• The Suzuki Grand Vitara goes on-road and off-road.Offroad image by FotoWorx from Fotolia.com
  
  Included in the Edmunds website's lists of Top 10 Least Expensive SUVs in 2009 and 2010, the Suzuki Grand Vitara offers on-road comfort and off-road capabilities. According to Edmunds' online review of the Suzuki Grand Vitara, the 2010 model is "greatly improved" compared to earlier models, making it a good choice if you need a compact SUV for daily city drives and spontaneous off-road journeys.
  
  

Engine

• The Grand Vitara Limited V6 has a 3.2-liter engine. It has a five-speed automatic transmission, V-6 engine with 230 horsepower and 213 lb-ft. of torque. Using variable valve timing, the Grand Vitara has cleaner emissions and power. The EPA mileage is 23 mpg on the highway and 17 mpg in the city.
  
  

Driving

• The Suzuki Grand Vitara comes with four-mode, full-time four-wheel drive, controlled by a dial. Hill hold and hill descent control gives the Grand Vitara better traction when driving on steep terrain. The Grand Vitara's towing capability is 3,000 pounds.
  
  

Interior

• Leather heated seats, a dual power port to charge two cell phones, and a roomy backseat are some of the Grand Vitara's interior elements. The trunk has a net to hold personal items and an all-weather floor mat. Standard gauges, such as a tachometer, speedometer and fuel and temperature gauges, are on the dash. A Garmin navigation system fits on the dash and is removable. The Grand Vitara has an XM-equipped radio with MP3 and auxiliary inputs. Adding Bluetooth is optional. The Grand Vitara with three doors comes with a seating capacity of four, while the five-door Grand Vitara seats five.
  
  

Exterior

• The Suzuki Grand Vitara has large flared fenders and 18-inch alloy wheels. This compact SUV has a uni-body chassis, similar to a car's. Its rigid structure enhances safety and handling. Suzuki has added a ladder frame design to the chassis to differentiate it from other SUVs, claiming it improves towing and off-road capabilities.
  
  

Safety Features

• Safety features in the Grand Vitara include Electronic Stability Program, or ESP, which combines anti-lock brake system (ABS), traction control, stability control and electronic brake-force distribution (EBD). The Grand Vitara body is designed to direct impact away from the cabin and its passengers. Also available are airbags, child seat anchorages, a high-mount stop lamp and emergency locking retractor seat belts.