Off-road is where Suzuki loyalists will cheer the loudest for the 2006 Grand Vitara, because this mini-ute is the real deal when traversing boulders and streams. There are two available four-wheel drive options: A full-time single-mode four-wheel-drive system for light-duty off-roading in 4-Hi mode, and a full-time four-mode four-wheel-drive system which adds a 4-Hi locking mode, a 4-Lo locking mode, and neutral mode for flat towing behind an RV. The latter is a setup that can handle pretty much anything outside of Moab – and maybe even that. With good visibility and approach/departure angles of 29 and 27 degrees, the Grand Vitara 4WD handled everything on a difficult course. That kind of performance is sure to rekindle Suzuki’s reputation as a credible source for off-road vehicles, though a little more than the allotted 7.9-inch ground clearance would be nice.

Going off-road is easy, too, and in the spirit of making four-wheel driving a video game. Except to check your angle, you never have to get out of the Grand Vitara. Engaging 4WD for traversing creek beds and boulders is handled by an interior switch that activates the center differential. An added benefit to the optional four-mode 4WD is towing, as in towing the vehicle. By shifting into neutral, you can tow the SUV with all four wheels on the ground, incurring zero odometer creep in the process.