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Vehicle Tests > Little Wonders
Little Wonders
Issue: November 2005
Words by Fraser Stronach
Australia's ever-increasing compact 4WD market has just got a whole lot more competitive with the launch of the all-new Suzuki Grand Vitara. Aside from carriedover engines, the new Grand Vitara is a clean sheet design that owes next to nothing to the previous model.
In this comparison test we have lined the new Grand Vitara up against the established class champ, the Nissan X-Trail and two new aspirants to the throne, Hyundai's Tucson and the recently revamped Mitsubishi Outlander. In fact this is the first chance we have had to run the Tucson and the new Outlander against the X-Trail, let alone the new Suzuki. All four of the test vehicles are automatics.
Nuts and bolts
Despite being similar in many ways, all four manufacturers represented here have chosen different design paths with their compact 4WDs, particularly so Suzuki. The Grand Vitara is the only vehicle here with dual-range transmission and the only one with its engine mounted north-south. The Grand Vitara's 2.7-litre V6 produces a claimed 135kW/250Nm, drives through a five-speed auto (also unique here) to a full-time, dual-range 4WD system with a torque-sensing centre differential that can be driver locked in high range and locks automatically in low range. Both front and rear differentials are open.
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Unlike all previous Vitaras, the new Grand also features monocoque construction and fully independent suspension. Brakes are a disc/drum combination with ABS. The Tucson's east-west mounted 2.7-litre V6 produces a claimed 129kW/241Nm and drives through a four-speed auto and an on-demand 4WD system with a driver lockable (up to 40km/h) centre differential, switchable electronic traction control, an open front diff and a limited-slip rear diff. The Tucson is also a monocoque design with fully independent suspension and has ABS equipped disc breaks all round. The X-Trail's 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine makes a claimed 132kW/245Nm and drives through a four-speed automatic.
Nissan's 'All-Mode' 4WD system allows the driver to select 2WD, auto 4WD or to lock the centre diff. The All-Mode system is essentially an on-demand system and the centre diff lock is only operational at up to 30km/h. Both front and rear diffs are open. The X-Trail is also a monocoque design with fully independent suspension and ABS equipped all-wheel discs. With a claimed 120kW/220Nm the Outlander's 2.4-litre four-cylinder is the least power on paper. It drives through a four-speed auto and full-time 4WD system where the centre diff's viscous coupling provides an auto proportioning and auto locking function. Both front and rear diffs are open.
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Words by Fraser Stronach
Australia's ever-increasing compact 4WD market has just got a whole lot more competitive with the launch of the all-new Suzuki Grand Vitara. Aside from carriedover engines, the new Grand Vitara is a clean sheet design that owes next to nothing to the previous model.
In this comparison test we have lined the new Grand Vitara up against the established class champ, the Nissan X-Trail and two new aspirants to the throne, Hyundai's Tucson and the recently revamped Mitsubishi Outlander. In fact this is the first chance we have had to run the Tucson and the new Outlander against the X-Trail, let alone the new Suzuki. All four of the test vehicles are automatics.
Nuts and bolts
Despite being similar in many ways, all four manufacturers represented here have chosen different design paths with their compact 4WDs, particularly so Suzuki. The Grand Vitara is the only vehicle here with dual-range transmission and the only one with its engine mounted north-south. The Grand Vitara's 2.7-litre V6 produces a claimed 135kW/250Nm, drives through a five-speed auto (also unique here) to a full-time, dual-range 4WD system with a torque-sensing centre differential that can be driver locked in high range and locks automatically in low range. Both front and rear differentials are open.
read on below advertisement
Unlike all previous Vitaras, the new Grand also features monocoque construction and fully independent suspension. Brakes are a disc/drum combination with ABS. The Tucson's east-west mounted 2.7-litre V6 produces a claimed 129kW/241Nm and drives through a four-speed auto and an on-demand 4WD system with a driver lockable (up to 40km/h) centre differential, switchable electronic traction control, an open front diff and a limited-slip rear diff. The Tucson is also a monocoque design with fully independent suspension and has ABS equipped disc breaks all round. The X-Trail's 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine makes a claimed 132kW/245Nm and drives through a four-speed automatic.
Nissan's 'All-Mode' 4WD system allows the driver to select 2WD, auto 4WD or to lock the centre diff. The All-Mode system is essentially an on-demand system and the centre diff lock is only operational at up to 30km/h. Both front and rear diffs are open. The X-Trail is also a monocoque design with fully independent suspension and ABS equipped all-wheel discs. With a claimed 120kW/220Nm the Outlander's 2.4-litre four-cylinder is the least power on paper. It drives through a four-speed auto and full-time 4WD system where the centre diff's viscous coupling provides an auto proportioning and auto locking function. Both front and rear diffs are open.
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