2010 Suzuki Grand Vitara JLX-L 3.2L V6 gasoline from North America

Summary:

Pleased with my new bull!

Faults:

Owned for a month, and nothing has gone wrong.

I do hear a hiss/rattle noise from the exhaust, but from reading on Suzuki GV forums, it seems to be a loose heat shield. It isn't major, but I did want to mention it, since others have experienced this noise. I will get it looked at by Suzuki on my next visit.

General Comments:

I bought this GV fully loaded with 35,000 km's, which was a trade-in at a Ford dealership. I had my eye on this vehicle since the revised model was released in 2006.

I frequently visit construction sites as part of my job, and the GV is more than capable of handling all terrains and conditions (ex. snow, rain, mud, gravel and asphalt). Around the city it accelerated and handles extremely well.

For potential buyers, please be advised of the following:

1) Gas consumption with the 3.2L V6 is sub-par. Currently, at $1.22/L for gas (Toronto gas price) I fill up anywhere between $64-$68 per tank. Driving conservatively I get 410-415km's per tank. Some might not find this bad, but coming from owning a Honda sedan, it's much more expensive. If gas consumption is a concern, please get the 2.4L 4 cyl. engine model.

2) Ride comfort is rough. This is a compact SUV capable of 4x4 off-roading, and Suzuki has built the GV accordingly. The GV seems happier on gravel roads than asphalted city roads. I do not mind it at ALL... I feel a sense of confidence driving around my construction projects.

Other than point 1) above, I'm extremely satisfied with my purchase and in the long haul with this GV.

The next service appointment is at 40,000km's. I hope the Suzuki dealership doesn't charge me an arm and a leg for just the basics.

I will update my post once I reach 50,000km's or if any serious issues arise between now and then.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 13th November, 2011

27th Jun 2012, 00:25

I just wanted to respond to your comment about your upcoming maintenance. I would recommend that you ask the dealership for a complete list of what will be done and how much it will cost. Get it on paper. Then find an independent shop in your area that specializes in Japanese vehicles, and get them to give you an estimate based on the work the dealership would do.

Many people seem to be under the impression that they have to take it to the dealer to have maintenance work done, but that's not only not true, but in many cases it will cost you dramatically less to have the exact same work done at an independent shop as what the dealership would do. As long as all the same things are done, that's all you need, and you can save a lot of money by having the work done at an independent shop.