Acceleration

AWD Premium, man.	AWD Luxury, auto.	Class Average
4	4	4.5

Adequate around town. Highway passing can take patience, especially with automatic transmission, which downshifts readily, but has no excess of power to draw upon. Test AWD Luxury did 9.0 sec 0-60 mph, unimpressive for a V6 compact SUV. Manual-transmission doesn't change gears smoothly when rushed. Towing capacity is 3000 lb.

Fuel Economy

AWD Premium, man.	AWD Luxury, auto.	Class Average
5	5	4.9

Extended-use AWD Luxury with automatic transmission averaging 18.7 mpg over its first 11,551 miles. Another test AWD Luxury averaged 14.8 mpg in mostly city driving that included gas-eating acceleration tests. Grand Vitara uses regular-grade fuel.

Ride Quality

AWD Premium, man.	AWD Luxury, auto.	Class Average
4	4	4.7

Firm but controlled over bumps, expansion joints, though some testers complain of too much jiggle on rippled surfaces. Little difference in ride quality between models with 16- and 17-inch tires.

Steering/Handling/Braking

AWD Premium, man.	AWD Luxury, auto.	Class Average
4	4	4.7

Marked body lean, but good grip in fast corners. Nicely weighted, linear steering; impressive straightline stability. Tight turning radius, but wheels on AWD models bind when turned fully to either side. Good stopping power; brake pedal firm, easy to modulate. Kudos to Suzuki for making ABS, traction/antiskid control standard.

Quietness

AWD Premium, man.	AWD Luxury, auto.	Class Average
3	3	4.1

Moderate noise levels from tires, bumps; wind rush increases markedly at 65 mph. V6 whines loudly under acceleration, is audible even at cruise.

Controls

AWD Premium, man.	AWD Luxury, auto.	Class Average
7	7	5.6

Large, clear gauges. Audio, climate controls mounted high within easy reach; both feature large knobs, clearly marked buttons. Available keyless access and starting a nice amenity, through ignition switch has notchy movement. Cabin a smart blend of hard plastic surfaces, padded panels; nothing looks or feels cheap. Available leather upholstery particularly rich-feeling.

Room/Comfort/Driver Seating (front)

AWD Premium, man.	AWD Luxury, auto.	Class Average
6	6	5.8

Some drivers say leather-upholstered seats have a too-firm cushion, insufficient lumbar support. Cloth seats softer but still need more lumbar support. Plenty of head room, adequate leg room, reasonable step-in height. Visibility hindered by thick rear roof pillars, too-tall front headrests; rear headrests retract below sight line.

Room/Comfort (rear)

AWD Premium, man.	AWD Luxury, auto.	Class Average
6	6	4.6

Ample head and toe room. Leg room adequate for adults, even with front seats well back. Seat cushion hard and flat, but seatbacks recline--a nice touch. Exit hindered by narrow door opening.

Cargo Room

AWD Premium, man.	AWD Luxury, auto.	Class Average
7	7	7.3

Good space behind rear seat. Rear seatbacks fold easily without removing headrests, but lay flat only with seat cushion flipped forward, which shortens cargo deck. Curbside loading complicated by cargo door that opens from the right. Adequate passenger-compartment storage space.

Value within Class

AWD Premium, man.	AWD Luxury, auto.	Class Average
6	6	6.3

A vast improvement over the 1999-2005 version, the '06 Grand Vitara is among the stronger values in the compact-SUV class. Its engine could be smoother and stronger, but that deficit is balanced by a comprehensive list of standard safety features, competent road manners, adequate passenger space, and very competitive pricing.

Total Score

AWD Premium, man.	AWD Luxury, auto.	Class Average
52	52	52.5

Scores for all Compact Sport-utility Vehicles

Low Score		29
Average Score		52
High Score		62