2006 Suzuki Grand Vitara

2006 marked a major makeover for the Suzuki Grand Vitara SUV.  Suzuki basically redid the interior, adding better materials, and went to a car-like frame over its earlier truck-based frame.  The Grand Vitara comes in a grand total of 8 trims.

All trims use a 2.7 L, 185 hp V6 engine.  Gas mileage comes out to around 18 mpg in the city and 23 on the highway.  Each trim also has 4 doors, seats 5, and gives you around 70 cubic feet of cargo space.  Towing capacity maxes out at around 3000 lbs.

Overall, drivers will tell you that the Grand Vitara took a giant step forward in 2006 in closing the copmetition gap.  However, it will take another giant leap or two before the Grand Vitara can call itself a legit contender in the SUV market.  Until then, the Grand Vitara will continue to serve as a decent option for the budget-conscious.