New Grand Vitara: In the constantly evolving landscape of automotive design and engineering, few transitions are as challenging as reinventing an established nameplate.
The weight of heritage, the expectations of loyal customers, and the necessity of appealing to new audiences create a delicate balancing act for manufacturers.
The new Grand Vitara represents Suzuki’s most ambitious attempt to navigate these competing priorities, emerging as not just an iteration of its predecessor but as a comprehensive reimagining of what a modern Suzuki SUV can be.
New Grand Vitara: A Strategic Renaissance
The return of the Grand Vitara nameplate marks a pivotal moment in Suzuki’s global strategy. After discontinuing the previous generation in various markets between 2015 and 2018, the Grand Vitara left a conspicuous gap in the company’s lineup.
This absence coincided with the global surge in SUV popularity, leaving Suzuki with smaller crossovers like the Vitara Brezza and S-Cross to compete in an increasingly crowded and lucrative segment.
The decision to revive the Grand Vitara wasn’t merely nostalgic but represented a calculated response to market dynamics.
Developed through the increasingly important partnership between Suzuki and Toyota, the new Grand Vitara (alongside its Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder sibling) embodies a recognition that collaboration has become essential even for established manufacturers facing the immense development costs of modern vehicles.
This partnership has allowed Suzuki to return to a segment where it had historically maintained a distinctive presence. The original Vitara and subsequent Grand Vitara models built a reputation for combining genuine off-road capability with daily usability—a balance that distinguished them from more road-focused competitors.
The challenge for the new model was to honor this heritage while addressing contemporary priorities around efficiency, technology, and refinement.
Design: Evolution with Purpose
Upon first glance, the new Grand Vitara announces its intentions through design language that simultaneously acknowledges its lineage while establishing a more sophisticated visual identity.
The front fascia features a prominent grille with horizontal chrome bars flanked by slim LED headlamps and distinctive three-point daytime running lights—creating a family resemblance with other Suzuki models while projecting a more premium appearance.
The profile reveals perhaps the most significant departure from previous generations. Where earlier Grand Vitaras embraced a boxy, utilitarian aesthetic, the new model adopts more flowing lines with pronounced wheel arches and a gently sloping roofline.
This transition reflects broader market trends toward more car-like crossovers but maintains sufficient visual ruggedness through plastic cladding and substantial ground clearance to communicate its SUV credentials.
Dimensional increases across every axis result in a more substantial presence, with the new Grand Vitara stretching 4345mm in length, 1795mm in width, and 1645mm in height.
These proportions place it squarely in the competitive midsize SUV segment, directly challenging established players like the Hyundai Creta, Kia Seltos, and Skoda Kushaq.
Details throughout the exterior design reflect careful consideration rather than mere styling flourishes. The pronounced character line running from the front fenders to the rear taillights creates visual tension while improving aerodynamic efficiency. The optional dual-tone roof treatment visually lowers the vehicle’s height while providing personalization options.
Even the distinctive LED light signatures front and rear serve both aesthetic and functional purposes, ensuring visibility and recognition day or night.
Cabin: The New Battleground
If exterior design establishes first impressions, interior execution increasingly determines long-term satisfaction. Recognizing this, Suzuki has invested considerably in transforming the Grand Vitara’s cabin from the utilitarian environments of previous generations to a space that balances functionality with genuine material quality and technological integration.
The dashboard architecture employs a layered design with contrasting materials and textures that create visual interest without resorting to unnecessary complexity.
Soft-touch surfaces appear in primary contact areas, while durable hard plastics are reserved for lower sections—a pragmatic compromise in a vehicle likely to see occasional rough use.
The center console rises to meet the dash, creating a cockpit-like environment for the driver while housing both climate controls and the shift lever in an ergonomically sound arrangement.
Dominating the center stack is a 9-inch touchscreen infotainment system running Suzuki’s latest interface. This system incorporates wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity alongside native navigation and vehicle settings.
The screen’s positioning—high on the dashboard but slightly angled toward the driver—represents a thoughtful compromise between visibility and reach.
Physical controls for critical functions complement the touchscreen, acknowledging that even the best digital interfaces can prove distracting while driving.
The driver faces a combination of analog gauges and a 7-inch digital display in most variants, while higher trims receive a fully digital instrument cluster that offers customizable information displays.
This hybrid approach typifies the Grand Vitara’s overall philosophy—embracing modern technology where it adds genuine value while maintaining familiar interfaces where they remain superior for usability.
Spatial utilization demonstrates clear progress from previous generations. The 2600mm wheelbase (100mm longer than the previous model) directly translates to improved rear legroom, allowing the Grand Vitara to comfortably accommodate adult passengers in both rows.
Cargo capacity ranges from 373 liters with the rear seats up to 1339 liters with them folded—competitive figures that reflect the practical requirements of family users who constitute the core market for vehicles in this segment.
Material selections throughout the cabin reveal careful attention to both aesthetics and durability. While not reaching premium brand standards, the quality of plastics, fabrics, and leatherette surfaces marks a significant upgrade from both previous Suzuki offerings and many direct competitors.
The optional panoramic sunroof—a first for Suzuki in this segment—floods the cabin with natural light, enhancing the perception of spaciousness while reflecting changing consumer preferences in this category.
Powertrain Innovation: Embracing Hybridization
Perhaps the most revolutionary aspect of the new Grand Vitara lies beneath its hood, where Suzuki has embraced hybridization across the entire model range.
This strategic shift acknowledges both regulatory pressures around emissions and genuine consumer interest in reduced running costs without sacrificing performance.
The powertrain lineup begins with Suzuki’s “Smart Hybrid” system paired with the familiar 1.5-liter K15C naturally aspirated four-cylinder engine.
This mild hybrid implementation adds a small integrated starter generator powered by a lithium-ion battery, providing torque assistance during acceleration and enabling extended start-stop functionality.
With 103 horsepower and 137 Nm of torque, this entry-level option delivers adequate performance with significantly improved efficiency compared to non-hybrid alternatives.
More groundbreaking is the Toyota-derived “Strong Hybrid” system available in higher trim levels. This sophisticated setup combines a different 1.5-liter gasoline engine running the more efficient Atkinson cycle with a larger electric motor and battery pack.
The combined system output of 115 horsepower might seem modest, but the electric motor’s instant torque delivery fundamentally transforms the driving experience compared to conventional powertrains.
The strong hybrid can operate in several modes: pure electric drive for low-speed urban conditions, combined hybrid operation when additional power is required, and engine-only driving when most efficient at steady highway speeds.
This flexibility results in remarkable fuel economy figures approaching 28 km/l (66 MPG) under ideal conditions—numbers previously unimaginable in this vehicle class without significant compromise.
Transmission options include a 5-speed manual or 6-speed automatic for the mild hybrid and an electronically controlled continuously variable transmission (e-CVT) for the strong hybrid.
While CVTs often face criticism for their driving characteristics, Toyota’s experience with this technology shows in the calibration, which avoids the exaggerated “rubber band” effect of less sophisticated systems.
Most significant for Suzuki enthusiasts is the return of the “AllGrip” all-wheel-drive system on select variants—maintaining the brand’s commitment to genuine capability beyond paved surfaces.
This system offers four selectable modes (Auto, Sport, Snow, and Lock) that adjust power distribution, traction control intervention, and throttle response to match varying conditions.
While not offering the mechanical robustness of the earlier Grand Vitara’s proper four-wheel-drive system with low-range gearing, the new implementation strikes a more appropriate balance for the actual usage patterns of modern SUV buyers.
Technology: The Necessary Evolution
Beyond its hybrid powertrains, the new Grand Vitara embraces technology in ways previous generations could scarcely have imagined.
This evolution reflects both competitive necessity in a feature-conscious market and genuine enhancements to safety and convenience.
The aforementioned infotainment system serves as the hub for connectivity features including over-the-air updates, integrated voice assistant functionality, and remote vehicle monitoring through a dedicated smartphone application.
This latter feature allows owners to check vehicle status, pre-condition the cabin temperature, and locate their vehicle—conveniences once reserved for luxury brands now democratized to mainstream vehicles.
Advanced driver assistance systems appear comprehensively throughout the range, including autonomous emergency braking, lane departure warning, adaptive cruise control, and a 360-degree camera system on higher specifications.
These features not only enhance safety but address the growing expectation that modern vehicles should actively assist in the driving task rather than merely protecting occupants in the event of an accident.
Convenience features like ventilated front seats, a head-up display, and wireless charging pad further distinguish the Grand Vitara from its predecessor and elevate it within its competitive set.
Even seemingly minor touches like USB-C ports (replacing older USB-A connections) demonstrate attention to how contemporary users interact with their vehicles.
Driving Dynamics: Balanced Evolution
The driving experience perhaps best exemplifies the Grand Vitara’s transformation. Where previous generations prioritized off-road capability—sometimes at the expense of on-road refinement—the new model reverses this emphasis while maintaining sufficient all-terrain ability for occasional adventures.
The monocoque architecture (replacing the previous generation’s body-on-frame construction) immediately delivers improvements in noise isolation, ride quality, and handling precision.
Suspension tuning—MacPherson struts up front and a torsion beam rear for front-wheel-drive variants, upgraded to a multi-link setup with all-wheel drive—strikes a compelling balance between compliance over poor surfaces and controlled body movements during directional changes.
Steering response has seen similar evolution, with the hydraulic assistance of earlier models replaced by an electric system that varies effort based on speed.
While some tactile feedback is inevitably lost in this transition, the precision and lightness at parking speeds represent worthwhile tradeoffs for most users.
Braking performance benefits from discs at all four corners on most variants, delivering progressive pedal feel and adequate thermal capacity for confidence during extended descents.
The hybrid powertrains fundamentally transform the driving experience compared to conventional alternatives. The mild hybrid system’s torque assistance smooths out acceleration from low speeds, while the strong hybrid’s ability to operate in electric-only mode brings unexpected refinement to urban driving.
Both systems incorporate regenerative braking, which initially requires some adaptation but soon becomes intuitive while maximizing energy recovery.
Market Position and Future Prospects
The new Grand Vitara enters a fiercely competitive landscape where established players have refined their offerings through multiple generations.
Yet Suzuki’s approach—leveraging Toyota’s hybrid expertise while maintaining its own design philosophy and value proposition—creates a compelling alternative rather than merely matching competitors’ specifications.
Initial market reception suggests this strategy has resonated with buyers, particularly in value-conscious markets like India where the combination of hybrid efficiency and Suzuki’s established reputation for reliability presents a persuasive case.
The model’s global ambitions appear similarly promising, with variants tailored to specific regional preferences and regulatory requirements.
Looking forward, the Grand Vitara platform provides Suzuki with a flexible foundation for future development. The established partnership with Toyota opens possibilities for additional powertrain options, potentially including plug-in hybrid variants as infrastructure and regulations evolve.
The modular nature of the underlying architecture could also support derivatives with varied body styles, addressing different segments with relatively modest additional investment.
New Grand Vitara: Authentic Reinvention
The new Grand Vitara represents more than just another entry in the crowded SUV marketplace. It embodies Suzuki’s recognition that heritage alone cannot sustain a model in rapidly evolving market conditions.
By embracing hybridization, enhancing technology integration, and refining the overall driving experience while maintaining core brand values around reliability and value, Suzuki has created a vehicle that respects its nameplate’s history while remaining thoroughly relevant to contemporary buyers.
This balance—honoring legacy while embracing innovation—ultimately defines the new Grand Vitara’s character. In a segment often characterized by compromise, Suzuki has delivered a cohesive vision of what a modern compact SUV can be: efficient without sacrificing capability, technologically advanced without overwhelming complexity, and distinctive without resorting to mere styling gimmicks.
The result is not merely a worthy successor to the Grand Vitara nameplate but potentially its most fully realized expression to date.