RoadTest: Suzuki Grand Vitara A sexy Suzuki? Two years ago that was about as likely as coming across a sober tourist in Temple Bar during St Patrick's weekend.
Arguably the only good looking model in the Suzuki range was the Vitara SUV, and even then it could have been mistaken for a thousand other off-roaders.
You only have to think of the Liana or Jimny to realise that on the looks front there was little in the way of head-turning appeal. Still not convinced? How about the Wagon R? Enough said.
Then along came the new Swift. Overnight it went from dullard to diva. Since then Suzuki has been busy revamping its range to keep pace with its little starlet. The first of the fleet to get a Swift-style makeover is the Vitara SUV range.
Always perceived as a good buy - well-priced and practical - it can now boast stylish looks as well.
A new nose and much-improved cabin gives the new Vitara a serious pep in its step when it comes to facing off the competition.
The small to mid-range SUV market in Ireland has been dominated of late by the Koreans, but the Vitara now gives them a serious run for their money.
Admittedly, the three-door version is less grand than the regular model, particularly in terms of interior space. While the front seats are roomy and comfortable, boot space is at a premium. It's as if someone has rammed up the rear of a regular Vitara. A child's buggy requires at least one of the rear seats to be folded down.
In general, school run mums - a key audience for SUVs these days - may find the short-wheel-base three-door version just too small for their needs.
The 1.6-litre 105bhp engine in the entry-level model is surprisingly adept at pushing the 1.5 tonnes of metal along, though the 13.4 seconds it takes to get to 100km/h from a standing start does feel like an eternity and at one stage we were beaten off the start at traffic lights by an articulated lorry.
Where it will appeal is to cash-conscious urban motorists who appreciate the competitive pricing and the lower tax and insurance that comes from the smaller engine.
While it may be slow off the starting line, the engine isn't noisy and its efforts are kept out of the cabin even at cruising speeds.
The high stance of the Suzuki does mean it catches the wind on open roads and you have to pay attention or you may find yourself on the grass verge if you happen upon a strong gust.
The Vitara is designed more for roadwork than hill-climbing and, as a result, body roll is not a serious problem in cornering.
Indeed you only have to look at the rear of the Vitara, and the low-set exhaust box that hangs below the rear bumper, to realise that serious off-roading was never part of the original engineering brief.
That said, it can cope with the general rough and tumble of crossing fields and the like.
The five-speed gearbox is not exactly sporting and suffers slightly from the long throws between gears. The steering is a little soft but not really a problem.
Suzuki has made a massive leap in terms of interior trim.
It's well designed, with a nice fresh central console and, as with the impressive new Swift, the plastics and overall cabin finish are on a par with the best of the rest; and far superior to that on offer from Korean rivals.
Overall, the three-door version failed to impress simply because of its size. Boot space is too small to be practical and entry to and from the back seats is too awkward.
These sort of restrictions mean it's really for a single motorist who is not into anything adventurous that requires large equipment.
The five-door version is a far more practical beast, worthy of the Grand adjective in the name. The new look on the front puts it ahead of the Korean brands and the pricing is very competitive, with the 2-litre petrol five-door version starting at €31,995.
Not only does it have more stylish looks both inside and out, but it also comes with permanent four-wheel-drive, whereas some of its Asian rivals are really only high set cars with two-wheel-drive.
Standard specification is also pretty impressive, with automatic air conditioning, steering mounted stereo controls and a plethora of safety features including several airbags and ABS.
With an entry price of €25,495 for the three-door we tested, the Suzuki should do well with the young urban motorists - most likely female - who are looking to add muscle to their motoring image.
These buyers are not that concerned with performance; they are more interested in the muscular aesthetics.
A strong reputation for reliability should also see off many European competitors.
However, for all its attributes, there is one rival that steals the show in this category. It may not have the high-set stance of the rest, but Subaru's Forrester would be the obvious choice for us if we were in the market for a four-wheel-drive in this price bracket.
The Grand Vitara has plenty of positive attributes and the designers are once again to be commended on their efforts, but it still doesn't have the beating of the Forrester when it comes to driver pleasure.
