite common. It does not turn on when the car is warm, or it is very tightly “stuck”. There can be several causes and solutions to the problem:

• "dying" clutch - treated by replacement;
• bad oil in the box - change to 2 liters of Castrol Syntrans Transaxle 75W-90;
• airing the hydraulic system - replacing and pumping brake fluid;
• synchronizer - repair with gearbox disassembly.

All Grand Vitara 2s were equipped with a rather ancient but reliable Aisin four-speed automatic. There are fewer problems with it than with mechanics. Switches thoughtfully, but smoothly, while increasing the average consumption of a couple of liters (compared to manual transmission).

The only exceptions were SGVs with V6 engines. They were supplied with the same Japanese automatic transmission, only with five steps. According to the algorithm of work and reliability, they do not differ.

Outcome

The second generation Suzuki Grand Vitara attracts with its affordable starting price. For reasonable money, you can get an almost full-fledged SUV with an adequate cost of maintenance.

The history of the Vitara trademark is quite interesting. For the first time, a car with this name was introduced in 1988, and Suzuki itself claimed the laurels of the founder of a new class of compact SUVs (Sport Utility Vehicle). And if it is difficult to challenge the championship by abbreviation, then from a technical point of view, the Japanese were 11 years late - since 1977, the domestic VAZ has already produced Niva and exported it. The design of the Vitara itself, with a separate frame and a plug-in front-wheel drive without a center differential, was closer to classic SUVs. The result is not a very good crossover and a rather mediocre SUV at the same time. It was this “birth curse” that ruined the model after a quarter of a century, despite the fact that, under pressure from competitors, the frame turned into a load-bearing body, and the connection of the front end began to occur through a constantly working center differential. And the presence of a lower row in the transfer case looked quite advantageous against the background of the main competitors - Toyota RAV4, Honda CR-V and Mitsubishi Outlander.

Who is old?

The new Grand Vitara, following them, also became more modern, more comfortable and more environmentally friendly, but at the same time more and more moved away from the Vitara, which almost 20 years ago appealed to lovers of off-road adventures. Unable to compete on equal terms with the giants of this class, Suzuki additionally attracted at a noticeably lower price, and now the third generation of the Suzuki Grand Vitara (2005-2014) is a very interesting choice on the used car market in this segment: 5-7-year-olds copies were recently sold in the range of 400-900 thousand rubles. depending on the appetites of the owners and the condition of the car.

The car was known on other continents as the XL7, Suzuki Grand Nomade or Grand Escudo (short versions with three doors did not have the Grand prefix in many countries) and was produced from 2005. Despite the common chassis with some models of the General Motors concern, technically there was little in common with the "relatives". The only "close" relative was the Suzuki XL7 (since 2007). And copies of the Iranian assembly are quite rare in our country. In 2006, 175 thousand cars were sold worldwide.

Suzuki Grand Vitara interior

The range of power units was quite wide. Until 2008, the base for long versions was a 2-liter 4-cylinder JB420 gasoline engine, which developed 140 hp. For the American market, a gasoline H27A (V6 2.7 l, 185 hp) was also offered, but it remained a rarity on Russian roads.

Suzuki did not produce diesel engines on its own, so the Japanese borrowed a 1.9-liter 4-cylinder turbodiesel (129 hp) from Renault. For short versions until 2008, the M16 diesel engine (1.6 l, 106 hp) was also installed. Both modifications were not officially supplied to us and it is rather problematic to find them on the secondary market, and it’s not worth it - it has long been known that modern diesel engines save money only to the first owner.

In the 2008 anniversary year for the brand (20 years since the start of production), the Grand Vitara underwent the first restyling, including new engines, now with variable valve timing - the JB424 in-line four (2.4 l 168 hp and 225 Nm) and completely new V6 3.2 (221 hp and 284 Nm). French suppliers made minor modifications to the old 1.9-liter turbodiesel (it was registered under the hood of many brands, such as Volvo S40, Mitsubishi Carisma).

Advertising booklets at auto shows and dealer showrooms bravura protruded updates: “The 3-door version is now available with a 2.4-liter engine and an automatic transmission. The updated version introduced a system to hold the car up and down (for a 3.2-liter gasoline engine), improved noise insulation, changed the design of the radiator grille and bumper, new body colors appeared, the total length and length of the front overhang of the car increased by 30 mm , side mirrors are equipped with built-in turn signal signals, additional airbags have become mandatory for all modifications.

It was this set that became an important factor that contributed to some restoration of the popularity of Grand Vitara sales - after all, it was the only model in the SUV segment with a monocoque body and a lower row in the transfer case. Subsequent upgrades in 2011 and 2012 affected stylistic decisions, but the technique no longer changed.

Suzuki Grand Vitara all-wheel drive transmission mode selector

Painful nature

But the transmission also has its weaknesses. Due to the fact that the Grand Vitara has an “honest” all-wheel drive, components and assemblies (gearboxes, transfer case, cardan shaft) are more heavily loaded compared to passenger cars and require more frequent maintenance. The most vulnerable place in the transmission is the front gearbox, which may require a bulkhead by 60–70 thousand kilometers. Due to the low location of the ventilation breather, moisture can enter the gearbox, which leads to premature wear of the entire assembly. Restoration will cost from 60 thousand rubles. Therefore, overcoming even small puddles, not to mention deep fords, can cause a breakdown.

Since the manufacturer did nothing to solve this problem, it can be advised to bring the breather on an extension tube under the hood, which will allow the gearbox to work under normal conditions up to the 200-250 thousand km conceived by the designers. The rear gearbox does not annoy with such design flaws, it is enough to monitor the integrity of the seals and the level of gear oil. After a run of 50–60 thousand km, regular inspections of the transfer case and gearbox seals will be required for leaks or fogging. Replacing worn seals will cost at least 14 thousand rubles. due to the large amount of work to dismantle the units.

Mechanical gearboxes and transfer boxes are quite reliable and do not cause problems with regular oil changes (at intervals of 60 thousand and 45 thousand km, respectively). Automatic gearboxes behave no less worthily, since Suzuki’s design for the longitudinal arrangement of the engine has long worked out (the main drawback is that the unit has only four stages due to the antiquity of the design), it is enough to monitor the condition of the seals and the oil level. The service life of these units reaches 200-250 thousand km, obligatory oil change, following the accumulated experience, should be carried out at least once every 100 thousand km, and with frequent off-road forcing or towing heavy trailers (for example, with motorcycles, ATVs, jet skis etc.) and completely reduce the mileage between replacements to 60–80 thousand km.

The most popular power unit on the Grand Vitara is the JB420 (2 liter, 140 hp). This engine is reliable and unpretentious, allows operation on 92-octane gasoline, but for a car weighing 1.6 tons, its power characteristics are clearly insufficient. In order to keep up with the city traffic, it has to be twisted out (and already at the turn of 60–80 thousand km, oil consumption can reach 2–3 liters per 10 thousand km of run). With insufficient lubrication, the timing chain drive will be the first to suffer, which entails the replacement of not only the chain itself, but also the sprockets with the tensioner assembly - otherwise the resource of the new chain will be extremely small. Under normal conditions, it stably nurses 150–160 thousand km, and the engine itself, before the first replacement of the rings, 250–300 thousand km.

With active urban driving, fuel consumption can easily reach 15-16 l / 100 km, although on the highway you can meet 11-13 liters. The JB424 engine (2.4 l, 168 hp) is generally similar to its younger brother. The main brand of gasoline is AI-92, but in the summer, for long trips along the highways, AI-95 will not be superfluous. Due to the low liter power and the successful layout of the engine compartment, the engines are not prone to overheating - another plus for long-term off-road driving (but this does not negate the regular cleaning of radiators at the sink). The older brother - JB424 - differs in operation with a much higher fuel consumption, which largely caused a drop in demand for such modifications among residents of megacities - in combination with an automatic gearbox, its value could reach 20 l / 100 km!

Another sore spot is catalytic converters. In the Grand Vitara, they lose the required efficiency at the threshold of 60-80 thousand km. Self-repair will cost about 40 thousand rubles. When installing non-original substitutes, the costs will be less - a good location behind the exhaust manifold makes it easy to choose a universal part that is suitable in size, up to the Volgovsky one. The low resource of these expensive units is also noted on other models of this brand, and the loss of efficiency below the permissible level is detected much earlier than the inside of the catalyst begins to fall apart - this is a clear indication of excessive savings of precious metals in the unit.

The suspension of the Suzuki Grand Vitara resists Russian realities with dignity and rarely requires serious repairs before 80-100 thousand km. Traditionally, the exception was the fastening parts of the front stabilizer to the suspension arms and the body, which, with frequent off-road driving, are rented out every 20-25 thousand km, even if they are replaced only with original ones. The resource of wheel bearings strongly depends on the operating modes, on flat roads and 150 thousand km is far from the limit, and with frequent operation far from asphalt, the resource can be halved, and the nodes will be asked to be replaced after 70–80 thousand km. The bearing changes as an assembly with the hub, the cost of the original assembly ranges from 7–9 thousand rubles. At the turn of 80–90 thousand km, revisions will also be required by the front levers, in which, as a rule, silent blocks become unusable. It also does not hurt to check the condition of the ball bearings, which are made as a single piece with levers.

Tuning for the "rogue"

The main advantage of the Suzuki Grand Vitara is that the off-road car is very good for its class, which redeems many of its flaws. For those who like to "get even deeper" on the market, there are a lot of offers for off-road refinement. The simplest are kits that allow you to increase the vehicle's ground clearance by 3–4.5 cm (at a nominal 20 cm). Such an increase in ground clearance does not entail a critical change in the angles of the wheels, which has a positive effect on the mileage of tires and suspension parts. The cost of such improvements is 30–50 thousand rubles.

Very simple solutions, which consist of installing spacers over the springs, quickly kill regular racks due to changes in suspension travel and zero position. With frequent forcing of water barriers, the electric drive of the transmission mode selector in the transfer case (14 thousand rubles) falls into the risk group, and here low-quality seals are brought down.

In general, in the city, the off-road capabilities of the car are clearly excessive (although confidence on slippery surfaces is akin to premium all-wheel drive sedans), and for real off-road it is insufficient.

When buying, it is wiser to give the main priority to copies sold through a network of official dealers, with a confirmed maintenance history and with warranty remnants - such cars have no problems with "crooked" customs clearance, and the overall probability of running into a copy with a criminal past is not very high - from - due to a specific niche of fans, the car was of little interest to car thieves, although some surge in car thefts can be expected in order to dismantle cars for spare parts.

The Last Samurai: Choosing a Used Suzuki Grand Vitara

Not every SUV combines three qualities at once: excellent cross-country ability, high build quality and affordable price. One of these was the Suzuki Grand Vitara, but, unfortunately, the car is no longer produced. A driver who chose this SUV over competitors such as the Toyota RAV4, Nissan X-Trail or Honda CR-V could not only save several thousand dollars, but also get a real SUV with excellent running units - suspension, engine and transmission.

The legendary generation will be replaced by a new one that has nothing to do with the previous one. Since 2015, Suzuki Grand Vitara can only be found.

History of the Suzuki Grand Vitara

The Vitara line was first introduced in 1988. By releasing this model, manufacturers wanted to become the founders of a new class of cars - compact SUVs. They really managed to be the first to introduce such a classification, but from a technical point of view, AvtoVAZ did it earlier with their Niva. The design features of the Vitara bring it closer to ordinary SUVs: a separate frame and a plug-in front-wheel drive. At first, the new Suzuki model could be classified either as a bad crossover or as a parody of an SUV.

About a quarter of a century later, the Grand Vitara was redesigned under pressure from competitors who were ready to force the car out of the market. Manufacturers made the body load-bearing, and the front-wheel drive was connected through a center differential, which worked constantly. In addition, the reduced range of transmission gears turned out to be a very profitable solution against the background of the others - the Grand Vitara became very competitive.

In different countries, the car is known as the Suzuki XL7, Grand Nomade and Grand Escudo (while the versions with three doors and a short body did not have the “grand” prefix). So it has been produced since 2005. It is noteworthy that the Vitara had a common chassis with some General Motors cars, but from a constructive point of view, these cars were very different.

Used Suzuki Grand Vitara properties

It should be borne in mind that the specific ones completely depend on its operating history. It is impossible to find two identical models. Each Grand Vitara will have its own consequences of use by the past owner. One way or another, the car has a number of common features that unite the entire Grand Vitara line.

Now the greatest demand exists for the third generation of an SUV from Suzuki. It combines excellent running properties and high quality, while having an affordable price. Thus, copies of the Grand Vitara, which were produced from 2005 to 2014, are the most desirable among the entire series. Cars 5-7 years old in the secondary market can be found at a price of 400 to 900 thousand rubles.

In the Russian used car market, American and Russian versions of the Grand Vitara are most often found. European options, as a rule, come across rarely, but they are also more expensive, which negates the availability of the model. Their condition speaks in favor of European trim levels. The Russian version, which was operated by us, usually has a lower quality, due to the constant exposure to salt on the roads in winter. At the same time, the majority of Americans are characterized by a careless style of operation - they pour cheap oil into the Grand Vitara, after which they drive it for several years. Due to such use, the condition of the car deteriorates. In addition, such an ailment cannot be corrected by flushing the engine.

Engine

At the time of sales, the Grand Vitara was equipped with four petrol and two turbodiesel engines. The weakest of all had a volume of 1.6 liters and 94 horsepower (most often installed on a three-door version), while the most dynamic engine had a volume of 2.7 liters and a power of 173 hp. With. (installed only on the five-door version). It should be borne in mind that when buying a Grand Vitara in the secondary market, the driver will be deprived of the opportunity to choose an engine, so he will have to be content with what is available.

More powerful Suzuki engines allow you to quickly pick up speed from the start, but they also consume a lot of fuel. One of the properties of the running system of the Grand Vitara is that when driving on a slippery road, a powerful motor, coupled with a short wheelbase, makes the car slide. This is especially unpleasant for an SUV.

As for operation, all Grand Vitara engines are distinguished by reliability and endurance. Of course, their condition must be maintained by qualified and timely service. As a rule, the Suzuki driver is forced to clean the radiator and change the antifreeze when the mileage counter “winds up” the next 60,000 kilometers.

Most often on the market you can find the Grand Vitara, equipped with a two-liter gasoline engine with a capacity of 140 hp. With. The motor is relatively unpretentious and can be powered by 92nd fuel, but it is clearly not enough to develop the full speed of a one and a half ton SUV. With dynamic trips around the city, it is approximately 15 liters per 100 km.

Transmission

Regardless of the engine, Grand Vitara was equipped with both manual and automatic transmissions. This means that in the secondary market you can find any combination of motor and transmission. The mechanical version is characterized by a “tight” shift to reverse gear - you have to pause a little before the system, which does not have a synchronizer, allows you to switch. The automatic transmission, on the other hand, has no complaints in switching and does an excellent job not only with movement, but also with the transportation of large trailers.

The disadvantage of the Grand Vitara's transmission is the part-time system. The front axle in it is connected rigidly, which allows the use of all-wheel drive only on slippery roads and for a short time. So, the Suzuki front axle must be constantly in the off state. When choosing a used model, you should pay attention to this - if the included drive is accompanied by blows, then the gearbox is “killed” and it is better not to buy a car.

Suspension

Suspension Suzuki Grand Vitara is great for use in Russian conditions. Even on a used car, it needs to be repaired no more than every 80,000 kilometers. At the same time, there is still a small drawback - the front stabilizer mounts need to be changed every 25,000 kilometers. Their life expectancy cannot be increased even by installing original units.

Body

In the five-door versions of the Grand Vitara, the tailgate occasionally sags. The reason for this is the heavy spare wheel. This problem can be corrected with a simple adjustment. Also, over time, the engine fan fails. You can either repair it or buy a new one - such expenses occur no more than once every 2 years. These small flaws are not critical, so the Suzuki body has high reliability.

Equipment

In the minimum version of the Grand Vitara, you can find pretty good functionality: six airbags, which, together with the rigid body of later versions, provide reliable protection, climate control, anti-lock braking system and central locking.

The most equipped version, in addition to everything, has ESP, air curtains, cruise control, a built-in computer with navigation, power steering, xenon / bi-xenon and fog optics, leather upholstery, full power accessories and a media system.

Outcome

To answer the question of whether to buy a used Suzuki Grand Vitara, each driver must individually answer for himself. Many car enthusiasts consider this family SUV model and purchase it for their respective needs, but there are also fans of extreme driving who. One way or another, for its cost, the Grand Vitara provides the buyer with excellent cross-country ability and high reliability. The disadvantage is the part-time transmission, which is not the best choice for a real SUV. If this is critical, then you should look at the more expensive Toyota RAV4, Nissan X-Trail or Honda CR-V.