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Compact SUV; Built in Japan
  • 4-door wagon
  • transverse front-engine/front- or all-wheel drive
Good condition price range: $2,500 – $16,100*


2006 Suzuki Grand Vitara


2006 Suzuki Grand Vitara


2006 Suzuki Grand Vitara


2006 Suzuki Grand Vitara

Pros:
  • Cargo room
  • Climate controls and materials
  • Brake performance
Cons:
  • Acceleration
  • Handling/roadholding
  • Quietness

A big improvement over the prior model, Grand Vitara now challenges the best in this class. In fact, it’s among the strongest values in the compact SUV group. The V6 could be smoother and stronger, but that demerit is easily offset by a comprehensive list of standard safety features, competent road manners, adequate passenger space, and competitive new-car pricing. Resale values are about average, which translates to few secondhand bargains, but prices well below some competitive import-brand models. Probably a good idea to keep in mind though that Suzuki’s exit from the American market could prove problematic when it comes to maintenance and parts availability.

Overview

Suzuki redesigned its smallest sport-utility vehicle for 2006, giving it more room, more power, and more safety features. Grand Vitaras added 11 inches in overall length, plus 6 inches in wheelbase and rear-seat legroom, making it about the size of the compact Ford Escape.

Grand Vitaras came in base, Premium, Xsport, and Luxury models. Seating five, the Grand Vitara retained a side-hinged rear cargo door without separate-opening glass.

A 185-horsepower 2.7-liter V6 replaced the prior 165-hp 2.5-liter as the sole engine. A five-speed automatic transmission was available on all models; a five-speed manual was available for base and Premium editions.

All models were available with rear-wheel drive. Base and Premium versions were available with all-wheel drive, which had no low-range gearing. Available for the Xsport and Premium was Suzuki’s 4-Mode all-wheel drive that included a locking center differential and low-range gearing.

Antilock four-wheel disc brakes and an antiskid/traction-control system were standard. So were front side airbags and head-protecting curtain side airbags that covered both seating rows. Also standard were air conditioning, power windows/locks/mirrors, remote keyless entry, and a split folding rear seatback.

Available features included heated front seats, leather upholstery, and a sunroof. Grand Vitara carried a 3-year/36,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty that included roadside assistance, and transferrable 7/100,000 powertrain coverage with provision for a free loaner car. Grand Vitara’s rivals included the Ford Escape, Honda CR-V, Hyundai Tucson, and Toyota RAV4.

Yearly Updates

2007 Grand Vitara
All-wheel-drive base models gained low-range gearing for the transmission. Previously, the AWD system had no such gearing. This year’s lineup includes base, Xsport, and Luxury models.
2008 Grand Vitara
The 2008 Suzuki Grand Vitara got no major changes of note.
2009 Grand Vitara
The 2009 Suzuki Grand Vitara adopted a 166-hp 2.4-liter 4-cylinder engine as standard, while the V6 grew from 2.7 liters to 3.2, gaining 45 horsepower to 230. All models got slightly revised styling.
2010 Grand Vitara
The 2010 Suzuki Grand Vitara gained some new available features. A navigation system was newly standard on all models.
2011 Grand Vitara
The 2011 Suzuki Grand Vitara lost its available V6 engine, but otherwise saw few changes.
2012 Grand Vitara
The 2012 Suzuki Grand Vitara lineup added an Ultimate Adventure Edition, but there were no other changes of note.
2013 Grand Vitara
Introduced for the 2012 model year, the uniquely trimmed “Ultimate Adventure” model was dropped from the 2013 lineup. A USB port and Bluetooth wireless cellphone link became standard across the board, along with real-time traffic information for the standard navigation system. Only a limited number of 2013 Grand Vitaras were sold though, because American Suzuki, the U.S. distributor of the brand’s products, filed for bankruptcy protection in November 2012. As part of the restructuring, the company shuttered its automobile sales division. After the remaining new vehicles were sold, it was planned that some facilities would remain open for parts and maintenance, and the company promised to honor all warranties.

Engines

transverse front-engine/front- or all-wheel drive

Early Grand Vitaras used a 2.7-liter V6 engine rated at 185 horsepower driving a five-speed manual or five-speed automatic transmission. All-wheel-drive models lacked low-range gearing until the 2007 model year. For 2009, Grand Vitara adopted a 166-hp 2.4-liter 4-cylinder engine as standard, and the V6 grew from 2.7 liters to 3.2, gaining 45 horsepower to 230.

dohc I4
Engine Size (liters/cubic inches) 2.4/146
Engine HP 166
Engine Torque (lb-ft) 162
Avail. Trans. EPA MPG (city/hwy) MPG avg. as tested
5-speed manual
4-speed automatic 		19/25
19/23
dohc V6
Engine Size (liters/cubic inches) 2.7/167
Engine HP 185
Engine Torque (lb-ft) 184
Avail. Trans. EPA MPG (city/hwy) MPG avg. as tested
5-speed manual
5-speed automatic 		18/23
19/23 		18.8
dohc V6
Engine Size (liters/cubic inches) 3.2/195
Engine HP 230
Engine Torque (lb-ft) 213
Avail. Trans. EPA MPG (city/hwy) MPG avg. as tested
5-speed automatic

 17/23

Road Test

The 4-cylinder feels peppy from a stop, but highway passing can take patience. The automatic transmission is alert and responsive, though it could benefit from an additional gear or two. No manual-transmission models have been made available for testing. With the 2.7-liter V6, acceleration is adequate around town, but highway passing power is limited. A test AWD Luxury model with the 2.7 V6 took 9.0 seconds to reach 60 mph, which is unimpressive for a V6 compact SUV. Acceleration is better with the 3.2-liter V6. With both, the automatic transmission behaves well and downshifts readily for passing. Towing capacity is 3000 pounds.

Fuel economy warrants no rewards. A test AWD Grand Vitara with the 2.7 V6 and automatic transmission averaged 19.8 mpg in mostly highway driving. In an extended-use trial, an AWD Luxury version with automatic averaged 18.8 mpg. Another one averaged only 14.8, but in mostly city driving that including gas-eating performance runs. An AWD Grand Vitara with the 3.2 V6 averaged 18.5-19.6 mpg. Suzuki recommends regular-grade fuel for all engines.

On the road, the Grand Vitara’s ride is firm but controlled over bumps and expansion joints. Little difference in ride quality is evident between the standard 16-inch tires and optional 17s. Some testers have complained of excessive jiggle on rippled surfaces.

Expect marked body lean, but good grip, in fast corners, coupled with impressive straightline stability. Nicely weighted steering is light and linear, with a tight turning radius. Wheels on AWD models may bind when turned fully to either side, however. Brakes are easy to modulate, with a firm pedal feel and good stopping power. Kudos to Suzuki for the standard ABS and antiskid/traction-control system.

Wind, road, and bump noise are moderate, though wind rush, in particular, increases markedly at around 65 mph. The V6 engine whines loudly under acceleration, and is audible even while cruising.

Dashboards hold large, clear gauges. Audio and climate controls are mounted high, within easy reach; both benefit from large knobs and clearly marked buttons. Available keyless access/starting is a welcome feature, but the ignition switch has notchy movement. The cabin is a smart blend of hard plastic surfaces and padded panels, but nothing looks or feels cheap. Door tops are padded, and available leather upholstery feels especially rich.

Front occupants get plenty of headroom and adequate leg space. Some drivers have found that leather-upholstered seats have too-firm cushioning and insufficient lumbar support. Cloth seats are softer, but still short on lumbar support. Reasonable step-in height eases front entry/exit. Visibility is hindered by thick rear roof pillars and too-tall front headrests; rear headrests retract below sight lines. Backseat head and toe room are ample. Legroom is adequate for adults, even with front seats pushed well back. The rear seat cushion is hard and flat, but the seatbacks recline. Exit is hindered by narrow door openings.

Cargo space is good behind the rear seat and adequate within the passenger compartment. Rear seatbacks fold easily without removing the headrests, but don’t lay flat unless the seat cushion is flipped forward, shortening the cargo deck. Curbside loading is hindered by cargo doors that open from the right instead of the left, and by lack of separate-opening glass.

Ratings

Model Tested: Suzuki Grand Vitara Luxury w/auto.

Ratings values are on a 1-10 scale, with 10 being the best. With the exception of Value, these numbers reflect how the vehicle compares against the universe of vehicles, not just against rivals in its class.

Performance

Acceleration - 4
40%
Fuel Economy - 5
50%
Ride Quality - 4
40%
Steering/Handling - 4
40%
Quietness - 3
30%

Accommodations

Controls/Materials - 7
70%
Room/Comfort Front - 6
60%
Room/Comfort Rear - 6
60%
Cargo Room - 7
70%

Other

Value - 9
90%

Total: 55

Specifications

4-door wagon
Wheelbase (in.) Length (in.) Width (in.) Height (in.) Weight (lbs)
103.9 176.0 71.3 66.7
Cargo Volume (cu/ft) Payload Capacity (cu/ft) Fuel Capacity (gal.) Seating Capacity
68.9 17.4 5
Headroom Legroom
Front Rear Front Rear
40.0 38.2 41.3 37.2
Safety Ratings

Model Tested: 2006 Grand Vitara 4-door wagon

NHTSA

(5 is the highest rating)

Front Impact Test

Driver Injury - 4
80%
Front Passenger Injury - 4
80%

Side Impact Test

Driver Injury - 5
100%
Rear Passenger Injury - 5
100%

HLDI

(A score of 100 is average. Lower is better)

Collision N/A
Injury N/A
Theft N/A

Trouble Spots

Blower motor
Description: The blower may quit working because its bearing grease may leak out and contaminate the electrical commutator. (2006)
Brake noise
Description: The rear brakes may be noisy because the edges of the brake shoes may rub on the inside of the brake drum and revised shoes were made available. (2006)
Engine knock
Description: A knocking sound may come from the engine after warm-up due to loose accessory drive belt tension. (2006-08)
Vehicle noise
Description: A knocking sound may come from the engine after warm-up due to loose accessory drive belt tension. (2006-08)
Vehicle shake
Description: A vibration at highway speeds may be due to lack of a damper on the rear differential on early production models. (2006)
Wheels
Description: Noise from the wheel hubs while moving due to axle shaft nut(s) coming loose. (2006-07)
Wheels
Description: Noise from the wheel hubs while moving due to axle shaft nut(s) coming loose. (2006-07)
None
Description: A campaign was conducted to replace a bearing retainer in the rear differential (2006
None
Description: The engine may flare to 2,000 rpm between shifts requiring reprogramming of powertrain control module. (2006-07)
Transmission problems
Description: The transmission may pop out of 1st or 2nd gear when accelerating due to defective inverse lever in transmission. (2006-07)
Transmission problems
Description: The engine may flare to 2,000 rpm between shifts requiring reprogramming of powertrain control module. (2006-07)
Transmission problems
Description: The transmission may pop out of 1st or 2nd gear when accelerating due to defective inverse lever in transmission. (2006-07)

Recall History

2006
Description: Left side of retainer rear driveshaft may crack and gears may become stuck, due to oil leakage; could lead to gear lock-up.
2006
Description: The tension adjuster pulley for the drive belt that operates the power steering pump and air conditioner compressor (if equipped) has an outer portion that is made of plastic. Repeated heat stress can cause the plastic material to deteriorate and pieces of the pulley can break off. Broken pieces of the pulley can get caught between the pulley and the drive belt, causing the drive belt to come off and resulting in the driver needing increased effort to steer the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash. Dealers will replace the power steering pump drive belt tension adjuster pulley free of charge.
2006-07 Grand Vitara with automatic transmission
Description: The transmission lever may potentially be shifted out of park with the key removed and without depressing the brake pedal, which fails to comply with Federal regulations. Dealers will replace the shift lock module.
2009-2010 Grand Vitara multipurpose passenger vehicles equipped with 4-cylinder engines
Description: The tension adjuster pulley for the drive belt that operates the alternator, water pump, air conditioner compressor and power steering pump, has an improperly manufactured internal spring that can break due to repeated stress. This can also cause the coolant temperature indication to rise, which can lead to the engine overheating, or can cause the charging light to come on, which can lead to battery discharge and engine stall. If the drive belt comes off, requiring the driver to use increased steering effort, or the engine stalls, a vehicle crash could occur dealers will replace the tension adjuster pulley with an improved part.
2010 Vitara vehicles equipped with Garmin Navi model 750, 760 and 765 navigation system
Description: The batteries contained in the affected GPS units can overheat. Overheated batteries could result in a fire. Suzuki will notify owners and the repairs will be performed by Garmin technicians by replacing the battery and inserting a spacer on top of the battery free of charge.
2011 Grand Vitara multipurpose passenger vehicles produced prior to October 17, 2010
Description: The tension adjuster pulley for the drive belt that operates the alternator, water pump, air conditioner compressor and power steering pump, has an improperly manufactured internal spring that can break due to repeated stress. This can also cause the coolant temperature indication to rise, which can lead to the engine overheating, or can cause the charging light to come on, which can lead to battery discharge and engine stall. If the drive belt comes off, requiring the driver to use increased steering effort, or the engine stalls, a vehicle crash could occur dealers will replace the tension adjuster pulley with an improved part.

Equipment Lists

Equipment lists are only viewable on larger screen sizes.

Pricing

Used-car pricing varies widely depending on local market conditions. Therefore, we recommend visiting websites that list used cars for sale to get a better idea of what a specific model is selling for in your area.

More about Tom Appel
Written by: Tom Appel on April 21, 2016.
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