Suzuki Vitara
The Suzuki Vitara is a series of sport utility vehicles that spans four generations, varying in size and construction from the first version in 1988 to the present.
The original Vitara was mainly a 4x4 off-roader, built as a small boxy wagon that drove like a truck. The second and third generations were a tad larger. Their less-boxy shape curved ever so slightly and retained the road-oriented build of the original. These generations were rebranded as Grand Vitara.
The fourth and present-generation Vitara has dropped the “Grand” moniker and reverted to the original name. However, it has outgrown its rugged off-road origin and is designed to be more urban-going with occasional off-roading. It is now built more along with the likes of crossovers like the SX4 and the S-Cross.
1st Generation: ET/TA series (1988–1998)
Through the decade, the first Vitara had been rebranded as Suzuki Escudo, Suzuki Sidekick, Chevrolet Tracker, Geo Tracker, GMC Tracker, Mazda Proceed Levante, Santana 300/350, Pontiac Sunrunner, and Asuna Sunrunner.
1988
It belonged in the mini or small SUV car classification, also called mini 4x4 or J-segment cars. This tiny off-roader first came out of the production lines in 1988 as a three-door four-seat mini SUV named Escudo. In North America, it was introduced as a two-door -hardtop or convertible badged as Sidekick. A few months later, a 5-door SUV was released with the nametag Escudo Nomade.
These early versions were powered by a 1.6L 4-cylinder fuel-injected Suzuki G16A engine attached to a 5-speed manual transmission. This engine was upgraded in the next two years, and a 4-speed automatic gearbox was offered as an option.
The models that were initially released in Australia (all 4x4s) were fitted with the same 1.6L G16A 8-valve petrol engine attached to a 5-speed manual gearbox (55 kW, 123 N⋅m). The base model featured central locking, power mirrors, power windows, power steering, and 4-speaker radio/cassette.
1989-1993
In the next three years, 3-speed and 4-speed automatic transmissions were added to the options offered for the Vitara. In 1993, a 5-door 5-seat station wagon was offered, and it was powered by a 1.6L G16A 16-valve petrol engine paired with a 5-speed manual or 4-speed auto gearbox (71 kW, 133 N⋅m).
During this time, the Vitara was presented in three spec levels—JLX, JU, and JX—which did not substantially vary from each other in terms of trims. The station wagon was available in JLX and JX levels and both 5-speed manual and 4-speed automatic transmissions. Only the station wagon was fitted with the 16-valve 1.6L G16A (71 kW) petrol engine. For the rest, power was still provided by the 8-valve version (55 kW).
1994-1996
New engines were introduced for the Vitara during this period, including Suzuki’s first V6 engine, a 2.0L petrol engine and a turbocharged 2.0L diesel engine from Mazda.
In Australia, a new spec level was added, the V6, which was a 5-door 5-seat wagon fitted with the 2.0L V6 petrol engine and paired to either a 4-speed automatic or a 5-speed manual gearbox (100 kW, 174 N⋅m). The 8-valve 1.6L engine was discontinued, so only the following motors were used for the Vitara during this period:
- 1.6L 16-valve G16A petrol engine (71 kW)
- 2.0L H20A V6 petrol engine (100 kW)
Meanwhile, in Japan, the Vitara or Escudo was rebranded by Mazda as Proceed Levante. Also in the home market, Suzuki dropped the Nomade nameplate from the 5-door Vitara/Escudo.
1997-1998
In Australia, the 3-door base models (both soft-top and hardtop variants) were introduced with a 2.0L 4-cylinder DOHC petrol engine mated to either a 4-speed automatic or a 5-speed manual transmission (97 kW, 166 N⋅m). The station wagons ran on the same powertrain (1.6L 16-valve), while the mid- and top-range 3-door models were powered by either the 1.6L or the 2.0L V6 engine.
The discontinuation of the Vitara series loomed with the introduction of the Grand Vitara in 1998. Sales continued through 1999 and the early part of 2000 but with fewer offerings. The station wagon variant was first to be dropped from the range. Fewer offerings were available in 2000 with only two engines offered—the 16-valve 1.6L and the 4-cylinder 2.0L petrol engines. This was to be the last of Vitara’s first generation.
As it turned out, the Grand Vitara was only going to be a temporary interruption because the Vitara reappeared again in 2015.
2nd Generation: FT/GT series (1998-2005)
The second and third generations are all about the Grand Vitara, which is also known as the Chevrolet Tracker, Mazda Proceed Levante, Suzuki Escudo, Suzuki Grand Vitara, and Chevrolet Grand Vitara. It was produced for model years 1999 to 2005. It was built as 2-door convertibles and mini SUVs and 3- or 5-door compact SUVs.
1998-2000
In Australia, the Grand Vitaras sold alongside the smaller Vitaras from 1998 through 2000. In the first year, they were fitted with a 2.5L engine. Both 4-speed automatic and 5-speed manual gearboxes were available. The standard equipment included air conditioning, central locking, cloth trim, engine immobiliser, power mirrors, power steering, power windows, a 4-speaker radio/cassette, and roof racks. In 1999, another engine was introduced, so by this time, the engine offerings were:
- 2.5L H25A V6 petrol engine mated to either a 4-speed automatic or a 5-speed manual gearbox (106 kW, 208 N⋅m)
- 2.0L 4-cylinder J20A petrol engine mated to either a 4-speed automatic or a 5-speed manual gearbox (94 kW, 174 N⋅m)
In 2000, a 1.6L G16B I4 engine was used in favour of the 2.0L engine. It produced 69 kW peak power and 138 N⋅m peak torque and was fitted to the entry-level Grand Vitara. The higher-spec models—Limited Edition, Sports, and Sports Limited—were all powered by the same V6 engine that was used in 1999.
3rd Generation: JT series (2005-2015)
The production of the JT series continues to the present. The third generation, however, only shows the Grand Vitara’s stint during the hiatus of the Vitara, which eventually ended in 2015.
The JT generation introduced a significant change in the Grand Vitara, which the next-generation Vitara adopted. The Grand Vitara for MY 2005 had finally let go of its erstwhile ladder frame and now featured a unibody construction.
This generation of Grand Vitara debuted in Australia with the following drivetrains:
- 2.0L 4-cylinder J20A petrol engine paired with either a 4-speed automatic or a 5-speed manual gearbox (94 kW, 174 N⋅m)
- 1.6L M16A I4 petrol engine, available only with a 5-speed manual transmission (73 kW, 139 N⋅m)
- 2.7L H27A V6 petrol engine, available in a 5-speed automatic and 5-speed gearbox (135 kW, 259 N⋅m)
- 2.5L H25A V6 petrol engine, available in a 4-speed automatic and a 5-speed manual transmission (116 kW, 213 N⋅m), exclusively offered for the Sports pack
This first offering included a Sports and Sports Wide spec levels, both available in automatic and manual. Its production run continues to the present for some markets, including Australia, selling alongside the now-back Suzuki Vitara. Its current lineup includes the Navigator 4x4 (base model), Sports 4x4, and Urban SE 4x2, all offered in the same 122-kW 2.4L petrol engine hooked up to either manual or automatic transmission.
4th Generation: LY series (2015-present)
The Vitara returns as a 5-door subcompact crossover, in keeping with the recent models of its stand-in, the Grand Vitara. Its advantage, though, is its city-sleek thin lines which make it a better choice for busy streets and jam-packed parking areas. It was sold in two-wheel and four-wheel-drive models, which makes it more appealing to urban-dwellers and weekend off-roaders.
The new Vitara was reintroduced at the 2014 Paris Motor Show. In the following year, it was released in Australia with a performance-enhanced 1.6L M16a (later version of the M16A) petrol engine paired with either an automatic or a manual gearbox. In the international scene, a 1.6L diesel engine was introduced as well, together with the petrol version. This diesel engine and a new turbocharged petrol engine were offered in Australia for the 2016 model year.
So as of 2016, these were the available powertrains:
- 1.6L M16a I4 petrol engine paired with either a 6-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters or a 5-speed manual transmission (86 kW, 156 N⋅m)
- 1.6L DDiS I4 diesel engine paired with a 6-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission (88 kW, 320 N⋅m)
- 1.4 L K14C Boosterjet I4 petrol engine paired with a 6-speed automatic transmission (103 kW, 220 N⋅m)
The more powerful Boosterjet engine comes with the S Turbo pack, which is available in 2WD and 4WD. The S Turbo variants come fully loaded with range-topping specs which would put to shame the no-nonsense, and rather spartan, first-generation Vitara. The standard features include alloy sports pedal, leather upholstery with red-stitch accents, LED headlights with auto on/off function, distinctive chrome grille, high-tech gadgets and connectivity, keyless entry and drive, and a variety of safety sensors and driver-assistive features, to name only a few.
The same engines can be seen in the most recent models of the Suzuki Vitara but are offered in a host of trim and spec combinations. This off-roader has, indeed, come a long way.