The Suzuki Vitara is a series of SUVs produced by Suzuki in five generations since 1988. The second and third generation were known as the Suzuki Grand Vitara, while the fourth generation eschewed the "Grand" prefix. In Japan and a number of other markets, all generations have used the name Suzuki Escudo (Japanese: スズキ・エスクード, Hepburn: Suzuki Esukūdo).
The choice of the name "Vitara" was inspired by the Latin word vita, as in English word vitality.[1] "Escudo", the name primarily used in the Japanese Domestic Market, refers to the "escudo", the monetary unit of Portugal before adoption of the Euro. The original series was designed to fill the slot above the Suzuki Jimny. The first generation was known as Suzuki Sidekick in the United States. The North American version was produced as a joint venture between Suzuki and General Motors known as CAMI. It was also sold as the Santana 300 and 350 in Spain and in the Japanese market, it was also sold as the Mazda Proceed Levante.
The second generation was launched in 1998 under the "Grand Vitara" badge in most markets. It was accompanied by a still larger SUV known as the Suzuki XL-7 (known as Grand Escudo in Japan). The third generation was launched in 2005.
The fourth generation, released in 2015, reverted to the original name "Vitara" in most markets, but shifted from an off-road SUV towards a more road-oriented crossover style. It shares the platform and many components with the slightly larger SX4 S-Cross.[2]
The model introduced in 2022 for the Indian market only reuses the "Grand Vitara" nameplate. It is slightly larger than the SX4 S-Cross.
The Suzuki Escudo was first introduced in the Japanese domestic market in July 1988. North American Sidekick became available for model year 1989 as a 2-door convertible or hardtop. A fuel injected 80 hp (60 kW) 1.6-litre, 8-valve, four-cylinder Suzuki G16A engine was available on the JX and JLX. 1990 brought the deletion of the upscale JLX version. A carburetted version without a catalytic converter was available for some markets; this model produces 75 PS (55 kW) at 5250 rpm.[4]
In August 1990, the Japanese market received a 16-valve G16B engine with 100 PS (73.5 kW) as well as an optional 4-speed automatic.[4] At the same time, the commercial Van version was discontinued. Three months later a 5-door version with a lengthened wheelbase was introduced; it was sold as the "Escudo Nomade" in Japan. It was thought that the 5-door would overlap with the shorter 3-door in the market; instead, it appealed to a whole new segment and sales in the domestic Japanese market doubled as a result.[5] 1991 brought the introduction of rear anti-lock brakes. European deliveries of the five-door version began in the summer of 1991.[4]
In December 1994, a 2.0 V6 (Suzuki's first six-cylinder) and a 2.0-litre Mazda-sourced turbodiesel were added; in return, Mazda got to sell the Escudo in the Japanese market as the Proceed Levante with V6 models styling in 1995. A diesel option arrived in Europe in early 1996. In 1996, the Vitara received a facelift. Along with the cosmetic changes, the V6 was upsized to 2.5 litres while a 2.0-litre four-cylinder was slotted into the range. In Japan, the "Nomade" tag was dropped from the five-door Escudos in October 1996. Also for the 1996 model year, Suzuki introduced the Suzuki X-90 which was mechanically identical to the Vitara but had a much rounder, two-seater body, a separate trunk, and removable T-bar roof.[6] The Suzuki X-90 disappeared from Suzuki's lineup after the 1998 model year. The Vitara Sport variant was replaced by the Grand Vitara in 1999.
Suzuki announced the second generation model in November 1997.[19] Slightly larger, more expensive, and more powerful, it used a light-duty automobile-type rack-and-pinion steering box instead of the recirculating ball truck unit used in the first generation. The three-door version remained in the mini SUV class while the five-door version moved up to a compact SUV. In most international markets the name "Grand Vitara" was adopted. In many markets it was originally only available with larger (two litres and up) engines while the earlier Vitara was still available with smaller engines. In the United Kingdom, a 1.6-litre Grand Vitara (the GV1600) arrived in early 2001.[20]
The Vitara continued production under the name Escudo in Japan and Indonesia. Mazda also continued selling rebadged Escudo in Japan as Proceed Levante until 2000 when it was replaced by Mazda Tribute.
It received its facelift in 2000, 2002 and again in 2004. As of 2003, the smaller Vitara has been withdrawn from the North American market. Sales were slow, with just 4,860 sold in 2004 for the United States. In Canada, sales were strong. All North American Vitaras were built at CAMI Automotive in Ingersoll, Ontario facility. The soft-top was only built in North America. The 3/5-door wagon was brought in from Japan for European buyers and sold alongside the Canadian-made convertibles.[20] The 2001 model Suzuki Grand Vitara comes standard as a 2.0-litre 4WD vehicle in New Zealand.
This generation was also assembled in Argentina by General Motors in Alvear, Santa Fe from 2000 to 2005 along with the Chevrolet version for several countries in South American market.[21]
In the Philippines, the Grand Vitara (FT) replaced the aging ET Vitara. It was introduced in 1998. It is offered in 2 different trims, the "Sport" & "Elite Sport". The "Sport" is powered by Suzuki's 2.0L inline-four coupled to a 5-speed manual transmission while the "Elite Sport" is powered by a bigger 2.5L V6 engine coupled to either a 5-speed manual or 4-speed automatic transmission. Both trims came in "Low-Range 4WD" configuration. The "Elite Sport" featured third-row seats, automatic climate controls, three-spoke steering wheel, Japanese vinyl (earlier models), central locking, tachometer, keyless entry with immobilizer.
By 2002, Suzuki introduced the "XL7" in the Philippine market. It is powered by Suzuki's bigger 2.7L V6 engine coupled to a 5-speed automatic transmission. It featured longer wheelbase as opposed to the Vitara which has a shorter wheelbase. It also featured redesigned front-end, slightly different sidings & a complete refreshed rear-end. Production of the 2nd Generation Grand Vitara in the Philippines ended in 2005 while the XL7 continued until 2006.
An all-new redesigned Grand Vitara (called Escudo in Japan or Grand Nomade in Chile) was introduced for the 2005 model year. The third-generation received significant changes over the outgoing model. The ladder-frame construction was replaced with unibody construction which featured a unique built-in ladder frame to improve stiffness and ground clearance while also reducing the floor (and subsequently the roof) height.[24] The outgoing model's front MacPherson strut suspension was retained while the rear solid axle was replaced with a fully independent multi-link suspension.[25] Depending on the market, engine options included a 1.6-litre inline-four with 125 PS (92 kW), 2.0-litre inline-four with 156 PS (115 kW), 2.7-litre V6 with 185 PS (136 kW), and a 1.9-litre Renault-sourced diesel engine with 127 PS (93 kW).[26][25]
The engine and transmission are longitudinally mounted unlike most front-wheel drive based compact SUVs in its class. Engines are available with either a 5-speed manual or 5-speed automatic transmission. The Grand Vitara is available in both rear-wheel drive only models (for the Australian market) or with full-time 4WD.[27][28] The full-time 4WD system is always engaged and contains a torque sensing limited slip center differential with 47:53 front to rear axle torque distribution ratio.[29] Some 3-door Vitara editions do not have the ability to lock the center differential and do not have low range gearing transmission mode.[30] The 5-door Vitara (and some 3-door editions) has the ability to lock the center differential (transmission mode called "4H lock") and also has a low range transmission mode with locked center differential (called "4L lock") with the reduction gearing ratio at 1,970 (roughly twice slower with twice more torque than in high range transmission mode). There is also the neutral transmission mode meant to be used if the vehicle is being towed.
The most widely available Escudo is the 5-door version, but a three-door version is also available in some markets such as in Japan, Australia, (parts of the) Middle East, New Zealand and (most of) South America. In some markets the three-door variant drops the "Grand" to be branded simply "Vitara". In some countries, including Chile the 5-door version is named "Grand Nomade".
The third-generation Grand Vitara is not related to the GM Theta platform, since the model were developed by Suzuki separate from General Motors and shares no components with GM vehicles.
The 1.6-liter M16A petrol inline-four is available in the base-spec 3-door version in Japan and many other markets; the base-spec 5-door was also offered with this engine in certain markets. This engine was only available in conjunction with a 5-speed manual. The 2.0 L J20A petrol four is available in both bodystyles, usually with a 5-speed manual but with a 4-speed automatic transmission available.
The fourth-generation Vitara was presented first as the iV-4 concept at 65th IAA Frankfurt Motor Show in September 2013.[34] The production model was unveiled at the 2014 Paris Motor Show.[35] Its production by Magyar Suzuki in Hungary started in March 2015[36] and parallels with the third-generation model produced in Japan until 2019. The Vitara went on sale in Japan as the fourth-generation Escudo on 15 October 2015.[37]
Unlike the previous generations, the all-new fourth-generation model was changed from the traditional ladder frame SUV platform to a lightweight unibody platform, shared with SX4 S-Cross. The engine position and layout also changed from longitudinal rear-wheel drive/all-wheel drive layout to transverse front-wheel drive/all-wheel drive layout. It is now sized as a subcompact crossover SUV, with 140 mm (5.5 in) shorter wheelbase, 325 mm (12.8 in) shorter body, 85 mm (3.3 in) lower and 35 mm (1.4 in) narrower than the previous generation Grand Vitara.[38][39] It has a luggage space of 375-litre, expanding to 710-litre with rear seats folded (VDA method).
The fourth-generation Vitara features a 5-speed manual transmission for the 1.6-litre petrol engine and a 6-speed manual transmission for the 1.6-litre diesel engine. A 6-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters is also available for the 1.6-litre petrol engine.[40][41]
In April 2016, a new twin clutch automated manual transmission with hydraulically controlled clutch and gear change called TCSS (Twin Clutch System by Suzuki) was added to the line up in Europe. It is only available for the Fiat-powered 1.6-litre turbo-diesel engine with all-wheel drive configuration.
Suzuki released a special version of the fourth-generation Vitara called the Vitara S or Vitara Sport in some markets. The Vitara S features a 1.4-litre K14C Boosterjet turbocharged petrol engine, which delivers 140 PS (103 kW; 138 bhp) and 220 N⋅m (162 lb⋅ft), 20 percent more power and 40 percent more torque over the standard 1.6-litre petrol engine. The engine, shared with the 2017 SX4 S-Cross facelift, is paired to a 6-speed automatic transmission as standard. It was first available in 4WD "AllGrip" only until summer 2016 and after that again since 2017; starting with autumn 2016 the 2WD system is available for the S variant. The Vitara S also comes with several cosmetic changes over other Vitara trim levels including leather/suede sports seats with red stitching, aluminum sports pedals, red LED headlamp surrounds, distinctive five-slotted grille and black alloy wheels.
In August 2018, Changan Suzuki launched a special edition Vitara called "Star Edition (星耀版)" for Chinese market. It comes with rose gold colored body, headlights, interior and new grille design. It is only available with 1.4-litre turbocharged petrol engine.[53][54]
A limited edition called "Vitara Katana" was introduced for Italian market in November 2019. This limited edition Vitara pays tribute to the new Suzuki Katana 1000 sport bike. It is based on the 1.0-litre Boosterjet model with manual transmission and can be ordered with front-wheel drive, or with the renowned Suzuki AllGrip all-wheel drive sistem.[55] Austrian market also received similar limited edition in September 2020, but based on the 1.4-litre Boosterjet hybrid AllGrip model.[56][57] Both available in Metallic Silver or Black colors and limited to 100 units.
A limited edition was made specifically for Mexico named "Cristal" in October 2019. It is only limited to 290 units.[58]
In Japan, a special edition for Escudo called "S Limited" was announced in November 2020.[59] This special edition has similar concept like the Chinese market Vitara Stars Edition, but with brown colored headlights, interior, wheels and silver stainless steel pedal.[60]
Limited edition of Vitara Hybrid called "Style" with Urban Pack accessories and an extended 5-year or 150,000-kilometre (93,000 mi) warranty was announced in April 2021 for Czech Republic. It is limited only to 200 units.
VITARA BREEZA
The Suzuki Vitara is a series of SUVs produced by Suzuki in five generations since 1988. The second and third generation were known as the Suzuki Grand Vitara, while the fourth generation eschewed the "Grand" prefix. In Japan and a number of other markets, all generations have used the name Suzuki Escudo (Japanese: スズキ・エスクード, Hepburn: Suzuki Esukūdo). The choice of the name "Vitara" was inspired by the Latin word vita, as in English word vitality.[1] "Escudo", the name primarily used in the Japanese Domestic Market, refers to the "escudo", the monetary unit of Portugal before adoption of the Euro. The original series was designed to fill the slot above the Suzuki Jimny. The first generation was known as Suzuki Sidekick in the United States. The North American version was produced as a joint venture between Suzuki and General Motors known as CAMI. It was also sold as the Santana 300 and 350 in Spain and in the Japanese market, it was also sold as the Mazda Proceed Levante. The second generation was launched in 1998 under the "Grand Vitara" badge in most markets. It was accompanied by a still larger SUV known as the Suzuki XL-7 (known as Grand Escudo in Japan). The third generation was launched in 2005. The fourth generation, released in 2015, reverted to the original name "Vitara" in most markets, but shifted from an off-road SUV towards a more road-oriented crossover style. It shares the platform and many components with the slightly larger SX4 S-Cross.[2] The model introduced in 2022 for the Indian market only reuses the "Grand Vitara" nameplate. It is slightly larger than the SX4 S-Cross.