The Last Samurai: choosing a used Suzuki Grand Vitara. Review of Suzuki Grand Vitara. Can a billion Chinese be wrong? Problems of Grand Vitara 2.0

Production of the compact crossover Suzuki Grand Vitara began in 1998. Today, production of the car has been discontinued, as the “samurai” was replaced by a new model with the same name, but in a completely new configuration. The old version of the car is interesting and unique. It has permanent all-wheel drive, a center differential and its locking. With permanent drive, the “Japanese” is almost the most off-road car in its class.

The Grand Vitara feels confident off-road, overcoming mud, ice and snowy roads. Before purchasing a legendary car, of course, it is best to find out what its engine life is.

Powertrain lines

Over its history, the crossover has received a large number of different power plants, which to one degree or another have become famous for their reliability and unpretentiousness. In most cases, Japanese engineers equipped their designs with just a couple of motors, but in the case of this, it’s a completely different story. The buyer has a choice of engine options from 1.6 to 3.2 liters with various boost levels. Also, the line of engines includes not only gasoline, but also diesel modifications.

One of the most popular and in demand is the two-liter J20A engine. The cylinder head and main body parts are made of aluminum alloy. The main advantage of the motor is the presence of hydraulic gap compensators. Due to hydraulic compensators, maintenance of the power unit is greatly simplified and its service life is increased.

On average, an engine travels about 300 thousand kilometers before the first major overhaul. The manufacturer recommends using special Suzuki Motor Oil, which can significantly reduce the negative impact of friction on the contacting surfaces of power unit parts.

Engine life certified by the manufacturer

As the practice of operating the Suzuki Grand Vitara shows, crossover engines are quite reliable, but still have some weak points. The power unit with a displacement of 1.6 liters is sensitive to overheating; it is also better to avoid oil starvation of this engine. The installed timing chain drive lasts for 120 thousand kilometers, which certainly adds reliability and longer service life to the engine. To increase the service life of the chain, the manufacturer recommends using only certified motor oil. It is also advisable to thoroughly warm up a 1.6-liter engine during severe frosts.

The manufacturer does not indicate any limits for the service life of the motors, but assures that all power units of the Suzuki Grand Vitara run for at least 250 thousand kilometers. In order for the “heart” of the car to last for the entire stated period, it is also necessary to use high-quality fuel. Low-quality fuel affects the engine's spark plugs and the fuel filter, which is assembled with the fuel pump, and the catalyst. Any breakdown of these components of the fuel system significantly reduces operating time. If you refuel with gasoline from a trusted supplier and undergo scheduled maintenance in a timely manner, you can increase the service life of the Suzuki Grand Vitara engine to 300 thousand kilometers.

Reviews from Suzuki Grand Vitara owners

Suzuki Grand Vitara is a classic, without anything superfluous. Such a car will serve faithfully if it is given due attention. The line of power units does not include turbocharged engines, and the manufacturer offers a time-tested hydromechanical gearbox as a transmission. The symbiosis of a reliable engine and an equally reliable gearbox even today attracts many drivers to purchase a Grand Vitara of the earliest generations. Without exaggeration, we can say that the Japanese have created a really cool car, without interior frills, but with a sharp focus on the most important things. Reviews from crossover owners will informatively tell you about the service life of the Suzuki Grand Vitara engine.

Modification 1.6

  1. Stanislav, Irkutsk. I have a new Suzuki Grand Vitara 2017, the latest generation model. So far I am satisfied with the car, although the mileage is very scanty. Recently I just went through a break-in, changed the oil and started pouring it recommended by the manufacturer. A friend has the same car, with an older generation 1.6-liter engine. I’m also happy with the car; now they’re putting new engines under the Vitar’s hood, almost perfect ones. There is no need to adjust the valves; you sit behind the wheel and drive. I hope that at least 300,000 km will pass before urgent repairs are needed.
  2. Yuri, Simferopol. The car is good, but probably not for our roads. The chain began to ring after 80 thousand kilometers due to excessive stretching. Replacing the tensioner cost tens of thousands of rubles. Low quality fuel also affects the life of the engine. It is very difficult to find a good supplier now. It is best not to save money and pour AI-95. I realized this when it was too late. I recently sold the car, drove the Suzuki Grand Vitara for 180 thousand km, after which I decided to change it.
  3. Georgy, Moscow. My wife drives this 2014 crossover. The mileage is now about 45 thousand km, during this time the pump was already replaced under warranty, but there were no more problems. The car's consumption is huge at speeds over 150 km, so I don't recommend driving it if efficiency matters to you. The suspension is noisy, but not fatal, just right for our roads. The engine runs quietly and stably, there are minimal problems with the car, but there are some shortcomings, for example, weak body metal, as well as expensive maintenance. The dealership said that the Grand Vitara 1.6 runs 300,000 km.

This modification is equipped with a high-quality power unit, which requires increased attention. You can drive a crossover with a 1.6-liter engine under the hood for 250 thousand kilometers or more. The engine life depends on high-quality and constant scheduled maintenance of the car.

Modification 2.0

  1. Mikhail, Tyumen. I will say this as a former owner of Suzuki Grand Vitara 2.0 and 2.4. These cars have excellent transmissions, but the engines, frankly speaking, are let down. Both “eat” oil, about one liter per 1,000 km. The chain actually lasts about 120 thousand kilometers; I like that in this car there is no need to adjust the valves. During all this time there were no special problems with the engines, but the constant costs of oil and fuel were annoying. Consumption is also about 12 liters in the city, which is quite a lot. In general, I recommend purchasing a Grand Vitara with a 2.7 liter or larger engine, for example, 3.2 liter. They are of better quality and high-torque.
  2. Sergey, Ekaterinburg. I'll be brief: I didn't like the car. I drove the Suzuki Grand Vitara for 200 thousand kilometers, after which I sold the car. The engine “eats” oil, and when the mileage reaches 100 thousand km, the “appetite” of the car increases significantly. I also didn't like that the engine was prone to detonation. The chain did not even survive to 100 thousand, it was necessary to change it at the turn of 70-75 thousand km, knocking and ringing began, the chain stretched very quickly.
  3. Alexander, Tula. I like everyone's car. I drove my 1998 car for 300,000 kilometers, quite successfully, after which I did a major overhaul. If engine detonation occurs, then it is necessary to change the fuel, switch to a different octane number; the manufacturer himself recommends using AI-95. I recently refueled at Lukoil AI-95 and didn’t have any problems. I changed the oil every 7 thousand km and filled it with Liqui Moly 5W-30. In general, I’m happy with the car, I recommend the modification with a 2.0 liter engine to everyone.

Suzuki Grand Vitara with a 2.0 engine is quite reliable, but it is picky about the quality of the fuel it fills and requires timely maintenance. If you follow the manufacturer's recommendations on the frequency of scheduled maintenance, the crossover will last at least 300,000 km before the first major overhaul.

Modification 2.4

  1. Egor, Moscow. Hi all! I purchased a Suzuki Grand Vitara 2.4 in 2007 from an official dealer. At first, the machine really made me happy, but soon the first disappointments came. The engine began to “eat” oil, and consumption increased to 1 liter per 1000 km. I went to the service center, where they told me that the consumption was not up to standard, but no one could fix it. Most likely the piston rings are coked, and this is a very expensive repair. This happened due to low quality fuel. I recently sold a car; the modification with a 2.4-liter engine is not suitable for use with us.
  2. Vadim, Voronezh. What can I say, the car is high quality, reliable, but expensive to maintain. I have already covered 50,000 kilometers on my car, during which time I have undergone scheduled maintenance five times, which on average costs a couple of hundred dollars. Change spark plugs, engine oil, filters, etc. The engine was filled with Mobil 1, an expensive but very high-quality substance. In general, there were no problems with the engine over the years of operation. The main thing is to fill with good gasoline, since Suzuki engines are very sensitive to “power”.
  3. Valery, Sochi. I have owned cars from the domestic auto industry, a Toyota Avensis, but lately I only drive a Suzuki. The last “samurai” was the Grand Vitara with a 2.4 liter engine and a hydromechanical gearbox. I'm happy with the car, and I'm not going to change it in the near future. The only thing I don't like is the monthly cost of maintaining the car. The Grand Vitara is more expensive than other cars I've owned. Never had any problems with the engine.

In some cases, problems can actually occur with a 2.4-liter engine, but breakdowns are mainly caused by low-quality fuel and engine oil. With proper and timely maintenance, the Suzuki Grand Vitara 2.4 modification covers at least 250,000 kilometers.

Hi all!

So I decided to write a review spontaneously. I’ll be honest, I haven’t even been to the auto market for a year.

They stopped being interested in cars and that’s it).

Vitara was bought unexpectedly. I owned the SX -4 for 2 years and sold it, having accumulated 92 thousand. The car was completely satisfactory. The only thing I wasn't happy with was the cross-country ability. I wanted an SX-4 all-wheel drive and more aggressive tires. Jeep drivers will smile, of course). I didn’t expect miracles - I just had to drive to the dacha after the rain along a dirt road and black soil 700 meters uphill and that’s all. On the last evening before the order, my wife and I simply decided that finances seemed to allow it - let's try to buy a more interesting car. Moreover, they looked at her when they were still students.

The Vitara arrived 2 weeks later with a white interior) The manager somehow hesitantly told us this fact, and we decided - to hell with it - we’ll wash it, if anything happens))).

First impressions - it’s really bigger, heavier and lazier than a passenger car. Even the on-board computer’s entry: “POWER RESERVE 300 km” was funny at first. POWER RESERVE. Like a steamship). We don't swim - we WALK).

Vitara surprised me. I had a right-handed Pajero mini. By the way, I climbed better. The funny thing is that the Vitara is a universal car. It is Universal - with a capital letter. Not as mega-technological and mega-universal as many others who have service across 3 streets. With a bunch of buttons, heating and other crap. It's just comfortable and durable. And simple. Without turbines and viscous couplings.

My wife and I fell in love with fishing, mushroom picking and traveling around our Russia.

Somehow it encourages Vitara to go for a picnic in the nearest forest.

I think many caught themselves thinking: “I won’t sell this car.” That's what you think when you like a car. The first car that evoked such thoughts was the Vitara.

If anyone needs performance characteristics, look for them on Yandexauto or an auto market. And I’m trying to write down the feeling of owning a car.

Pros of Vitara:

You can PUSH your 120 on ANY road. First smile - why 120? Because our transfer case seals are weak and it is not recommended to accelerate faster). When overtaking, it can happen faster, but I try to adhere to this rule. But the topography of the road really doesn’t matter. Saves the energy intensity of the suspension and the 70 profile with a 16 radius and 225 width. There have been no hernias in a year and the discs have not been adjusted, the shock absorbers are intact.

Eats 92 and 95 AI. We refuel at proven gas stations 95m, as it says on the hatch, if possible

Very good cross-country characteristics. Much worse than professionally prepared SUVs and even... a stock 3-door Niva. This is not banter, it’s just that the Vitara’s maneuverability is an interesting thing. It ends suddenly. No hints. I was driving and suddenly stood up. Up to a certain point, it tears up all the crossovers, it drives pleasantly, but it doesn’t give you a feeling of confidence - it strives to slide into any wet rut from the UAZ and spend the night there until the morning. The videos on YouTube are a good selection of moments when the Vitara did not sit down. Well, don't be offended fans)

A good trunk for transporting large items, but the dimensions of the item should not exceed 1*1*1 m - this is how our seats fold out. There is a problem with a long oversized vehicle - the second row seats fold out, dividing the Vitara in half. Accordingly, a roll of chain-link mesh, 1.5 meters long, fits right in.

She went through a difficult renovation - she carried mixtures in bags, tiles, barite plaster. 350-400 kg easily in 100 km. I think this is a very confident plus in the rating. All kinds of furniture in Ikea boxes also moved well and tightly. Naturally, the car didn’t hit the potholes like that and drove calmly. But I got there without any problems and no further services.

Now the family has 2 cars: my wife’s Solaris (I’ll write about it separately because it surprised me) and my Vitara. So, we are planning a trip to Karelia in winter. I don’t think there’s any need to explain which car will drive. It’s her element that’s coming, so we’ll give her a chance and write a review later (if anyone is interested)

Dynamics on the highway - 2 liters 140 horses, mechanics - like an ordinary car. . Who cares about the numbers: 5th gear 100 km/h-3000 rpm. In the city the traffic lights are very tight and slow. Well, these loads are not hers)

About the cons.

There are not many of them, but they are worth mentioning.

Petrol. Everything is learned by comparison, especially when we look at the price of $ recently.

We are waiting for the corresponding prices for 95, as it has been for the last 2 years. Vitara eats gasoline with a good appetite. You don’t notice this while she’s alone in the family. When the Solaris appeared, they suddenly started driving it more often. And it’s not just a matter of consumption, although the difference is at least 50 percent.

The difference is simply in the driving experience. Solaris is lightweight. He is a passenger car. This is a box that engages in any gear and at any speed. The Vitara has a gearbox, like any Suzuki - tight and slurred. But reliable.

If possible, I take Solaris for the city. On the highway - only Vitara.

What disadvantages do I see in the Vitara? Benz is the first, but not the main one. Possibly very significant for many users. Secondly, well, it doesn’t correspond to the talk about mega cross-country ability. I would even say that it can climb much better, but three BIG design flaws interfere:

Small ground clearance. Less than 200 mm with protection is very little

Front bumper with protection - a plastic curtain that fences off the radiator - well, you can’t do that 4 VD! Any bump on a country road resonates - and we have a broken radiator and we can’t go any further. FINISH. I caught bumps 2 times - I was just lucky. But you can’t go through sections slower - it will sit down.

A silumin rear gearbox with CV joints is no comment at all. For some reason, no one pays attention to this, but I caught bumps in a rut twice with this gearbox. When a stone is encountered, Vitara will go home on a tow truck.

And still I love her. It can have a lot in stock. There aren’t enough stars in the sky, but he doesn’t travel to services all the time either. I will add a review later. Now 63,000 km. The car is out of warranty, no problems, serviced after 10,000 km. according to the manual.

I am very glad if the information was useful to someone. Good luck on the roads!


The secondary market mostly features cars sold in the Russian Federation, but there are also “American” ones, but their condition much more often turns out to be much worse.

The car was supplied in two body styles – three- and five-door. All cars can boast of build quality - cars from Japan have always been in the forefront in this regard. The only thing that's possible note- this is on the fifth door. It often happens that on cars with high mileage, it sags under the weight of the spare tire.

This nuisance can easily be eliminated by adjusting the hinges.
Rust on a car can indicate that the car has been in an accident, after which was poor-quality repairs were made, or the previous owner was not very careful with his things.

electronics and Electrical equipment of this car from Japan is reliable, like all Japanese electronics, and in most cases does not cause trouble to its owner.
Engines on this model a couple were installed, the weakest of them - a 1.6-liter gasoline one, which is often seen on the secondary market. In most cases there are no problems with it, and with proper care it helps reliably and for a long time. The only thing you need to remember is to change the engine oil in a timely manner, and wait for the engine to warm up before driving.

Such precautions will allow the timing chain that was installed on this engine to last much longer.
Other motors more wonderful, and other than that they are not problematic. From time to time there are small problems, but they do not appear very often and are not constant.

Purchasing a car in order to have a Suzuki Grand Vitara with gasoline engine implies considerable waste, because, in addition, the not-so-great 2.4-liter engine will “eat” up to 20 liters of fuel in urban conditions in winter. The turbodiesel was installed in only 1.9 liters, but was not officially supplied to Russia due to the low quality of domestic fuel. We would not recommend buying such a car, because its breakdown due to domestic fuel is very possible, and not every technician will undertake to repair it.
Two types of gearboxes were installed on the cars - a five-speed manual and a four-speed automatic. Both boxes are quite reliable, but the mechanical one has more problems and fails less often. One of the reasons for clutch failure on a Grand Vitara is driving along a crossroads and crawling out of difficult places without using a lower gear.
Compared to its classmates, this jeep looks more serious - the differential lock and low gear make its purchase more attractive for fans of extreme driving.

Only an inexperienced car enthusiast can buy a used car and not check the suspension, despite the fact that with the Grand Vitara this is not such a huge need - this car has it very reliable. Yes, repairs can cost a lot of money, but they are worth it - the details go on for a very long time and do not often bother the owner.
There are no particular complaints about the brake pads or discs, but experts note the fact that the latter are prone to overheating from time to time.
In a word, the Grand Vitara is considered not only a car that is rugged in terms of cross-country ability, but also quite reliable and easy to repair, despite the fact that it is quite expensive.

  • suzuki

Required reading:

Inspection of a used Suzuki Grand Vitara 2010 - deception everywhere.


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Not every SUV combines three qualities at once: excellent cross-country ability, high build quality and an 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 chassis - suspension, engine and transmission.

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

History of 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 actually 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 connected 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 push the car out of the market. Manufacturers made the body load-bearing, and front-wheel drive was connected through a center differential, which worked constantly. In addition, the lower number of transmission gears turned out to be a very advantageous solution compared to the others - the Grand Vitara became very competitive.

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

Properties of a used Suzuki Grand Vitara

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 previous 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 SUV from Suzuki. It combines excellent driving 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 can be found on the secondary market at prices ranging from 400 to 900 thousand rubles.

On the Russian used car market, American and Russian versions of the Grand Vitara are most often found. European options, as a rule, are rare, but they are also more expensive, which negates the availability of the model. Their condition speaks in favor of European configurations. The Russian version, which we used, is usually of lower quality, which is due to the constant exposure to salt on the roads in winter. At the same time, most Americans are characterized by a careless style of operation - they fill the Grand Vitara with cheap oil, and then drive it for several years. Due to such use, the condition of the vehicle deteriorates. In addition, such an ailment cannot be corrected by flushing the engine.

Engine

During sales, the Grand Vitara was equipped with four gasoline and two turbodiesel engines. The weakest of all had a volume of 1.6 liters and 94 horsepower (most often installed on the three-door version), while the most dynamic engine had a volume of 2.7 liters and a power of 173 horsepower. With. (installed only on the five-door version). It should be borne in mind that when purchasing a Grand Vitara on 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 gain speed from the start, but they also consume a lot of fuel. One of the properties of the Grand Vitara's chassis system is that when driving on a slippery road, a powerful engine coupled with a short wheelbase makes the car slide. This is especially unpleasant for an SUV.

As for operation, all Grand Vitara engines are reliable and durable. Of course, their condition must be maintained by qualified and timely maintenance. As a rule, a Suzuki driver is forced to clean the radiator and change antifreeze when the mileage counter reaches another 60,000 kilometers.

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

Transmission

Regardless of the engine, the Grand Vitara was equipped with both a manual and automatic transmission. This means that any combination of engine and transmission can be found on the secondary market. The mechanical version is characterized by “tight” shifting into reverse gear - you have to take a short pause before the system, which does not have a synchronizer, allows you to shift. The automatic transmission has no complaints about shifting and copes well 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 is rigidly connected, which allows you to use all-wheel drive only on slippery roads and for a short time. So, the Suzuki front axle must always be in a disabled state. When choosing a used model, you should pay attention to this - if the engaged drive is accompanied by shocks, it means that the gearbox is “killed” and it is better not to buy the car.

Suspension

The suspension of the Suzuki Grand Vitara is excellent for use in Russian conditions. Even on a used car, it needs repairs no more often than every 80,000 kilometers. However, 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 five-door versions of the Grand Vitara, the trunk door 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 is highly reliable.

Equipment

In the minimal version of the Grand Vitara you can find quite 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, curtain airbags, cruise control, a built-in computer with navigation, power steering, xenon/bi-xenon and fog lights, leather upholstery, full power accessories and a media system.

Bottom line

Each driver must answer the question of whether to buy a used Suzuki Grand Vitara individually. Many car enthusiasts consider this SUV model to be a family model and purchase it for the corresponding needs, but there are also fans of extreme driving who. One way or another, for its price, 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 take a closer look at the more expensive Toyota RAV4, Nissan X-Trail or Honda CR-V.

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, changes affected the front bumper and fenders, side mirrors and radiator grille, two engines of 2.4 and 3.2 liters appeared in the engine range, 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 1.6 l (106 hp) and 2.4 (169) hp engines. The most widely used Vitara was with a 2.0 liter engine; the 3.2 liter engine was not officially supplied to Russia.

Suzuki Grand Vitara engines have a timing chain drive. You will have to forget about its durability; the chain begins to sound already after a mileage of more than 80 - 120 thousand km due to stretching. Replacing a chain with shoes and tensioner will cost 30–50 thousand rubles.

2.4 liter engines from 2008 to 2010 were subject to a recall campaign due to problems with the tension roller of the drive belt of mounted units.


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

Transmission

The engines are paired with a manual and automatic transmission. Paradoxically, the “mechanics” are less reliable than the “automatic”. With a mileage of more than 60 - 80 thousand km, some owners note a deterioration in the quality of 1st gear engagement. Mainly due to the approaching end of the clutch, the life of which is about 100 - 120 thousand km. Replacement will require about 18 - 30 thousand. rubles with work. The Vitara’s automatic transmission does not present any serious problems that trouble the minds of its owners.

The front axle gearbox can “buzz” with a mileage of more than 70–90 thousand km, and for some lucky people even earlier, with a mileage 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 characteristics of the transmission. In some cases, the gearbox becomes silent after an oil change. With a mileage of more than 120 - 150 thousand km, the oil seal of the right axle shaft of the front gearbox, operating under harsh conditions, may leak. A leaking transfer case oil seal will most likely have to be replaced after a mileage of more than 60–80 thousand km. It is better not to delay replacing it; 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 first ones that will most likely give out are the anti-roll bar bushings when the mileage is more than 40 - 60 thousand km, which also often creak in winter. After replacing them, light tapping noises on uneven roads may not disappear; in this case, rubber-plastic spacers must be placed between the metal bracket and the bushing.

Poor design of the A-pillar support results in contact with the body. It is enough to install a plastic spacer between the support and the body, and the knocking will go away.

With a mileage of more than 50 - 80 thousand km, the front shock absorbers begin to leak, more often in cold weather. The front levers will have to be replaced due to rupture of the silent blocks when the mileage exceeds 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 begins to hum when the mileage exceeds 60–100 thousand km; a new hub costs about 5–9 thousand rubles.

The front brake pads last about 30 – 50 thousand km, the rear ones 70 – 90 thousand km. 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, replacing the fluid can 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.

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

“Hanging” of the windshield wiper blades is caused by a slight play in the wiper switch handle and burnt 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, leaking transfer case seals and not very strong front suspension. Otherwise, it’s a completely reliable and robust all-terrain vehicle.