2009 Suzuki Grand Vitara
26 Aug, 2008
27 Comments 
CarAdvice was invited to the Suzuki launch of the all-new Grand Vitara in the Northern Territory over the weekend. But before our travel log and first steer go live in the next 24-hours, here are some facts about the new compact SUV.
Although called a new Grand Vitara, from the outside it’s hard to tell, but that’s only because the Japanese company has kept the current styling due to its popularity in Europe.
Nonetheless improvements are plenty with new engines offering more power, better economy and more standard safety features.
The engine which is sure to prove popular is the all-new 2.4-litre variable valve timing (VVT) four cylinder engine which is now fitted to both 3-door and 5-door models and an all-new 3.2-litre VVT V6 for the 5-door.
The 2.4-litre (122 kW and 225Nm of torque) replaces the superseded 1.6-litre (3-door) and 2.0-litre (5-door) engines. Fuel efficiency has improved to just 8.8 litres per 100 km for the five-speed manual (3-door). A four-speed automatic is also available in the 3-door
New standard features across the range include ESP, six SRS airbags and rear ventilated disc brakes (moving on from drums), the five-door also receives cruise control as standard.
A new model is the 5-door 2.4-litre Prestige version, previously only available as a V6. The prestige includes leather trim, sunroof, mirror-mounted side indicators, ESP, six SRS airbags, premium 7-speaker (plus subwoofer) sound system and 17-inch alloy wheels which can be optioned up to 18s.
Going from the old 2.0-litre engine has given the 5-door four-cylinder a little more power, bringing 0-100km/h acceleration down to 11.7 seconds (from 12.5).
The diesel also remains in the lineup, with minor work to improve fuel economy by 8 per cent as well as reducing noise and vibration. The diesel gets by using just 7.0-litres per 100 km.
Moving up, the new 3.2-litre 165 kW Prestige V6 tops the range, replacing the outgoing 2.7-litre V6. Although delivering more power and torque (284 Nm), VVT technology ensures better fuel efficiency, down to a respectable 10.5 L/100 km. A 9 per cent increase over the outgoing 2.7-litre V6.
The prestige V6 gets (on top of the four cylinder prestige), High Intensity Discharge (HID) projector headlamps with dusk sensor and washers, hill descent control and hill hold control.
Another big improvement has been the interior noise levels, dropping around 2 decibels over the outgoing model. Suzuki brought out its NVH engineers from Japan to explain the improvements (more on this in the first steer).
Pricing details for the new 2009 Suzuki Grand Vitara:
- GV3 3-Door 5 speed manual $24,990
- GV3 3-Door 4 speed automatic $26,990
- 5-Door 5 speed manual $29,990
- 5-Door 4 speed automatic $31,990
- 5-Door 5 speed manual (17-inch alloys) $30,990
- 5-Door 4 speed automatic (17-inch alloys) $32,990
- 5-Door DDiS turbo-diesel 5 speed manual $34,990
- 5-Door Prestige 4 speed automatic $36,990
- 5-Door Prestige 4 speed automatic (18-inch alloys) $37,490
- 5-Door Prestige V6 5 speed automatic $39,990
- 5-Door Prestige V6 5 speed automatic (18-inch alloys) $40,490
Check back soon for a first steer and travel log of CarAdvice’s journey through the Northern Territory with Suzuki’s new Grand Vitara.
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August 26th, 2008 at 4:29 pm
The Suzuki Grand Vitara is a very underrated car but the pick of the bunch for off-road work is still the diesel model. The new petrol engines are welcomed & these should sell well.
Cheers !
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August 26th, 2008 at 4:57 pm
How was the flight out from Ayers? I almost got to fly you guys out there went to alice that day instead. Kings Creek Station is an interesting spot..
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August 26th, 2008 at 5:21 pm
The helicopter flight from Ayers was brilliant! Although that was because i was on a real chopper and not the Robinsons :) We also spotted some camels which was great… then we ate them later.
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August 26th, 2008 at 5:23 pm
I hired one of these through work for 2 weeks of solid long distance driving (only car available) and got the Diesel. On long distance driving in 5th with cruise on I couldn’t manage better than 14L/100. From the Diesel.
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August 26th, 2008 at 5:38 pm
Ridiculous that the diesel still isn’t available with an auto box. Also unbelievable is the 4-speed auto on many models. Crazy. KC, that’s bad economy from a 1.9l manual diesel! Our 2.7 auto diesel averages 10l/100km.
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August 26th, 2008 at 5:41 pm
I hear you ate more than just Camels Alborz…………how was that wombat hahaha ? Was just checking the pics out on Facebook,interesting looking helicopter! Had to laugh what was written on the fuel tanker that was refueling that $4000 an hour plane you got from Brissy to Charleton and Ayers Rock,FANTASIC photos!!!!!!!!!!Oh my god were they DINGOS on a lead I saw………….phew you finally have done it,hahaha
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August 26th, 2008 at 5:57 pm
Yeah gotta agree with comment that similar to last Vitara. NOT MUCH NEW THERE!
MISSILE…..hey Iam not saying you havent got a life! GEE just saying not into mega social tet a tet and that FACEBOOK! Sorry babes! Moi is old hat on that one hun!
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August 26th, 2008 at 6:20 pm
Your forgiven NM……….but if you just took a look at Caradvices Facebook site ,there are 60 photos up there so far on this blog and the one off the 2 Dingos is funny,I thought one was enough on this site!
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August 26th, 2008 at 6:50 pm
OK…..send me the lowdown on email what I have to do to tune into this FACEBOOK! I just got tad weird when Rudd went on it or comments people get on there to make friends and whatnot…combined with 13yrs girls Andrew eludes to.
Shiver me timbers….2 Dingo’s. Hey I was near Armidale on dirt road and we sighted a dingo hung up in tree. Thought of that fleabag varmit yeast sculler from Emerald way. Yes agree…..one Dingo is dog gone tooooo much! Ever notice how Thomas, TP, and Dingo…..even Frugal One hang in a pack! Frontline would (dont everyone bore it up me…I did say at times)!
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August 26th, 2008 at 6:52 pm
not help those Toyota fleabags! LOL
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August 26th, 2008 at 7:37 pm
Done NM………….and for anyone else just type in Caradvice in search and it will bring it up along with loads more info…………
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August 26th, 2008 at 7:42 pm
Or below the live comments on this page there is an e-bay logo and below that Facebook,click on that!Simple!!!!!!
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August 26th, 2008 at 8:27 pm
Hey BM is that really a pic of you on the facebook site? if it is, glad to finally put a face to the name, no one will call you a bloke anymore!! Does your Husband know you posted that pic? We dont have many wives that look like that down in tassie anymore!!(my wife better not see this either!!) Any way back on subject… Vitara probably best looking compact in this segment.
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August 26th, 2008 at 9:13 pm
hahaha yep dats me,I did some boudoir photos a few months ago,if you go on to my page you can see some of them but not the real naughty ones there for Wheelnut husband to be………..Your a Tasweign,cool!
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August 26th, 2008 at 9:14 pm
I’d have to agree Zandit - The Vitara is a neat looking soft roader Although I don;t mind the Outlander either.. both of which are better than the RAV4 which is nothing more than a Kluger Wannabe which is nothing more than a Prado wannabe
I think that if Holden ever introduce an 4×4/AWD car similar to the Territory then they could possibly use the Suzuki AWD system.. as they did with the Holden Cruze [Suzuki Ignis - which is now the Suzuki SX4] and the Cruze wasn’t a bad little car either.. However; I think that they would probably use the system that’s under the Saab 9-X AWD which was copied/borrowed from Subaru
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August 26th, 2008 at 9:48 pm
Jeez wheelnut I thought I had some car Knowledge I bow down to you!!(Is that enough or do you need more, I can go all night!!)
Yep BM, born and raised 33yrs now!! NW coast near Burnie, Only just left the car industry, got a better offer to work on spare parts for the mining industry. How long ago
did you leave Tassie, You’re in WA now aren’t you?
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August 26th, 2008 at 9:54 pm
Yep, Wheelnut, the outlander is a good car, tried to get the parents into one but Dad’s a stubborn one(will read all the information to death and then do nothing!!)Got ot agree on the Toyo comments too!! Considered buying an Outlander recently but got a Lancer VRX man instead
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August 27th, 2008 at 9:19 am
Those camel burgers go alright haha I take it you went in a jetty or the longy glad you enjoyed it its sweet flying around here.
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August 27th, 2008 at 9:22 am
The saab xwd system was developed with Haldex in Sweden not borrowed/copied from subaru. It is a different system. SX4 was developed with Fiat and has nothing to do with the old Holden cruise that sat on a Ignis chassis. Why would they use the 4wd system when Opel already have 4wd chassis in use/development. GM also sold out most of their Suzuki shares and have little to do with the company now.
The Vitara is an ordinary car/4wd on the road and almost all soft roaders including the RAV4 are superior to it.
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August 27th, 2008 at 10:29 am
Hey ZANDIT ,if your a member of the CA Forum drop me a PM or if your a Facebook member join my group of friends.Cheers
Lisa
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August 27th, 2008 at 10:46 am
Mac et al,
Did you stop to think why GV is a bit more ordinary on the road than the rest?
It’s called a monocoque chassis…
Why does the Suzuki employ such a set up? To make it a better soft/off roader…OMG…stuff the RAV4 Can’t do!
But, but…it as 200 Killer Wasps? Woopdie Doo…that New Suzuki Mill will be ample to move it arround. Its the one thing it was missing in my opinion…It’s got great handling for a ladder chassis-like setup. Quite responsive considering…
If you take a look at a majority of soft roaders out there, you will see they typically use a Car Chassis…sure they’re a couple of cm’s higher off the ground and use bigger wheels…they may even have a quazzi-AWD setup but they’re for the Masses of Latte-sipping yuppies that think offroading is going down a gravel road.
The GVitara has a superior 4WD System with the H/L Range etc. Anyway…you get the point…end rant.
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August 27th, 2008 at 11:24 am
Whoops, used Macs name, not my own ^^^ :)
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August 27th, 2008 at 6:22 pm
I said the AWD system under the Saab 9-X is SIMILAR to Subarus.. I know its designed and built by Haldex but I doubt many people on here would know who they are which is why I used Subaru as an example given that all real car enthusiasts would know about Subaru and how good their Symetrical AWD system is..
Because in the initial stages of research and development of the 9-X they used a Subaru Liberty as a Test Vehicle a benchmark particularly in terms of perfomance and handling.. GM thought about whacking a Saab body on a Liberty platfrom given that GM owns shares in both Saab and Subaru but Fuji Heavy industries [owner of Subaru] said no - which is why thet went to Haldex
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August 27th, 2008 at 6:47 pm
Irrelevant vehicle in this day and age, especially with a thirsty V6. Outback ranchers need proper trucks, city dwellers need thrifty little hatchbacks. Recreational bush-bashing is history.
Suzuki needs to concentrate on developing the Swift.
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August 30th, 2008 at 11:41 am
K.C you averaged 14/100km ??? i have done 19,000kms in one and have averaged 7.1/100kms 1/3rd town driving 2/3rds country. you must have averaged 150kph or were driving in reverse?
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October 30th, 2008 at 11:03 pm
Our Corolla gets 15 klms.p.ltr which is roughly 6.4l/100
I am trying to find a decent 4WD that comes close to this,excluding Patriot, X-Trail looking good as its tow capabilities is all over Suzuki, after all this time waiting for an updated diesel, Suzuki still can only manage 1.9, unbelievable, while all others have a minium 2.0 ltr
I cannot understand how Suzuki can pay hundreds of thousands of dollars to engineers who can’t get past a 1.9 ltr engine, what a waste of resources.
You must understand my misgivings when I bought the Suzuki 1100 GKE M/Cycle-shaft-drive, the idiots put the rear axle behind the exhaust system, so when you want to change a tyre, either the whole exhaust system or the pannier racks came off to access the axle, and these ppl are the best in engineering, pull the other one.
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November 14th, 2008 at 12:46 pm
bogged again
dont fall into the stupid american mentality of bigger engines mean more power
I have a 1.3l 4 cyl swift that out perform most vehicles with an engine 3 times the capacity, it goes down to power to weight and good engineering
look at F1 cars
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