Suzuki grand vitara 2nd generation owner reviews. 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. The 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 jeep 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. Design features Vitara bring it closer to ordinary SUVs: a separate frame and a plug-in front-wheel drive. First time new model The Suzuki could be classified as either a bad crossover or 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 center differential which worked continuously. 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. Anyway, the car has a row 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 on secondary market can be found at a price of 400 to 900 thousand rubles.

On the Russian market used cars most often found American and Russian versions of the Grand Vitara. 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 liters. from. (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 engines Suzuki allows you to quickly pick up speed from the start, but they also consume a lot of fuel. One of the properties running system Grand Vitara 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 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. from. 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, the Grand Vitara was equipped with both mechanical and automatic transmission gears. This means that in the secondary market you can find any combination of motor and transmission. The mechanical version is characterized by "tight" switching to reverse gear- you have to make a short pause 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 you to use four-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.

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 domestic VAZ 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. As a result, it turned out at the same time not very good crossover and a fairly mediocre SUV. 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 front end was connected through a constantly working center differential. Yes, and the presence of a reduced row in transfer case looked quite advantageous against the background of the main competitors - Toyota RAV4, Honda CR-V and Mitsubishi Outlander.

Who is old?

New Grand Vitara after them, it also became more modern, more comfortable and more environmentally friendly, but at the same time it moved further and further away from the Vitara, which almost 20 years ago appealed to fans of off-road adventures. Unable to compete on equal terms with the giants of this class, Suzuki additionally attracted a much lower price, and now the third generation Suzuki Grand Vitara (2005-2014) is a very interesting choice on the used car market in this segment: 5-7-year-old specimens have recently been 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 on Russian roads it has remained a rarity.

Suzuki did not produce diesel engines on its own, so the Japanese borrowed a 1.9-liter 4-cylinder turbodiesel (129 hp) from Renault. It was also installed on short versions until 2008 diesel engine M16 (1.6 l, 106 hp). 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 modification is now available with a 2.4-liter engine and an automatic transmission. IN updated version a system was introduced to hold the car up and down (for gasoline engine volume of 3.2 l), sound insulation has been improved, the design of the radiator grille and bumper has changed, new body colors have appeared, the total length and length of the front overhang of the car have increased by 30 mm, side mirrors 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 c load-bearing body and lowered next to 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 has its own weak sides. Due to the fact that Grand Vitara has an "honest" drive to all wheels, 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 has not done anything to solve this problem, it can be advised to bring the breather on the extension tube under the hood, which will allow the gearbox to work in normal conditions to the 200-250 thousand km conceived by the designers. Rear gear does not annoy such design flaws, it is enough to monitor the integrity of the seals and the level 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 worthy, 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 Grand Vitara - JB420 (2 l, 140 hp). This engine is reliable and unpretentious, allows operation on 92nd gasoline, but for a car weighing 1.6 tons it power characteristics 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 capacity and good layout engine compartment engines are not prone to overheating - another plus for long-term off-road driving (but this does not cancel 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 insides of the catalyst begin 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 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 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 the network official dealers with a proven history Maintenance and with the remnants of the warranty - 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 - due to the specific niche of fans, the car was of little interest to car thieves, although some surge in car thefts can be expected with the aim disassembly of cars for spare parts.

The popularity of Suzuki Grand Vitara is so great that for many years it was produced all over the world and under different names.

Success and international recognition are objectively deserved - the universality of the model in the totality of its qualities knows no equal.

ATTENTION! Found a completely simple way to reduce fuel consumption! Don't believe? An auto mechanic with 15 years of experience also did not believe until he tried it. And now he saves 35,000 rubles a year on gasoline!

For a long time, the compact SUV remained the best-selling one, and the car took its rightful place in the Russian market, and on a par with the right-hand drive twin brother Suzuki Escudo.

Who traveled, he knows, he will understand

The Grand Vitara is interesting and unique in that it is the most off-road in its class. Because there is a permanent four-wheel drive, a ladder-type frame is built into the body, there is a center differential between the front and rear of the transfer case, there is a differential lock system and reduced speed, which gives improved off-road qualities. The interior of the model is nothing particularly outstanding, solid, concise, simple, not attracting attention, but not old-fashioned.

In the constant all-wheel drive of the Japanese on the track, even in bad weather conditions - ice, rain, winter road, there is a feeling of complete safety and reliability. If you happen to get into more serious off-road, the differential lock and downshift will come to the rescue.

Of course, we must remember that this is not a classic all-terrain vehicle, but an urban crossover and its suspension is low, the ground clearance is only 200 mm, but the car honestly works on it and goes where most classmates will get stuck.

Add to this reliability, does not break, unsurpassed quality and unkillability, along with an excellent price tag, you get the most honest car in terms of hardware, and cross-country ability and functionality ratio.

A bit of history

In fact, 1988 can be considered the starting point of creation, when the first Suzuki Escudo came out. But officially under the name Grand Vitara rolled off the assembly line in 1997. In Japan it is called the Suzuki Escudo, in the US it is called the Chevrolet Tracker. In Russia, the start of sales took place together with everyone and ended with the end of production in 2014. It was replaced by Suzuki Vitara until 2016.

Debut new generation is planned for 2020 - 2021, according to the top manager of the Russian representative office of the brand Takayuki Hasegawa, due to the continued demand from the customers of the division and dealers, who confirm that there is not enough of such a car in Russia. Most likely, it will be built on its own original base, and not on the legacy of the Vitara bogie.

1st generation (09.1997-08.2005)

On sale three (open top version available) and a five-door frame crossover with rear wheel drive and the Part Time 4FWD system, the essence of which is the ability to hard connect / disconnect the front axle by the driver manually at a speed of no more than 100 km / h, and downshift only at a complete stop.

In 2001 the lineup replenished with an elongated modification (32 cm more wheelbase) XL-7 (Grand Escudo) with a three-row interior for seven people. The giant is equipped with a 2.7-liter V6 power unit, developing up to 185 hp.

The first Grand Vitara is equipped with 1.6 and 2.0 petrol in-line fours with 94 and 140 hp. and V-shaped six-cylinder, issuing up to 158 hp. A 2-liter diesel engine was exported to some countries, developing up to 109 forces. A five-band manual or 4-zone automatic gearbox is paired with an internal combustion engine.

2nd generation (09.2005-07.2016)

This is the most purchased generation, produced for 10 years without radical changes, the happy owners of which have become a huge army of car owners. What is great, all the cars for the domestic consumer were assembled in Japan.

The second Grand Vitara received a frame integrated into the body and permanent all-wheel drive with a differential lock and a reduction speed. In Japan, the novelty is available in four design solutions - Helly Hanson (especially for outdoor enthusiasts), Salomon (chrome trim), Supersound Edition (for music lovers) and FieldTrek (luxury equipment).

In 2008, the manufacturer carried out the first minor modernization - the front bumper changed, the front fenders became new and the wheel arches, the radiator grille were highlighted, the sound insulation was strengthened, and a display appeared in the center of the instrument panel. The restyled version has acquired two new engines - 2.4 liters 169 hp and the most powerful 3.2 liter 233 hp. The latter was not officially delivered to Russia, just like the diesel 1.9 liter Renault, which was exported to other markets. The gearbox for all cars is a five-speed manual or a four-speed, electronically controlled automatic machine with two modes - normal and sport.

Only a 1.6 liter engine with 106 hp is put on a short three-door four-seater baby, its base is 2.2 meters, a small trunk and rear seats, which are folded separately. In a five-door configuration, five passengers are quite comfortable, and a two-liter engine with 140 hp. enough for a full daily drive in the city. To carry bulky luggage, the back row is laid out in parts, and the volume of the cargo compartment increases from 275 to 605 liters.

The second change in Grand Vitara in 2011 affected cars for the foreign market. Spare wheel dismantled from the door of the cargo compartment, thus reducing the length of the car by 20 cm. The environmental level of the diesel engine was brought to Euro 5. All basic configurations received an electronic drive in the transfer case for turning on / off the reduced speed and a self-locking differential. The forced lock button is located on the center console.

An additional option is available - a driver assistance system when driving downhill. It maintains a speed of 5 or 10 km/h according to the transmission mode. And also at the start on the rise and the ESP skid prevention system. The three-door car did not receive an improved transmission, so it does not have increased cross-country ability.

What engines are on the Suzuki Grand Vitara

More pluses

Of the advantages of the Suzuki Grand Vitara, apart from the main one - transmission, along with cost, dynamism and reliability, good handling, one can note a high level of safety with the highest scores according to the results of crash tests.

In the exterior, an important advantage - spacious salon, both for the legs and above the head and to the sides, which most in the class do not have. Excellent visibility. Plastic, though hard, but high-quality, with plenty of space for every little thing.

... And cons

There are drawbacks, like everyone else. Of the important ones - high fuel consumption, as a retribution for all-wheel drive. Around the city 2.0 liter with mechanical box eats up to 15 liters per 100 km. What can we say, about more powerful and with a gun. A rare case, on the highway it turns out to meet 10 l / 100 km. Most car owners note the low level of aerodynamics. The car is noisy and hard. Trunk volume is not small, but the shape is not comfortable - high and narrow.

Is it worth buying, if so, with which engine

After weighing the pros and cons, yes. Because good reliable durable cars little now. Producers have long been not interested in playing long. They need more often to change components, parts, mechanisms, machines for new ones. Suzuki Grand Vitara is not like that. There are many timeless classics here that will serve well for decades.

No turbocharged internal combustion engines, no robots, no CVTs - perfectly smooth and imperceptibly working hydromechanics with a long resource. The most important thing when buying commercial vehicle- do not fall for expensive repairs or frequent replacement of expensive elements. Choosing this Japanese also the price will be more than adequate.

Objectively, for a 5-door car, two liters and with passengers on a trip out of town and beyond, will not be enough. Around the city, from work, home, to shops - enough. Therefore, 2.4 liters with a power of 166 hp. - just right, and 233 horses, which produces a 3.2 liter - too much. For such power car light, it becomes dangerous, maneuverability is lost.

In general, the car is a real Japanese prude, which has everything you need to feel calm and safe on the road, know and be sure, and not guess whether it will stretch or not stretch on the off road section. When creating the Grand Vitara, Suzuki didn't go to great lengths to create a trendy design, focusing on the essentials.

The second generation Suzuki Grand Vitara was introduced in 2005. This compact crossover 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 multifunction display in the center of the 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.

2.4 liter engines 2008 - 2010 came under a recall campaign due to problems with tension roller drive belt 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 in expansion tank, which will lead to an increase in pressure and a rupture of the radiator (a crack appears). catalytic converter may 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. some kind of automatic transmission serious problems, disturbing the minds of the owners, Vitara does not present.

Reducer front axle it 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 bushings will most likely give up first. roll stability 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.

front brake pads go about 30 - 50 thousand km, 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.

Suzuki Gran Vitara, being an excellent product from Japanese automakers, has pleased many fans of this brand with its characteristics. But, as you know, in almost any car, many owners find not only positive sides cars, but also their shortcomings, illnesses and weak spots. This also affected the 2nd generation Suzuki Grand Vitara. It is important to remember that the failure of small and not expensive parts is not weak side-this is just natural wear and tear, due to the limited resource of the car. In this case, we will talk about significant and expensive elements of the car, the failure of which occurs before the “measured” resource.

Advantages and benefits of Suzuki Grand Vitara 2

• Several petrol power plants, with a volume of 1.6, 2.0, 2.4 and 3.2 liters. The first two are paired with a five-speed manual or four-speed automatic transmission;
• Diesel engine with a volume of 1.9, with a capacity of 129 horsepower;
• Spacious salon;
• Comfortable driving position;
• Good cross-country ability, handling and stability on the road;
• Four-wheel drive;
• Quiet high-torque motor;
• Great ground clearance;
• Running reliable.

Weaknesses of the 2nd generation Suzuki Grand Vitara

• Body;
• Power plants;
• Catalysts;
• Fuel filter;
• Front axle reducer;
• Valve train chain.

Now more…

The paintwork of the crossover is of decent quality. Excellent corrosion resistance. Rust is rarely found on the body, even in cars older than ten years. But the interior door openings are poorly painted. Over time, the paint on them is erased to the metal.

The weak point of the car was the lid of the compartment designed for storing and transporting luggage. The hinges are not designed for such a weight, after a few years they sag, and skew occurs. You can fix the problem yourself. It is enough to put the washer under the mount. But sometimes it doesn't help. In such a case, it is necessary complete replacement deformed parts.

Power plants

Despite the high rate of reliability, car engines have characteristic sores. The 1.6 engine does not tolerate overheating and lack of oil. The timing chain drive can last up to 200 thousand km, but subject to the use of high-quality lubricant. As soon as the resource of the node ends, oil consumption will increase to 500 grams per thousand km. Especially for racing enthusiasts. In this case, it is necessary to install new rings, valve stem seals.

Power plants with a volume of 2.0 and 2.4 also have weaknesses. The service life of the drive belt rollers is small and is no more than 50 thousand km. The chain stretches quickly, the tensioner breaks. A sign of the disease is the appearance of an uncharacteristic sound when the engine is cold started.

disadvantage diesel engine is a quick failure of the turbocharger, pump and DPF filter. Minus in big expense fuel and costly node maintenance.

Catalysts.

Depending on the quality of the fuel, the catalysts, sooner or later, will require replacement. Vulnerable point they were relegated only because they clog extremely quickly, and the cost of replacing them is not very small. Therefore, when buying, you should definitely ask the owner when the last replacement of the unit was made, and also check them by outward signs. Signs of a clogged catalytic converter are problems starting the engine, deterioration in speed performance, and the presence of a strong smell of hydrogen sulfide from the exhaust pipe.

Fuel filter.

In fact, the replacement fuel filter is nothing out of the ordinary. This work, sooner or later, will be required on any car. But, in the case of the 2nd generation Suzuki Grand Vitara, the replacement will be somewhat more difficult than usual, since this assembly is assembled with a fuel pump and, as you might guess, is extremely expensive. Before buying a car, you should know about this, as well as ask the seller when the last replacement was made. If the mileage is in the region of 100 thousand km. and the filter has not been replaced, then most likely a replacement will be required in the next 5-10 thousand km. I would like to note once again that the filter can be replaced without changing the pump, but this is a very laborious work.

Front axle gearbox.

The gearbox can “die” ahead of schedule only if the Grand Vitara has often been used off-road. Signs of an approaching failure of the gearbox are a strong hum, and in especially neglected cases, extraneous mechanical knocks. It is important to remember that in the future, in the event of a repair, this will cost a tidy sum, since when disassembling this mechanism, it becomes necessary to replace not only the main pair, but also bearings with seals. Therefore, when buying, you need to drive a car a little and make sure that there are no characteristic noises. It would not be superfluous to also ask the seller when the front axle gearbox was last repaired or at least serviced. If the gearbox has not been repaired, and the car already has a mileage of 80-100 thousand km, then for sure, in the near future, it will need to be repaired.

Of course, the timing chain of any car tends to stretch and wear out. Definitely, when buying a car, it is necessary to check the condition of the chain tension and its condition in general. It is important to remember that this is an extremely significant element of the engine, if it breaks, you will have to invest heavily in repairing the "heart" of the car. That is why, with a car run of 150 thousand km, the chain will have to be changed in any case, which in turn will require significant costs.

The main disadvantages of the Suzuki Grand Vitara II

1. Sagging tailgate. Due to the design features, this car has a problem of rapid abrasion of bushings and loops rear doors. It is impossible to correct this defect of the "Japanese". The problem is treated only by replacing the hinges. The maximum that can be done to increase their service life is to monitor the presence of lubrication in them.
2. Increased fuel consumption with a 3.2 liter engine. 3.2-liter engines, of course, will delight the owner with good dynamics and off-road power reserve. But you will have to pay dearly for this, because the power unit loves to eat well. Fuel consumption on this engine, on average, rarely drops below 22 l / 100 km.
3. Rigid suspension. Designed as an off-road vehicle, the Grand Vitara won't give you the plush suspension of a business car, and that has to be accepted.
4. Weak soundproofing. Sometimes, when driving on rough roads, it will be difficult for you to talk to your passengers due to strong extraneous noises in the car. You can solve the problem by installing additional sound insulation.
5. Weak two-liter engine. For those who like to save money, buying a version with a 2-liter engine is a big disappointment. This unit is sometimes simply not able to fulfill the duties assigned to it to accelerate the car, which is why many drivers suffer greatly.
6. "Crickets" in the cabin. When driving over bumps, the panel rattles quite strongly, which is why so-called “crickets” appear in the cabin.
7. Ergonomic flaws. This item is already more individual, but many car owners complain about inconveniently located buttons and switches, which often have to be reached.

Conclusion.
Depending on the individual requirements of each person, there are still a number of other disadvantages of this machine. But, as for the main sore spots, they were covered as much as possible within the framework of this article based on feedback from hundreds of owners. this car. Summing up, we can say with confidence that in general, as mentioned earlier, the Suzuki Grand Vitara is a very good car with excellent parameters that can easily compete with other representatives of this class.

Weaknesses, advantages and disadvantages of Suzuki Grand Vitara 2 with mileage was last modified: November 13th, 2018 by Administrator