The history of the Vitara brand is quite interesting. For the first time a car with this name was presented in 1988, and Suzuki itself claimed the laurels of the founder of a new class of compact SUVs (Sport Utility Vehicle). And if the championship by the abbreviation is difficult to dispute, then from a technical point of view, the Japanese were 11 years late - since 1977 domestic VAZ has already produced "Niva" and supplied it for export. The design of the Vitara itself, with a separate frame and plug-in front-wheel drive without a center differential, was closer to classic SUVs. The result is not very good at the same time. good crossover and a fairly mediocre SUV. It was this “generic curse” that ruined the model a quarter of a century later, despite the fact that, under pressure from competitors, the frame turned into a load-bearing body, and the front end was connected through a constantly working center differential... And the presence of a lowered row in the transfer case looked quite advantageous against the background of the main competitors - Toyota RAV4, Honda CR-V and Mitsubishi Outlander.
Who is the old one?
New Grand vitara after them, it also became more modern, more comfortable and more environmentally friendly, but at the same time it was more and more removed from the Vitara, which almost 20 years ago fell in love with fans of off-road adventures. Unable to compete on equal terms with the giants of this class, Suzuki additionally attracted by a noticeably lower price, and now the third generation Suzuki grand Vitara (2005–2014) is a very interesting choice on the used car market in this segment: 5-7-year-olds have recently been sold in the range of 400–900 thousand rubles. depending on the appetites of the owners and the state of the car.
The car was known in other continents as the XL7, Suzuki Grand Nomade or Grand Escudo (short versions with three doors in many countries did not have the Grand prefix) and was produced since 2005. Despite the common chassis with some models of the General Motors concern, technically with "relatives" had little in common. The only "close" relative was the Suzuki XL7 (since 2007). And we have very rare specimens of the Iranian assembly. In 2006, 175 thousand cars were sold worldwide.
Suzuki Grand Vitara interior
The line of power units was wide enough. Until 2008, the base for the long versions was a 2-liter 4-cylinder JB420 gasoline engine that developed 140 hp. For the American market, a gasoline H27A (V6 2.7 liters, 185 hp) was also offered, but on Russian roads it remained a great rarity.
Suzuki did not produce diesel engines on its own, so the Japanese borrowed a 1.9-liter 4-cylinder turbodiesel (129 hp) from Renault. On short versions until 2008, it was also installed diesel engine M16 (1.6 L, 106 HP). Both modifications were not officially supplied to us and you can find them on secondary market It is quite problematic, and not worth it - it has long been known that modern diesel engines save money only to the first owner.
In the anniversary year for the brand in 2008 (20 years from the beginning of production), the Grand Vitara underwent the first restyling, including new engines, now with variable valve timing - an inline four JB424 (2.4 liters of 168 hp and 225 Nm) and completely new V6 3.2 (221 HP and 284 Nm). French suppliers made minor modifications to the old 1.9 liter turbodiesel (it was registered under the hood of many brands, for example, Volvo S40, Mitsubishi Сarisma).
Advertising brochures at auto shows and in dealership salons bravuraly stuck out updates: automatic transmission gear. V updated version a system for holding the car up and down (for a gasoline engine with a volume of 3.2 liters) was introduced, noise insulation was improved, the design of the radiator grille and bumper changed, new body paint colors appeared, the total length and length of the front overhang of the car increased by 30 mm, side mirrors equipped with integrated turn signal signals, additional airbags have become mandatory for all modifications. "
It was this set that became an important factor that contributed to some restoration of the popularity of sales of the Grand Vitara - after all, it was the only model in the SUV segment with a monocoque body and a lowered row in the transfer case. Subsequent upgrades in 2011 and 2012 affected stylistic decisions, while the technique was no longer changed.
Suzuki Grand Vitara AWD Mode Selector
Morbid nature
But the transmission has its own weak sides... Due to the fact that Grand Vitara has an "honest" all-wheel drive, components and assemblies (gearboxes, transfer case, cardan shaft) are heavily loaded compared to passenger cars and require more frequent maintenance. The most vulnerable place in the transmission is front gear, which may require bulkheads as early as 60-70 thousand km of run. Due to the low position of the ventilation breather, moisture can enter the gearbox, which leads to premature wear of the entire unit. The restoration will cost from 60 thousand rubles. Therefore, overcoming even small puddles, not to mention deep fords, can cause a breakdown.
Since the manufacturer has not done anything to solve this problem, it is advisable to remove the breather on the extension pipe under the hood, which will allow the gearbox to work under normal conditions up to the 200-250 thousand km conceived by the designers. The rear gearbox does not annoy with such design mistakes, it is enough to monitor the integrity of the seals and the level transmission oil... After a run of 50-60 thousand km, regular inspections of the transfer case and gearbox seals will be required for leaks or fogging. Replacing worn-out seals will cost at least 14 thousand rubles. due to the large amount of work on the dismantling of the units.
Mechanical gearboxes and transfer cases are quite reliable and do not cause problems with regular oil changes (at intervals of 60 thousand and 45 thousand km, respectively). Automatic gearboxes behave no less decently, since their design Suzuki for the longitudinal arrangement of the engine has long worked out (the main drawback is that due to the antiquity of the design, the unit has only four stages), it is enough to monitor the condition of the oil seals and the oil level. The service life of these units reaches 200-250 thousand km, the obligatory oil change, following the accumulated experience, should be done at least once every 100 thousand km, and with frequent forcing off-road or towing heavy trailers (for example, with motorcycles, ATVs, jet skis etc.) and completely reduce the mileage between replacements to 60-80 thousand km.
The most popular power unit on Grand Vitara - JB420 (2 l, 140 hp). This engine is reliable and unpretentious, allows operation on 92nd gasoline, but for a car weight of 1.6 tons, its power characteristics are clearly insufficient. In order to keep up with the city flow, it has to be twisted (and already at the turn of 60-80 thousand km, the oil consumption can reach 2-3 liters per 10 thousand km of run). With insufficient lubrication, the chain drive of the gas distribution mechanism will be the first to suffer, which entails replacing not only the chain itself, but also the sprockets with the tensioner assembly - otherwise the resource of the new chain will be extremely small. Under normal conditions, it stably takes care of 150–160 thousand km, and the engine itself, before the first ring replacement, is 250–300 thousand km.
With active city driving, fuel consumption can easily reach the mark of 15-16 l / 100 km, although on the highway it is possible to keep within 11-13 liters. The JB424 engine (2.4 l, 168 hp) is generally similar to its younger brother. The main brand of gasoline is AI-92, but in the summer, with long trips on the highways, the AI-95 will not be superfluous. Due to the low liter power and the successful layout of the engine compartment, the engines are not prone to overheating - another plus during prolonged off-road driving (but this does not negate the regular cleaning of the radiators at the car wash). The older brother - JB424 - differs in operation much more high consumption fuel, which in many ways caused a drop in demand for such modifications among residents of megalopolises - in combination with an automatic gearbox, its value could reach 20 l / 100 km!
One more sore spot- catalytic converters. In the Grand Vitara, they lose the required efficiency at the threshold of 60-80 thousand km. Self repair will cost about 40 thousand rubles. When installing non-original substitutes, the costs will be less - a good location behind the exhaust manifold makes it easy to choose a universal part that is suitable in size, up to the Volgovsky one. The low resource of these expensive units is also noted on other models of this brand, and the loss of efficiency below the allowable value is detected much earlier than the catalyst internals begin to fall apart - this is a clear indication of excessive savings in precious metals in the unit.
Suspension of the Suzuki Grand Vitara resists the Russian realities with dignity and before 80-100 thousand km rarely requires serious repair. Fastening parts have traditionally become an exception. front stabilizer to the suspension arms and the body, which, with frequent off-road driving, surrender every 20-25 thousand km, even if they are replaced only with original ones. The resource of wheel bearings strongly depends on the operating modes, on smooth roads and 150 thousand km is far from the limit, and with frequent use far from asphalt, the resource can be halved, and the nodes will ask for replacement after 70-80 thousand km. The bearing changes in assembly with the hub, the cost of the original unit fluctuates between 7-9 thousand rubles. At the turn of 80-90 thousand km, revisions will also require the front levers, which, as a rule, become unusable silent blocks. It also does not hurt to check the condition of the ball bearings, which are made as a single piece with levers.
Tuning for the "rogue"
The main advantage of the Suzuki Grand Vitara is that the off-road car is very good for its class, which expiates many of its flaws. For those who like to "get even deeper" there are a lot of offers on the market for off-road refinement. The simplest are kits that allow you to increase the vehicle's ground clearance by 3-4.5 cm (with a nominal 20 cm). Such an increase ground clearance does not entail a critical change in the wheel alignment angles, which has a positive effect on the mileage of tires and suspension parts. The cost of such modifications is 30-50 thousand rubles.
At all simple solutions, consisting in installing spacers above the springs, quickly kill the standard struts due to a change in the suspension travel and zero position. With the frequent forcing of water obstacles, the electric drive of the selector for selecting the transmission modes in the transfer case (14 thousand rubles) falls into the risk group, and then not very high-quality seals are brought in.
In general, in the city, the off-road capabilities of the car are clearly excessive (although the confidence on slippery surfaces is akin to the four-wheel drive premium sedans), and for real off-road conditions, it is insufficient.
When buying, it is wiser to give the main priority to copies sold through a network of authorized dealers that have a confirmed history. Maintenance and with the remnants of a guarantee - such cars do not have problems with "crooked" customs clearance, and the general probability of running into a copy with a criminal past is not very high - due to the specific niche of fans, the car was of little interest to the hijackers, although some surge in thefts can be expected with the aim of disassembly of cars for parts.
The last samurai: choosing a used Suzuki Grand VitaraFrom the history of the model
- On the conveyor: from 2005 to 2014
- Body: 3- or 5-door station wagon
- Russian range of engines: petrol, P4, 1.6 (106 HP), 2.0 (140 HP), 2.4 (169 HP); V6, 3.2 (233 hp)
- Gearboxes: M5, A4, A5
- Drive unit: full
- Restyling: 2008 - new motors 2.4 and 3.2 became available; modified front bumper, fenders and radiator grill; the repeaters of the direction indicators were transferred to the outside rear-view mirrors, in dashboard built in a multifunctional display. 2012 - wheel design was updated, front bumper and radiator grilles
- Crash tests: 2007, EuroNCAP; protection of the driver and adult passengers - four stars (30 points); child passenger protection - three stars (27 points); pedestrian protection - three stars (19 points)
The sealing gum on the doors wipes quite quickly paintwork in places of contact with openings. And the seal on the trunk opening leaves a mark on the inner panel of the door.
The Grand Vitara is a popular car. But, despite this fact and the demand of the spare parts market for used body parts, it does not attract the attention of hijackers. With one exception: almost on an industrial scale, the spare wheel cover on the tailgate is stolen. The new casing costs 25,000 rubles and you will have to pay another five thousand if you want the Suzuki inscription on it.
The long life of the car on the conveyor was blossomed by two restyling. However, both did not bring significant changes to the design: technically, the cars of the last years of production are almost identical to copies of ten years ago. An old horse will not spoil the furrow!
Along with the most common five-door version, there is also a shortened three-door. Its version with a 1.6 engine is in certain demand, only mechanical box gears and a truncated transmission - without blocking the center differential and a low range of gears in the transfer case. The rest of the modifications are equipped with a full-fledged off-road transmission.
- With age, a slight sagging of the tailgate is inevitable due to the weighty spare wheel. The issue is solved with minor adjustments.
- Optics is not a hassle: it does not fog up and does not melt. An exception is the modification with xenon dipped beam, which is equipped with a mandatory headlight washer system. Its motor is located at the very bottom of the tank, located behind the front bumper, and is not covered by anything. Two or three years are enough for its terminals coming out of the case to rot due to road dirt. The motor costs 6,000 rubles.
- The engineers clearly miscalculated by making the honeycomb of the engine and air conditioning radiators too small. The gap between them quickly grows overgrown with a mud coat, which interferes with cooling. The engine is the first to sound the alarm (especially versions 2.4 and 3.2), the arrow of the antifreeze temperature indicator goes into the red zone. Service technicians recommend flushing the radiators at least once every two years. To do this, they need to be dismantled.
- At the location of the engine compartment fuse box, on the right in the compartment, moisture constantly accumulates. On every fifth car at the age of seven to ten years, this leads to serious rotting of internal contacts. The disease can be seen: the block is transparent. But it is not collapsible, so you need to change it assembled. Usually, oxidized contacts cause problems with the transfer case. On the panel, the signal illumination of the four-wheel drive systems comes on and the modes stop switching.
We list the "weak points" of one of the simplest and most reliable Japanese off-road vehicles, based on the experience of its owners, and recommend what to look at when choosing such used cars.
Honest rogue
The second generation Suzuki Grand Vitara is one of the most striking examples of a simple, reliable and fairly high-quality car, which honestly fulfills the money paid for it year after year. The combination of such important qualities for buyers of crossovers and SUVs as high cross-country ability, reliability, unpretentiousness and adequate cost, made this all-wheel drive model a bestseller of the Suzuki brand in our country.
And thanks to the presence of a reduction gear and a rigid blocking of the center differential in the absence of a classic frame, the Grand Vitara is a car unique in its design among modern crossovers. "Grand Vitara" supplied to Russian market exclusively from the factory in the Japanese city of Iwata in Shizuoka Prefecture, throughout the 11 years of sales have enjoyed stable demand.
Every year, the model sold with us in a circulation of 10 to 15 thousand units. And sometimes more. Having not lost its consumer qualities with age, Suzuki Grand Vitara continues to faithfully serve sometimes far from the first owners. And the safety margin of this rogue, combined with the low cost of maintenance and repair, makes it a rather attractive offer in the secondary market.
Best the enemy of the good
The “second” Grand Vitara replaced its predecessor of the same name in 2005. Its prototype, called the "Suzuki Concept-X2", was unveiled at the New York International Motor Show. The five-door concept in black, created in the spirit of the new corporate philosophy "Lifestyle", was in many ways similar to the resulting production car. Under the hood of the prototype was a 185-horsepower 2.7 V6 petrol engine from the previous generation of the model, paired with a 5-speed automatic. But unlike its predecessor, the new item had a constant four-wheel drive and a frame integrated into the monocoque body instead of the traditional ladder type.
In the new generation of the model, for the first time, the body design features inherent in frameless crossovers were combined, as well as a transmission with a center differential lock and a lowering, as in full-fledged SUVs. By the way, the Japanese developed the "second" Grand Vitara using some components of the GM Theta platform. But at the same time they were modified, so that built on an American "cart" Japanese model can not be named. However, after a couple of years, the Suzuki XL7 was released on this Jem platform. It was assembled for the North American market at the CAMI Automotive plant in Canada alongside its sister Chevrolet Equinox and Pontiac Torrent. But this is a completely different car, which has nothing to do with our "Grand Vitara".
In Russia, the Suzuki Grand Vitara was officially sold with 3- and 5-door bodies and only with atmospheric gasoline engines... At first, these were in-line "fours" 1.6 (106 hp) for the short and 2.0 (140 hp) for the long-wheelbase version of the SUV. The first was aggregated only with a 5-speed mechanics and a simplified all-wheel drive transmission without lowering and locking the center differential. And the second, in addition to the mechanics, also has a 4-band automatic. In Europe, the model was also offered with a 129-horsepower Renault 1.9 diesel engine and a 106-horsepower 1.6 (for three-doors until 2008), and in America it was sold as a Grand Vitara V6 with a 185-horsepower "six" from the XL-7 of the previous generation.
In 2008, along with a small external update of the bumpers, radiator grille and lighting equipment, as well as with new body colors, enhanced noise insulation and turn signals moved to the mirror housings, Grand Vitara received two more engines: a 2.4 inline four and a 3.2 V-shaped six. ... The first developed 166 forces on a three-door and 169 forces on a five-door, and the second with a capacity of 233 forces was available only with a 5-speed automatic on the long-wheelbase version of the crossover and was sold in Russia only from 2008 to 2009. In 2012, the model was updated again. Crossover received wheel disks a new design, a different grille and a modified bumper. Inside, there is a different seat upholstery and Garmin navigation in the top versions.
After the release of the modern successor in 2015 (already without the Grand prefix), the losing popularity of the Grand Vitara was offered to customers by Russian dealers for about a year. The last new car they sold in October 2016. In just 11 years, 110,607 crossovers of this generation have been sold in Russia. The most popular were five-doors with a 2.0 engine and automatic transmission (44,520 units were sold from 2005 to 2016). The second most popular was the Grand Vitara 2.0 with mechanics (26 106 units), the third place was taken by the crossover with the most powerful "four" 2.4 and automatic transmission (25 587 cars). The least sold cars with the American 3.2 V6 engine (613 units). The second generation Suzuki Grand Vitara has been officially discontinued worldwide in 2017.
Sales statistics for Suzuki Grand Vitara in Russia from 2005 to 2016
Few of all
In the aftermarket in Russia, the Suzuki Grand Vitara can be found in all possible combinations with almost any engine and gearbox pair available for this generation of the model. Including privately imported cars from North America with 2.7 V6 and 1.9 diesel with manual gearbox from Europe. But the largest number of offers on the Internet today is presented by five-door ( 87% ) and mainly with the 2.0 engine ( 58% ). A slightly smaller choice of crossovers with a "four" 2.4 ( 28% ). Used 3-door cars with a junior engine 1.6 ( 12% ) is still about half as much. And brought from the Old World and "American women" are almost impossible to find (according to 1% ). The worst represented crossovers with the top-end 3.2 V6 (less 0,5% ). They were sold in Russia for a short time and were not cheap.
Body little things
Frankly rusty "second" Grand Vitara you are unlikely to meet even at the age of 10. Unless she's been in an accident. In the crossover of this generation, in general, everything is in order with its corrosion resistance. At least no completely weak points in the defense against the "red plague" were noticed in the model. Only the condition of the paint can cause concern. It scratches easily, exposing the primer, and also suffers greatly from stones flying from under the wheels. The front, almost vertical edge of the bonnet is especially prone to chipping. If you do not tint the damage to the metal in time, then soon a superficial red plaque will appear on them. In general, this is all not critical, but not beautiful!
Also appearance spoil the peeling chrome from the plastic parts and paint peeling off the leashes of the wipers. And the rubber door seals wipe the weak paintwork in the doorways to the ground and even to the metal. The sagging of the tailgate under the weight of the spare wheel can be eliminated by simply adjusting the hinges. But her cracked handle from 700 rubles will have to be changed. However, like a cracked windshield from 5000 rubles. By the way, it could have become so due to the hobbies of the past owner of off-road trips. Nevertheless, the body of the car is load-bearing and can eventually get tired and weaken from the loads. Such "Grand Vitaras" are not the best choice... They may have more worn out components and assemblies.
Engines
The most famous engine problems with which the model was officially sold with us are associated with gasoline. No, the crossover normally digests the 95th and even the 92nd. But from the poor quality of the fuel less than 30,000 km away, spark plugs and oxygen sensors from 9,200 rubles “die”, a fuel filter worth 27,300 rubles, complete with a gas pump, can quickly become clogged. And for 60,000 - 80,000 km a catalytic converter can “fly” for 77,400 rubles. Typical symptoms of his death are a decrease in power and deterioration in dynamics, difficult (long) engine start, ringing and rattling from the exhaust system, CheckEngine on the tidy, sharp bad smell exhaust and high fuel consumption.
However, the crossover is famous for its good appetite, and this is often considered normal. And engines of "Grand Vitara" with age begin to eat up oil due to wear piston group... Aggregates 2.0 and 2.4, which can “drink” up to 350 ml per 1000 km, are especially affected by the "oil-eating". Some are pulling off the engine capital using a higher viscosity oil. Therefore, it would be good to find out from the owner of the selected crossover what kind of oil is poured into the engine, and what is its consumption, in order to understand whether a major overhaul is coming soon. By the way, low level oil can halve or three times reduce the resource of the timing chain from 2,700 rubles, which is supposed to depart 150,000 km.
And for all motors, after 60,000 - 70,000 km, it may be necessary to replace the left support for 5100 rubles. On engines located longitudinally under the hood, it wears out earlier, working more to break when pressing the gas. The imminent death of the support will be prompted by body vibrations when idle motor. Otherwise, the power units of the crossover are quite reliable and unpretentious. The younger engine 1.6 (M16A) is considered one of the most tenacious of the "Grand Vitara", since it works with a simplified transmission and on a lighter three-door. The most popular 2.0 (JB420), with proper care, may well go up to the capital of 400,000 km. The more powerful "four" 2.4 (JB424) is also generally trouble-free, but more voracious.
You should be aware of diesel crossovers rarely found on sale that with the appearance of wear and tear, their engines are no longer as profitable as on new cars. Search and selection of SUV with 2.7 V6 (H27A) - lottery. With age, in the absence of proper care and timely maintenance, the "six" can cause a lot of trouble and require cash investments due to wear of the timing chain drive mechanism, as well as leakage of oil seals, gaskets and seals. The owners of the previous Grand Vitara XL-7 know this firsthand. And the top-end 3.2 V6 (N32A), like Opel antara and the Chevrolet Captiva, which is gluttonous, but not bad overall. When good. Spare parts for the American unit may have to wait longer, and they can cost more.
Transmission
Complaints about the 5-speed mechanics of the Grand Vitara are rare due to the reliability of this gearbox. If the oil in it was changed every 45,000 km, and the car was not driven off-road, then there should be no problems with the manual gearbox. Nevertheless, during a test drive, make sure that all gears are switched on clearly and without unnecessary effort, and that hums, extraneous noises and crunches are not heard from the box. You should not be intimidated by a slight tremor of the gearshift lever - this is a feature of the mechanics on the Grand Vitara. A clutch for 16,000 rubles serves an average of 110,000 - 120,000 km and previously requires replacement only on cars that often left the asphalt or towed trailers.
A four-speed automatic, which was installed with "fours", and a 5-speed automatic with a V6 - reliable units from the Japanese company Aisin, nursing 200,000 - 250,000 km. They are unhurried in their work, but they do it conscientiously - smoothly. The oil in them should be changed at least 60,000 km, and preferably after 45,000 km, as under severe operating conditions. It is worth asking the owner how often this was done on his car. Check automatic transmission in all modes. It should not twitch, skid when switching, and extraneous noise should not come from it. The presence of these symptoms is a reason to look for another car. Repairing an automatic machine, and even more so replacing it, is not a cheap and troublesome task.
Transfer case it will not be a hassle if you monitor the oil level in it, and change it at the same time as you change the engine oil. Look under the car and make sure that the oil seals - especially between the gearbox and the transfer case - are intact and not leaking, and the transmission is clean and dry. The front gearbox, which costs 25,000 rubles, requires attention. From exposure to moisture due to the low location of the ventilation breather, it may require repair after 60,000 - 70,000 km of run, not having served the prescribed 200,000 - 250,000 km. And on cars produced before the first restyling, when coasting at 80-90 km / h, the main steam can howl in it. Only replacing it with a modified one will help to silence the node.
Rest
Heavy-duty crossover undercarriage resists bad roads and rarely bothers the owner with breakdowns earlier than 80,000 - 100,000 kilometers. On cars that did not leave the asphalt, wheel bearings for 9,300 rubles assembled with a hub run up to 150,000 km, and when driving into the mud, they can “die” after 70,000 km. After about 80,000 km, they may ask for replacement shock absorbers and worn out silent blocks, as well as front levers for 8,900 rubles because of the structurally unified ball-and-socket ones with them. More often - after 15,000 - 25,000 km - only the creaking inexpensive stabilizer bushings will have to be changed.
Examining the car you like, make sure that the climate system is working properly. Check its operation in all modes. In the risk zone there is a fan for 3200 rubles, the motor of which can burn out together with the control relay, as well as drives for stove dampers, temperature control and recirculation. All this can be fixed, but with the expense of time and money. And because of the rotten pipes under the hood, the air conditioner may not work, although the compressor will honestly "thresh", creating noise and consuming the energy allocated to it.
When inspecting the vehicle from the outside, check that the spare wheel cover on the tailgate is intact. If it is damaged, ask the seller for a discount. The new one is not cheap and costs 27,400 rubles. And also check the operation of the headlight washers if the car is equipped with xenon. The reason for inoperative injectors is often rotted contacts of a motor worth 4,100 rubles, located at the bottom of the washer reservoir behind the front bumper.
How much?
The range of prices for the "second" Suzuki Grand Vitara is great - from 350,000 rubles to 1,250,000 rubles. This is due to the long production time of this generation of the crossover. After all, the age of the very first cars has already passed 11 years, and the freshest ones have not yet turned two. Regardless of the year of manufacture and mileage, almost all Grand Vitaras presented on the secondary market are well-groomed and look very attractive. And their condition can often correspond to the type. Quite good three-doors can be found at a price of up to 440,000 rubles. Five-doors are found from 460,000 - 480,000 rubles. Prices for cars of the second restyling (younger than 2012) start at 750,000 rubles.
Our choice
The most interesting option for buying a Suzuki Grand Vitara, according to the Am.ru editorial staff, will be the most popular and widely presented on the market five-door version with a 140-horsepower 2-liter "four" and an automatic transmission. This is the most reliable, albeit not the most dynamic, version of the crossover. However, the main buyers of this model are conservative aged drivers. They value the durability and reliability of the car more than the time it takes to accelerate to a hundred. It is best to consider crossovers released after the 2008 restyling. In good condition, such cars can now be found from 600,000 rubles.
Production compact crossover Suzuki Grand Vitara was launched in 1998. Today, the production of cars has been discontinued, since the "samurai" has been replaced by new model with the same name, but in absolutely new configuration... The old version of the car is interesting and unique. It has a permanent four-wheel drive, center differential and its blocking. With a permanent drive "Japanese" is almost the most off-road vehicle in its class.
Grand Vitara feels confident off-road, overcoming mud, ice and snowy road. Before purchasing legendary car it is of course best to find out what its engine life is.
Powertrain lines
Throughout its history, the crossover has received a large number of different power plants, which to one degree or another became famous for their reliability and unpretentiousness. In most cases, Japanese engineers equipped their designs with just a couple of motors, but in the case of a completely different story. The choice of the buyer is available engine options from 1.6 to 3.2 liters with different levels of boost. Also, the line of engines includes not only gasoline, but also diesel modifications.
One of the most popular and demanded is the two-liter J20A engine. The cylinder head and main body parts are made of aluminum alloy. The main advantage of the motor is the presence of hydraulic gap compensators. Due to the hydraulic lifters, maintenance of the power unit is greatly simplified, and its resource also increases.
The engine travels on average about 300 thousand kilometers before the first major overhaul. The manufacturer recommends using a special engine oil Suzuki Motor Oil, due to which it is possible to significantly reduce the negative effect of friction force on the contacting surfaces of the parts of the power unit.
Engine life, certified by the manufacturer
As the practice of operating the Suzuki Grand Vitara shows, the crossover engines are quite reliable, but still have some weak points. A power unit with a displacement of 1.6 liters is sensitive to overheating; it is also better to avoid oil starvation of this engine. The installed timing chain drive serves for 120 thousand kilometers, which, of course, adds reliability and a longer resource to the motor. To increase the life of the chain, the manufacturer recommends using only certified engine oil. It is also advisable to warm up a 1.6-liter engine thoroughly during severe frosts.
The manufacturer does not indicate any limits for the resource of the motors, but assures that all the power units of the Suzuki Grand Vitara go at least 250 thousand kilometers. In order for the "heart" of the car to serve throughout the entire declared period, it is also necessary to use high-quality fuel. The engine spark plugs and the fuel filter, which are assembled with the gasoline pump, and the catalyst, suffer from low-quality fuel. Any breakage of these components fuel system significantly reduce the operating time. If you refuel with gasoline from a trusted supplier, undergo scheduled maintenance on time, you can increase the resource of the Suzuki Grand Vitara engine up to 300 thousand kilometers.
Suzuki Grand Vitara Owner Reviews
Suzuki Grand Vitara is a classic, without all the superfluous. Such a car will serve faithfully if given due attention. In the line of power units there are no turbocharged engines, and as a transmission, the manufacturer offers a time-tested hydromechanical gearbox. The symbiosis of a reliable engine and an equally reliable box, even today, bribes many drivers to purchase the Grand Vitara of the earliest generations. It is no exaggeration to say that the Japanese have turned out a really cool car, without interior frills, but with a keen attention to the most important thing. The reviews of the owners of the crossover will informatively tell about the resource of the Suzuki Grand Vitara engine.
Modification 1.6
- Stanislav, Irkutsk. I have a new 2017 Suzuki Grand Vitara, the latest generation model. I am still satisfied with the car, although the mileage is very scanty. Recently I only went through a run-in, changed the oil and began to pour the one recommended by the manufacturer. A friend has the same car, with an older generation 1.6-liter engine. I am also pleased with the car, now they put new engines under the hood of Vitara, almost perfect. You do not need to adjust the valve, you sit behind the wheel and go. Hopefully it will be at least 300,000 km before urgent repairs are needed.
- Yuri, Simferopol. The car is good, but probably not for our roads. The chain began to ring after 80 thousand kilometers due to excessive stretching. Replacement with a tensioner cost tens of thousands of rubles. Low quality fuel also affects the engine resource. It is very difficult to find a good supplier now. It is best not to save money and pour AI-95. I realized that when it was too late. I recently sold the car, I walked 180 thousand km on the Suzuki Grand Vitara, after which I decided to change it.
- Georgy, Moscow. My wife drives this 2014 crossover. The mileage is now about 45 thousand km, during this time the pump has already been changed under warranty, but there were no more problems. The car's consumption is huge at a speed of over 150 km, therefore, I do not recommend driving it if economy matters to you. Suspension is noisy, but not killable, the same thing for our roads. The engine works quietly, stably, there are a minimum of problems with the car, but there are some drawbacks, for example, weak metal of the body, as well as expensive service... V dealership said that the Grand Vitara 1.6 runs 300,000 km.
This modification is equipped with a high-quality power unit, which requires increased attention. You can drive a crossover with a 1.6-liter engine under the hood for 250 thousand kilometers or more. The resource of the engine rests on quality and constant scheduled maintenance car.
Modification 2.0
- Mikhail, Tyumen. I will say it as a former owner of Suzuki Grand Vitara 2.0 and 2.4. These cars have excellent transmissions, but the engines, frankly, let us down. Both "eat" oil, and about one liter per 1,000 km. The chain really runs about 120 thousand kilometers, I like that in this car there is no need to adjust the valve. For all the time, there were no special problems with the engines, but the constant costs of oil and fuel strained. Consumption is also about 12 liters in the city, which is a lot. In general, I recommend purchasing a Grand Vitara with an engine of 2.7 liters or more, for example, 3.2 liters. They are of higher quality and more high-torque.
- Sergey, Yekaterinburg. To be brief: I didn't like the car. Passed 200 thousand kilometers on Suzuki Grand Vitara, after which he sold the car. The motor "eats" oil, and when the mileage reaches 100 thousand km, the "appetite" of the car increases significantly. I also didn't like that the engine was prone to knocking. The chain did not even live up to 100 thousand, had to be changed at the turn of 70-75 thousand km, knocking and ringing began, the chain stretches very quickly.
- Alexander, Tula. Everyone likes the car. On his 1998 car he covered 300,000 kilometers, quite successfully, after which he did overhaul... If the engine detonates, then it is necessary to change the fuel, switch to a different octane number, the manufacturer himself recommends pouring AI-95. I recently refueled on Lukoil AI-95 and did not know any problems. I changed the oil every 7 thousand km, filled in Liqui Moly 5W-30. In general, I am satisfied with the car, I recommend everyone a modification with a 2.0 liter engine.
Suzuki Grand Vitara with a 2.0 engine is quite reliable, but whimsical to the quality of the fuel to be refueled and requires timely maintenance. Subject to the manufacturer's recommendations on the frequency of scheduled maintenance, the crossover will last at least 300,000 km before the first overhaul.
Modification 2.4
- Egor, Moscow. Hello everyone! I purchased a Suzuki Grand Vitara 2.4 in 2007 from authorized dealer... At first, the machine really pleased, but soon the first disappointments came. The engine began to "eat" oil, and the consumption increased to 1 liter per 1000 km. Went to service center, where I was told that the flow rate is not up to standard, but no one can fix it. Most likely piston rings coked up, and this is a very expensive repair. This happened due to low-quality fuel. I recently sold a car, the modification with a 2.4-liter engine is not suitable for use with us.
- Vadim, Voronezh. What can I say, the car is of high quality, reliable, but expensive to maintain. I have already covered 50,000 kilometers in my car, during this time I went through scheduled maintenance five times, which on average costs a couple of hundred dollars. Changing the spark plugs engine oil, filters and the like. The engine was filled with Mobil 1, an expensive but very high quality substance. In general, there were no problems with the engine over the years of operation. The main thing is to fill good gasoline as Suzuki motors are very sensitive to "power".
- Valery, Sochi. I had a car and domestic auto industry, was Toyota Avensis, but recently I only go to Suzuki. The last "samurai" was the Grand Vitara with a 2.4 liter engine and a hydromechanical gearbox. I'm happy with the car, and I'm not going to change it in the near future. The only thing I don't like is the monthly maintenance costs of the car. The Grand Vitara is more expensive than any other car I've owned. There have never been any problems with the engine.
In some cases, problems with a 2.4-liter engine can indeed be observed, however, it is mainly low-quality fuel and engine oil that provoke breakdowns. With proper and timely maintenance, the Suzuki Grand Vitara 2.4 modification travels at least 250,000 kilometers.
Suzuki Gran Vitara, being an excellent product from Japanese automakers, has delighted many fans of this brand with its characteristics. But, as you know, in almost any car, many owners discover not only the positive aspects of the car, but also their shortcomings, diseases and weaknesses. This also affected the 2nd generation Suzuki Grand Vitara. It is important to remember that the failure of small and inexpensive parts is not weak side is just natural wear and tear, due to the limited resource of the car. In this case, we will focus on the significant and expensive elements of the car, the failure of which occurs before the "metered" resource.
The advantages and benefits of Suzuki Grand Vitara 2
- Several gasoline power plants with a volume of 1.6, 2.0, 2.4 and 3.2 liters. The first two are paired with a five-speed manual or four-speed automatic transmission;
- Diesel engine with a volume of 1.9, with a capacity of 129 horsepower;
- Spacious salon;
- Comfortable fit while driving;
- Good cross-country ability, handling and road stability;
- Four-wheel drive;
- Quiet high-torque motor;
- Large ground clearance;
- The chassis is reliable.
Weaknesses of the 2nd generation Suzuki Grand Vitara
- Body;
- Power plants;
- Catalysts;
- Fuel filter;
- Reducer front axle;
- Valve train chain.
Now in more detail ...
The paintwork of the crossover is of decent quality. Excellent corrosion resistance. Rust is rarely found on the body, even on cars over ten years old. But the inner openings of the doors are poorly painted over. Over time, paint is erased on them to metal.
The weak point of the car was the cover of the compartment intended for storing and transporting luggage. The hinges are not designed for such a weight, after a few years they sag, and a distortion occurs. You can fix the problem yourself. It is enough to place a washer under the mount. But sometimes it doesn't work. In this case, it is necessary complete replacement deformed parts.
Power plants
Despite the high level of reliability, car engines have characteristic sores. A 1.6 engine does not tolerate overheating and lack of oil. The timing chain drive is capable of serving up to 200 thousand km, but subject to the use of high-quality lubricant... As soon as the resource of the unit ends, the oil consumption will increase up to 500 grams per thousand km. Especially for those who like to drive. In this case, it is necessary to install new rings, valve stem seals.
Power plants with a volume of 2.0 and 2.4 also have weak points. Service life of rollers drive belt small and is no more than 50 thousand km. The chain stretches quickly, the tensioner breaks. A symptom of an ailment is the appearance of an uncharacteristic sound when the engine is cold started.
Disadvantage diesel engine is a quick failure of the turbocharger, pump and DPF filter. Minus in great expense fuel and expensive unit maintenance.
Catalysts.
Depending on the quality of the fuel, the catalysts, sooner or later, will need to be replaced. They were classified as a vulnerability only because they clog up extremely quickly, and the cost of replacing them is not very low. Therefore, when buying, you should definitely ask the owner when the last replacement of the unit was made, and also check them by external signs. Signs of a clogged catalyst include problems with starting the engine, deterioration speed indicators and the presence of a strong smell of hydrogen sulfide from the exhaust pipe.
Fuel filter.
In fact, the replacement fuel filter is not unusual. This work, sooner or later, will be required on any car. But, in the case of the 2nd generation Suzuki Grand Vitara, the replacement will be somewhat more difficult than usual, since this unit comes assembled with fuel pump and it is worth, as you might guess, extremely expensive. Before buying a car, you should know about this, and also ask the seller when the last replacement was made. If the mileage is in the region of 100 thousand km. and the filter has not been replaced, then most likely replacement will be required in the next 5-10 thousand km. I would like to note once again that the filter can be replaced without changing the pump, but this is a very laborious work.
Front axle reducer.
The gearbox can "die" before the due date only if the Grand Vitara was often used off-road. Signs of an impending failure of the gearbox is a strong hum, and in especially advanced cases - extraneous mechanical knocks. It is important to remember that in the future, in case of repair, it will cost a round sum, since when disassembling this mechanism, it becomes necessary to replace not only the main pair, but also the bearings with oil seals. Therefore, when buying, you need to take a ride on the car and make sure that there are no characteristic noises. It will also not be superfluous to ask the seller when the front axle gearbox was last repaired or at least serviced. If the gearbox has not been repaired, and the car already has a mileage of 80-100 thousand km, then most likely, in the near future, it will need to be repaired.
Of course, the timing chain of any car tends to stretch and wear out. Definitely, when buying a car, it is necessary to check the condition of the tension of the chain and its condition in general. It is important to remember that this is an extremely important element of the engine, if it breaks down, you will have to invest heavily in repairing the "heart" of the car. That is why, with a car mileage of 150 thousand km, the chain will have to be changed in any case, which in turn will require significant costs.
The main disadvantages of the Suzuki Grand Vitara II
- Rear door slack. Due to the design features, this car has a problem of rapid abrasion of bushings and hinges. rear doors... It is impossible to correct this shortcoming of the "Japanese". The problem can only be cured by replacing the hinges. The most that can be done to increase their service life is to monitor the presence of grease in them.
- Increased fuel consumption with a 3.2 liter engine. 3.2-liter engines, of course, will delight the owner with good dynamics and power reserve on the road. But you will have to pay dearly for this, because the power unit loves to eat well. Fuel consumption on this engine, on average, rarely drops below 22 l / 100 km.
- Rigid suspension. Designed like a car with off-road qualities, Grand Vitara will not please you soft suspension business class car and it must be accepted.
- Weak insulation. Sometimes, when driving on rough roads, it will be difficult for you to communicate with your passengers because of the strong background noise in the car. You can solve the problem by installing additional noise insulation.
- Weak two-liter engine. For those who like to save money, buying a version with a 2-liter engine will be a big disappointment. Sometimes this unit is simply not able to fulfill the responsibilities assigned to it to accelerate the car, which is why many drivers suffer greatly.
- "Crickets" in the salon. When driving over bumps, the panel rattles quite strongly, which is why so-called "crickets" appear in the cabin.
- Ergonomics flaws. This point is already more individual, but many car owners complain about inconveniently located buttons and switches, which often have to be reached.
Conclusion.
Depending on the individual requirements of each person, there are a number of other disadvantages of this machine. But, as for the main sore spots, they were covered as much as possible within the framework of this article, based on the reviews of hundreds of owners of this car. Summing up, we can say with confidence that in general, as mentioned earlier, the Suzuki Grand Vitara is a very good car with excellent parameters, which can easily compete with other representatives of this class.
Weaknesses, advantages and disadvantages of Suzuki Grand Vitara 2 with mileage was last modified: November 13th, 2018 by Administrator
