2009 Suzuki Grand Vitara

The Grand Vitara seats five, and with the 60/40-split rear seat folded forward, also called Fold-and-Tumble, its already roomy 24.4 cubic feet of cargo space can be expanded to nearly 69 cubic feet. Side-hinged rear cargo door allow for even more, larger cargo to carried.

The 4-wheel drive system has a full-time mode for on-road driving, which sends power to the front wheels as needed. Named Four-Mode, it includes low-range gearing, and a limited-slip center differential. The center differential can be locked while in either high or low range for negotiating off-road terrain, mud, or deep snow. Short overhangs and good ground clearance help negotiate tight off-road situations. Combined mileage is rated around 22 mpg.

Towing and being towed are strong points for the Grand Vitara. For those who travel by RV, and who want to take the Grand Vitara along, it can be towed by using the 4-wheel drive's neutral position and all four wheels on the ground without registering miles on the odometer.

The base and Premium Grand Vitara come standard with automatic climate control, cruise control, steering-wheel audio controls, full power accessories and a CD/MP3 sound system with XM satellite radio compatibility.

The sportier, mid-range Xsport adds a SmartPass keyless entry and starting system, 6-disc in-dash changer, additional tweeters and a subwoofer, fog lamps, roof rails and a sunroof. The top-of-the-line Luxury trim brings leather upholstery and steering-wheel trim, heated front seats, woodgrain trim, power sunroof, 17-inch alloy wheels, garage-door opener, and heated mirrors. A moonroof is available on the Xsport and Luxury editions.
The Suzuki Grand Vitara enters its third model year with more engine choices for 2009. It is now available with an inline 4-cylinder twin-cam 2.4L engine that makes 166 horsepower and 162 pound-feet of torque mated to either a 4-speed manual or 5-speed automatic transmission. Also available is a 3.2L V6 engine with 230 horsepower and 213 pound-feet of torque. In addition to rear-wheel drive available on all Vitaras, two 4-wheel drive systems are also available: a single-mode system and the Four-Mode by Suzuki, which is a full-time 4-wheel drive system with a 2-speed transfer case. The 185-horsepower, 2.7L V6 engine of 2008 is no longer available.

Four trims are newly available for 2009. Base and Premium are the basics, featuring a 4-cylinder engine and 2-wheel drive, while Xsport and Luxury offer more options. Single mode all-wheel drive is also offered on Premium. Xsport and Luxury trims can have either an inline 4-cylinder or V6 engine, and either 2-wheel or Four-Mode all-wheel drive. A manual transmission is available only on the Base and Premium trims.

Also for 2009, the body frame is strengthened for increased rigidity, and the front bumper and grille have been updated. Electronic Stability Control is standard on all Grand Vitaras while Hill Hold and Hill Descent Control are standard on all models with V6 and all-wheel drive. Electro-luminescent instrumentation is standard on all models.
Comfortable, affordable compact SUV; great off-road performance with 4-wheel drive; rugged body-on-frame construction
Because of its fully independent suspension and ladder frame design within a uni-body structure, Suzuki calls the Grand Vitara "The Off-Road Athlete." The solid chassis has been upgraded for 2009 for a more rugged performance. Safety features include anti-lock brakes with electronic brake-force distribution, traction control, anti-skid system, curtain side airbags with rollover sensors, front side airbags and electronic stability control, to help prevent the loss of control of the vehicle. Towing capacity is 3,000 pounds with the V6 engine.