Eleven years on the current-generation Suzuki Grand Vitara still claims to be the king of small-budget, mid-sized SUV practicality with big off-roading capabilities
Familiarity can sometimes offer warmer comfort than those fresh-faced things embracing reinvention. That may well be an underlying feeling for those who’ve bought any Suzuki Grand Vitara in the past decade and who’ve just climbed into the 2016 version. Essentially, it’s the same car – the 4x4-savvy SUV that’s Grand in name but no longer quite so grand in size is still planted in the generation that launched back in 2005.
Thus, it's an uphill crawl for this Grand Battler to rise above its ratings from performances past. In critiquing its holistic SUV goodness, the Grand Vitara has long been a perennial low scorer in CarAdvice ratings past: in the last three reviews it rated one six and a pair of fives out of tens.
That said, none were petrol four-wheel drives wearing a Sport badge. As perhaps the best all-rounder variant of its crop, and at a seductive price point at that, a bump up to 6.5 out of ten is a deserving one.
Pros Decent off-road abilities Sport variant the best dual-purpose 4x4 SUV of the breed Attractive pricing Old-school charm..
Cons that's stuck in old-school execution Powertrain is old hat Average on-road driving experience Increasingly passé in this very fast moving segment
The latest Suzuki Vitara offers good value for money and loads of kit, but it's more of a crossover now than a rugged off-roader
The Suzuki Vitara has been transformed from a utilitarian family-friendly SUV into more of a crossover with Range Rover Evoque-inspired styling and more advanced equipment. There's also more dynamic driving ability on offer, but it's not quite up with the class best.
If you can sacrifice a little ride comfort, and value driving dynamics more, the Vitara is a fine crossover that's car-like to drive, with a sharp chassis and steering, but its lack of boot space counts against it. The diesel's mix of strong efficiency and performance is impressive.
Still, with a responsive and agile chassis for the class, and great efficiency from both the petrol and diesel options, this latest crossover-style Vitara is a much more alluring proposition than its off-road biased predecessors.
Pros Modern design, lively engines, plenty of kit
Cons Interior quality, noisy diesel, light steering
The old Grand Vitara suffered from lots of body roll in corners and overly light steering making it difficult to drive quickly with confidence. Both these problem have been addressed by this new model, which has the feel of a well-sorted hatchback.
Pros Cheap to buy and run Fun to drive Still good off-road
Cons Uninspiring looks Cabin quality not the best Slightly noisy diesel engine
For 2017, the Toyota RAV4 gains a host of driver assistance features as standard equipment, including a forward collision mitigation system, lane departure warning, automatic high beams and adaptive cruise. The range-topping Platinum trim level is new this year.
Pros Quiet demeanor on the road makes it a pleasant commuter vehicle Rides smoothly in a variety of conditions Plenty of cargo space for its size High-tech safety features come standard
Cons Modest acceleration from the sole engine offering Fewer easily accessible storage compartments than most competitors
The 2017 Toyota RAV4 ranks 11 out of 18 Compact SUVs. The 2017 RAV4 faces stiff competition in the compact SUV class. It trails several rivals in terms of style and performance, but it has impressive safety features in all trims and one of the most spacious cabins in its class.
Pros Impressive list of standard features Easy-to-use infotainment system Spacious cabin
Cons Unimpressive acceleration Plastic-heavy interior
There's a RAV4 for just about everyone, and while we applaud Toyota for adding more safety technology for 2017, the competition is worth a good look, too. The 2017 Toyota RAV4 is the latest in a long line of compact crossover SUVs to grace the automaker's showrooms.
Pros Upgraded, roomy interior Lots of standard safety tech Wide range of models available Improved ride and handling Hybrid is intriguing
Cons Not the most polished crossover to drive No third row Unimpressive fuel economy Quirky styling
