2001 Suzuki Grand Vitara review from Austria

Rear door handle has broken, not necessarily flimsy, but happened opening the door trying to overcome being parked nose down and its own weight @9,000km.

Pleasantly surprised on several fronts.

I'm over 6ft and over 15 st but seat is comfortable even for distances like Holyhead N. Wales to Frankfurt in one pop.

Definitely needs A/C cos its black and glass tint could be darker. Think seriously at purchase time! We got the free independent heater system though.

These modern diesels seem engineered to run like petrol engines, seems almost rev happy, very short to no waiting time on the glow plugs and marvelously clear diesel clouds when accelerating hard or at high revs and gives what? 13 Km/L at less than 140 kmh, 700ish km per tank. (Fuel approx 48-52 british pence a litre. British fuel tax is a modern rape of motorists.

I like the shift on the fly 2wd to 4wd but why only up to 100kmh/60mph? I frequently use 4wd on the road/streets for additional grip on wet corners, off-cambers etc above these speeds (I want an old Quattro S4 when I grow up)

Definitely tempted to put slightly stiffer, slightly lower progressive springs on this puppy.

Silly things? When you sit tall in the seat (Lots of headroom available) you're seeing through the top of the windscreen and the wiper doesn't reach there. More a case of short wiperarm than short wiperblade.

I would like to see more or more generous cubbies in the rear. A tow rope, decent jumper cables, mini toolkit, bulbs, reasonable 1st aid kit and warning triangle (this is Austria) eat up the space, the excellent detachable tow hook is greasy and needs hiding.

Run it in without labouring the engine, and try not to go above 165kmh for too long keeps a grip on fuel costs and engine longetivety. VERY oil tight motor

Less than 2 litres in 10,000 kms?? Don't lug it!

Ours has a slow 4th to 3rd shift (It ain't a sports car!) If it really niggles me, may put a short, weighted-throw shift lever in.