Nuts and Bolts
Steering is handled with a rack and pinion set up that sends your wishes to a standard set of all-season 16-inch tires. Those tires are connected to a four-wheel independent suspension, MacPherson struts in front, multi-link in the back.
Engine strength has been a nemesis for Suzuki vehicles, an issue that at times has separated the automaker’s offerings from more established competition. And while the 2006 Suzuki Grand Vitara makes significant progress in erasing this stigma, on hills and during quick bursts it feels as though the engine struggles. That’s interesting, because the Grand Vitara’s standard 2.7-liter V6 engine offers higher horsepower ratings when compared to base models in the small SUV class. Competitors that offer multiple engine choices catch up with Suzuki as you climb the trim tree, however, and do so at comparable prices. Despite this, credit Suzuki for offering a powerplant that is competitive at the upper reaches of the segment while at the same time offering base trim shoppers a boost in power. It’s a significant edge in that it improves the Grand Vitara’s tow rating to 3,000 lbs., among the best in the class. Add to that the fact that Suzuki has kept the weight down, coming in at 3,505 lbs., which is less than the Jeep Liberty at 3,648lbs., though the Grand Vitara weighs around 400 lbs. more than the Ford Escape XLS. Torque may be the culprit when it comes to what feels like a lack power, as the Grand Vitara’s peak twist resides at 4,500 rpm. That’s at least 500 revolutions higher than most of its competition. The companion horsepower rating of 185 comes in at 6,000 rpm, twenty horsepower better than the 2005 model. Fuel economy – the 2006 Grand Vitara is rated at 18 city and 23 mpg highway – isn’t so pleasing, when several competitors such as the Tucson (22/27) and the Honda CR-V (23/29) offer better efficiency. And you’ll get slightly worse fuel mileage by bumping the five-speed manual up to the five-speed automatic transmission, an option on all Grand Vitaras, and by driving like a freak. Attached to the ventilated front disc and rear drum braking system is a slew of safety features among the most advanced in the class. A standard electronic stability system keeps you upright and in control, while a traction control system – with ABS and electronic brake-force distribution – helps ensure forward momentum. Steering is handled with a rack-and-pinion set up that sends your wishes to a standard set of all-season 16-inch tires. Those tires are connected to a four-wheel independent suspension, MacPherson struts in front, multi-link in the back. That, in turn, is bolted onto a unibody architecture with a built-in ladder frame – a type of underbody that is increasingly the standard among SUVs with real off-road capability.
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