On the first 2 pages of my Auto Express this week, there is an advert for the new Suzuki Grand Vitara. The marketing geniuses have came up with such eye catching phrases as
"This new model is the most capable we've ever built" - what does that tell me about all Suzukis up to now?
"both 3 and 5 door models.... have smooth, flowing lines and a confident stance that gives them real presence" - what does that tell me?
"is more spacious than its predecessor, rivalling its competitors" - rivalling, or actually better at anything?
"all models now have side and curtain airbags.....plus ABS and side impact protection beams" - hardly groundbreaking innovation! Side impact beams?
"we have also added and integrated audio system" - so its got a radio?
It looks a totally, bland, non-descript car and the advertising blurb seems to back that up! Oh, and another question, what exactly is the competition for the Vitara? Prices look to be in the £13k to £15k price bracket which is cheaper than RAV4, Freelander, CRV etc. Maybe the Sportage? Is the Tucson 4WD?
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I take it you have not tried the new GV.
There is no comparison with the old one, for a start the road holding is far better where the old one tended to oversteer badly, this one does not. This is down to the new independent suspension.
So you cant make comments from what the press/media put in front of you, without seeing it or test driving one.
After all Auto Express had it all wrong about the Rover City, saying how good it was, you could'nt do wrong etc.
Now its dead and gone. Unless you travel to India for one.
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What about those pathetic ads for the new Navara?
Cringeworthy, bottom of the barrel scraping sell tactics there.
They might as well have just had "Bought by PFD's" in bold letters across the screen.
Maybe with a voiceover by the sort of cringy ponce that would be persuaded to by the car by the adverts.
Aaargh, where are my blood pressure tablets? ;-)
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Autumnboy, you missed the point of my post. This wasn't Auto Expresses opinion, this was Suzuki's own advert - those were their words!
Hardly inspired me to go and test drive one!
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We all have to go past the marketing speak more and more. Don't write the Grand Vitara off just for a pathetic advert. I haven't seen one yet but it has been in the overseas market for a few months now as the latest model Escudo. On paper it does appear to have a real advantage over the competition if you have a genuine off-road use for such a vehicle. It will be the only 4x4 in its price class with all four wheels permanently driven and with a reduction gearbox to provide additional low ratios. If Suzuki decide to offer the V6 engine again in this model with an auto box, it should be a very good off-road tool, providing build and quality is right. Only thing lacking would be a locking centre differential or front and rear diff locks but even some of those might come.
However, if style and fuel consumption (the diesel is a Renault unit overseas for the time being) are preoccupations for you, then stick with the other part-time 4WDs.
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Road Tests of the new Grand Vitara haven't been that promising though
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Our mag did an off-road test of one of these about three weeks ago, but my Polish isn?t good enough to translate. However, I did a technical side profile of it and one thing that struck me was how the door shut lines when right down to the bottom of the body, making it very slab-sided and leaving no visible sill (if that makes sense). In my opinion, it gives it mini-range rover looks and is far more mature than the old tonka toy wannabe model.
I like it. The test car was well kitted out in leather with lots of brushed metal on the dash. Nice.
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With the new GV, you can have a choice whether on your model you want permanent 4wd or a switchable 2/4wd and an Autobox if you wish.
Allthough at present I have not seen a Diesel or V6.
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They´ve given it the necessary kit for offroading (diffs, permanent 4wd etc etc) but not the ground clearance. So it´s neither one thing nor the other (off roader/soft roader). Doesn´t drive as well as rav4/xtrail/x3/tucson according to the German mags. Bit of a curate´s egg.
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