Ron Perry’s 2006 Suzuki Grand Vitara Driving Impressions:
Every year Suzuki continues to improve its vehicles. This year’s redesigned 2006 Grand Vitara is no exception, but Suzuki does have a lot more room for improvement. The Grand Vitara’s biggest downfall is its lack of power. For whatever reason, Suzuki always installs underpowered engines and this makes the company’s products unpleasant to drive. This is frustrating because if the Grand Vitara had the extra punch of a few more horsepower, it would be more competitive. Suzuki also needs to address the overly responsive steering in the Grand Vitara. In an emergency maneuver I could easily see losing control due to the sensitivity of the steering and how the SUV counter reacts to quick input. The Grand Vitara feels like a quality ride when you slip behind the wheel, thanks to all the nice leather and the multiple textured plastics, and that feeling continues during the drive. The ride is smooth and the brakes are firm but informative. The Grand Vitara noticeably reacts to cornering force, as you would expect an SUV to, feeling a bit top heavy. With just a little more work, the Grand Vitara has the potential to be a contender.

Christian Wardlaw’s 2006 Suzuki Grand Vitara Driving Impressions:
If you’re shopping for a sport/utility vehicle that looks like a truck and drives like a car, the 2006 Suzuki Grand Vitara is not it. This is a stiff-riding vehicle not unlike a sport sedan, except that when you spin the rather slow steering you find that the body rolls and the tires give up early. In other words, the Grand Vitara delivers a more traditional SUV driving experience. The 2.7-liter V6 is torquey for decent punch off the line, but loses steam quickly and proves merely adequate under most conditions. You’ll have no trouble keeping up with traffic, but you’ll definitely need to leave extra room for merging and passing. Equipped with a grade-logic automatic transmission, the SGV’s engine brakes on descents and holds a gear nicely for ascents. Gear whine is your constant companion between 30 and 60 mph, at which point wind and exhaust noise overtake it. The tight turning circle is a boon when trail blazing, parking at the mall, or executing a U-turn.

Overall, I liked the 2006 Suzuki Grand Vitara’s driving character, because I like vehicles that give me a feel for the road and that can go just about anywhere. However, Suzuki needs to get a more powerful and more fuel efficient engine into this vehicle pronto. And I’d like to be able to enjoy all the conveniences and luxury items in the top-level trim without having an expensive automatic transmission forced upon me.

Thom Blackett’s 2006 Suzuki Grand Vitara Driving Impressions:
One word best describes the 2006 Suzuki Grand Vitara’s 2.7-liter V6 engine: lackluster. There’s enough power for casual driving around town, but go for full throttle and it feels wholly inadequate, so don’t plan on any sudden cuts into high-speed highway traffic. Try it and the sound of a taxed engine suggests that 185 horsepower and 184 lb.-ft. of torque aren’t up to the task of moving nearly 3,700 pounds of curb weight. And that’s with only a 165-lb. driver on board – traveling with a family of five, all of their gear, and a 3,000-lb. trailer likely requires hanging out in the breakdown lane with the hazards on. Kudos go to Suzuki engineers for including a solid braking system with a progressive pedal feel and steering that borders on responsive.

In terms of handling, the redesigned Grand Vitara can feel a bit tippy on high-speed corners, though not to the point of causing alarm. Though the ride is stiff, there’s still a smidge of body roll. However, where this little ‘ute really shines is off-road. With its short wheelbase and capable four-wheel-drive system, this Suzuki tackled rock-strewn trails, washed-out gullies and deep ruts with ease. In fact, the Grand Vitara took everything I threw at it, from narrow passes ravaged by rain, steep inclines and descents, and small boulders that randomly popped up. Bombing down dusty trails is good fun and, interestingly, I recorded my best fuel rating, 21.2 mpg, while punishing the Grand Vitara in the dirt.