2008 Suzuki Grand Vitara diesel review (video)

Oz.

Well done, a video review!

Is that Sir Samuel Griffith Drive in Mt Coot-tha?

KC

New voice next time kthx – However, I should add, thats an absolutely awesome review, and very comprehensive. Keep it up guys as you present well.

http://www.caradvice.com.au/ alborz

Its only the beginning.

We are moving into video reviews, that was the first one so the footage and sound quality will improve dramatically for the next one and so on.

And yes, it was Sir Samuel Griffith Drive in Mt Coottha – nice spot!

Simon

Good to see you guys going into video, we need more peolpe doing it, I am getting so sick of idiot Hagon over at drive.

Nice and brief and I know they will get better – keep them coming! I’d much rather watch a video than read it.

Adam J

That thing sounds noisy and I can’t believe that fuel figure, did you actually manage that on the test?

http://www.caradvice.com.au Karl Peskett

AHA! So Alborz IS a real person.

Here I was, thinking I was talking to a spam generator….

http://. Naughtyius Maximus

Good review and agree wholeheartedly….VIDEO REVIEW MORE ALBORZ AS SPEAKS MUCH MORE VOLUME THEN A STORY HEY AND PLEASE DO EXTERNAL SHOTS OF FRONT AND SIDES AND REAR! Yes the sound was tad poor and will get better next one!

NO JOKE INTENDED….its always a shock when you try to place someone you know off here and then you see and hear them for first time! I expected Alborz to be like a cross between George Costanza off Seinfeld mixed with a dry accountant come car guru in 50′s and bald….thankfully those fears are lessened fully now mate!

Oz.

Hey NM, I’m with what you said: “its always a shock when you try to place someone you know off here and then you see and hear them for first time!” Ha Ha Ha! I can’t agree more!

Now we finnaly know this site’s author better than the readers on here for the first time!

About the car: They could have better fuel figures than that seeing it’s a diesel.

http://. Naughtyius Maximus

At 7.6litres per 100kms diesel usage – well if marketted correctly will sell very well!

Good one hey OZ. Feels shocking at first. Here is me big solid and not fat seeing this little lad in the car with pink stickers? Like I was looking at clip thinking “That must be the lad who dropped off to Alborz”…..Geepers crikey it was him! I would of expected Alborz to do an impersonation of his nibs Jeremy Clarkson in the Toyota Hilux and give it an absolute caning or do some fiord crossings complete with goggles and snorkel….mind you Alborz seemed rev happy!

http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=659029046 Amanda

You put it all together really well Alborz! Even if we did do 100 takes and you started swearing You have a bit of a robotic news reader voice happening, but we’ll work on that

Bavarian Missile

hahaha….nice one babe…….hahaha

Love it!!!

You have great taste in Women Alborz……Amanda is great!

No Name

Good stuff alborz. Boy that engine was noisy, I don’t think its a good advert for diesels personally there are better stronger diesels out there. Fiat/Gm’s are better.

stumpy

Great start mate and yes they need an auto for that model,it would sell like hot cakes.

The external noise was loud, very truck like but with widows up it was ok.

If you you are doing video reviews could you still put vital stats of the tested car in type below the video window, like model power, torque, price etc.

Great job Alborz!

Andrew

Can I offer some constructive criticism? Please take as constructive and this is my opinion only.

* No explanation of 4WD system, how it works etc. Is it FWD or AWD or RWD before being locked.
* You mention it’s a real off roader. Can we some proof of that? What is its ground clearance?
* Yes it is 7.6L/100km but what did you actually get with it?
* Load space and towing capacity were not mentioned.
* What other cars compete in this segment.

http://www.caradvice.com.au Anthony

Good points Andrew – all writers at Car Advice will be shooting video reviews, so good constructive criticism is much appreciated

Steve

It’s a short video, if you want those details you can woit like the rest of us for the full review where I’d imagine they get to keep the car for a few days to really see what sort of economy they get.

Alborz, looks like a good audition tape for Top Gear AU :p

Good luck if you entered. I know I have, but I doubt I’ll win. I’m a bit William Woollard than Jeremy Clarkson.

Andrew M

perhaps the whole site is auditionong as the new top gear for OZ???

i see potential for a well informed aussie motor show for once.

one thing i would like more of though is direct comparisons between models. i feel that is where you lack a bit.
the “big small car comparison” you did a while back was on the right path i felt

you obviously have a passion and work hard to publish what you do so it would be great to see this make it to TV one day rather that a pieced together outfit where they source people like australian idol to form a group. it just never works when bands are manufactured. they need to have done the hard yards first like you guys have

Bret

I would love to comment on the video – but I can’t see it behind the firewall here at work. I can view videos from other sites (eg Drive-L), but not yours.
Maybe it’s not the firewall, perhaps I am missing a codec or something? Can you post the technical requirements to access video data??

http://www.caradvice.com.au/ alborz

Its hosted on YouTube, and its likely that your work has blocked access to YouTube.

Bret

Yep, that would be it!
Any thoughts on alternative methods in the future? Might be something to bear in mind as more workplaces (and Mums & Dads) block YouTube, you limit your audience if you go heavily into the video thing.

Jay D

I picked up one of these new diesel GV’s on the 1st Feb as a company car, and have clocked around 3000k’s so far. The vehicle certainly lives up to its reputation, and I average around 7.6 L /100 travelling around the Gold Coast and Brisbane. It is certainly noisy, but no more than other diesels I’ve driven, even the Toyota TD Prado. The gearbox is very notchy, and even ‘clunky’ into third, and is not getting better as it settles in, so I will be talking to Suzuki at the next service. Overall though I am very happy, especially with over 750Ks betwen fills with a 66 liter tank, and haven’t come close to running out. Thanks for a good vid review, I look forward to more in the future.
Jay

http://Sim Sim

When will the Full Review be undertaken for the Diesel GV. Im keen to see all the ‘nuts and bolts’ discussed and the car put through its paces properly ???

Tony Chamberlain

As a potential buyer i would really like to see the full tests on the grand vitara range. I think your reviews are great reading. When will the reviews be available?
Thx

Jason G

When can we expect a full review of the 2008 (09 model) 2.4L Grand Vitara?

Dale

I have an 09 Diesel GV have just clocked 1120kms on it and couln’t be happier.

It is no noisier than any other diesel on the market. Is great to drive on and off road and fuel economy so far is sitting around the 8.1 to 8.3 range with work commuting at speeds upto 80kph will post back here in mid may after a trip to Melbourne and back, from Adelaide, I am anticipating getting below 7L/100 by the time we hit horsham. Our petrol gets down to 6.9 on this same trip on 98 octane so I am banking that the diesel will be better given the high 300nm of torque allowing early gear shifting between 1500 and 2000rpm.

One problem we are having is with optional DVD player the Clarion. It will not eject the disc after only 5 dvds for the kids. This is going to repaired on first service later this week.

Blinky Bill from Bellingen

I spotted this car (petrol actually) parked at the local shops, liked what I saw and so decided to revisit this test for a second look and read.

First up I’m wondering ‘why all the excitement over the fuel figures’? My Defender gets me close to 9 Lts for 100 kms, if I lope around the place & it’s way more capable as a tow vehicle & off road. But I’m not here to knock but rather check out the review on the Suzuki.

I could easily see me having one of these babies. Good ground clearance, true 4×4, nice list of safety & comfort features and it would not break the bank.

Just not too sure about that Renault donk. Are THEY reliable? That’s the question.