Suzuki Grand Vitara XL7 2004 test drive - 2006 SUV

Eastern martial artists

Large all-terrain vehicles-Suzuki-grand Vitara XL7 and Hyunde-Terracen
At the end of 1997, the second generation came to replace the popular Suzuki Vitar (in some Eskudo markets) - with the prefix of the Grand. The frame all-wheel drive is available in two versions of the wheelbase with three- or five-door bodies. At the end of 2000, she debuted the elongated seven-seater Suzuki-grand Vitara XL7, intended, first of all, for the American market. Only the most powerful Suzuki engine is installed on the new car - a V -shaped gasoline six with a volume of 2.7 liters. Gearboxes - five -speed mechanical or four -speed automatic.

Hyunde-terrane, first shown at last year's Geneva Motor Show, was replaced by a pretty obsolete gallop, who, in turn, repeated the 1981 Mitsubishi Pajero. The drive, of course, is complete, the design of the frame, the body is only five -door - five- or seven -seater, diesel engines 2.5 (not supplied to Russia) and 2.9 liters or 3.5 -liter gasoline, gearboxes - five -speed mechanical or four -speed automatic .

Why do all -rests buy? Just do not say that for driving in difficult terrain - have you seen a lot of jeeps in the village wilderness? Yes, and what the normal owner, having laid out 30-60 thousand dollars for a leather-lacquered handsome man, will be torturing him in a buuse. There are, of course, there are different fish hunters there or simply touched on off-road adventures, but are there many of them? If you ripen in the root, most chooses powerful all -terrain vehicles for self -affirmation - I sit above all, under the hood of the herd is unmeasured, the wheels are enormous, ahead is a taran -healer! Tank, not a car! Moreover, the more, the more successful self -affirmation.
This is probably why the sizes of all -terrain vehicles slowly grew from S, remember Willis from the war, to M, L and even XL. More precisely, XL7 - it is such an index that carries the new Suzuki Grand Vitar, the base of which is increased by 320 mm in comparison with the usual five -door model. The seven speaks of passenger capacity - there is another row of seats. We got a car worth $ 31,150 with an automatic gearbox, and even in the richest configuration of the limited. The second novelty in the size of Extra Large - Hyunde -Terracen. Here we, too, did not hesitate and grabbed the top version of 3.5GL for $ 44,995 with a two -hundredth gasoline engine and automatic.

Karate or sumo?
Both cars are close in their overall lobe indicators, although the impression is made differently. Suzuki -grand Vitara XL7 is similar to the karate, who has switched to a heavier weight category, gained several kilograms of weight (read - centimeters of length), but practically did not lose either the harmony of the figure or the swiftness of movements. The lion's share of the body is now occupied by the salon, but thanks to the large area of \u200b\u200bglazing, the compact motor compartment and widely arranged wheels, the car does not look bulky. Yes, and the character of the car remained fervent-bearing: it does not remove the driver from the process of movement, but, on the contrary, invites you to take part in it and enjoy it. The suspension, damping tremors on irregularities, does not forget to transfer the tocense to passengers - they can hear the engine of the motor and the noise of the wind, the steering wheel in good faith informs the reactive effect of the tension of rotation. Perhaps this behavior is more consistent with the mechanical gearbox, but if we talk about the machine gun on the vitar, it cannot be ignored that it is most appropriate on the XL7 - the increased base slightly smoothed the sharpness of the reactions, adding the share of the degree.
Hyunde-terrane is perceived differently-this one looks like a sumo fighter, who, having dropped a dozen kilograms, externally retained almost the same monumentality. The most remarkable part of its silhouette is the motor compartment. The driver is located almost in the middle of the base, and the rear doorway reaches the wheel axis. According to the behavior, Ter Supreme resembles a representative limousine: magnificent sound insulation dramatizes the sound of the motor, the whistle of wind, the suspensions without a trace absorb all the blows and shocks, the weightless steering wheel and pedals are unknown to the concept of information content. In general, the driver is reliably protected from the prose of life and can in comfort, without being distracted, think about high matters or something else - there is no desire to make a laugh on this car, and an endless hood gives rise to a feeling of irresistible power and confidence in tomorrow .

The athlete's dwelling
A martial artist is added by modesty in clothes and asceticism in the design of a dwelling. The grown -up karateist slightly departed from this postulate: chrome on moldings and door handles Suzuki look good, but on the mirrors are already too much. A similar situation with the interior. Initially, he was modest and this was his own harmony: inexpensive plastic trim, a simple front panel design, unpretentious ventilation engines, a thin brass wand. But an attempt to add chic with chrome internal handles and inserts under a tree on the central tunnel failed - these elements are clearly alien here. Of the attributes of a beautiful life, there are a central castle, immobilizer, two front airbags, electric windows and mirrors, heating the front seats, air conditioning, audio training (an audio system is installed on the test machine). We include a leather interior, electric lover, cruise control - another plus $ 1000. The width of the cabin is moderate - 1350 mm at the level of the shoulders, so the elbow of the driver of the average configuration automatically fits on the door armrest, since it is located where necessary. On a flat sofa of the second row, there is enough space for two, if you take the third, then the child is narrow. However, you will not have to rest your knees, and about 10 cm still remains over your head. It is difficult to get on the third row of seats because of the sophisticated backcrowing mechanism, although it helps out a huge width of the doorway (930 mm!), And in order to create at least to create The minimum legs for the legs, the middle row will have to be moved forward as much as its passengers allow.
The losing weight sumoist dress wears solid and practical - with a protective plastic belt in the hem. But I’m used to living in luxury: here you have an intricate interior design, skin, chrome, wooden inserts, climate and cruise control, numerous electric drives, an audio system and even an internal mirror with automatic darkening. And there are much more places in Hyunde - inside it is wider for as many as 145 mm. The chairs are spacious and comfortable, and the range of adjustments is simply huge. The second row of seats is located significantly higher, there are more than enough space for the legs and three giants - Sumo fighters could really place here. You can order a seven -seater car with three rows of seats - the passage back is quite free, since not only the backs, but also the middle row pillows are leaned forward.

Cabinet for kimono
Pantries and cabinets, including storage of sports equipment, have become the norm for current housing. In this sense, our athletes are lucky - how many places for a kimono or bandage are needed? Well, what if you want a picnic with friends, but just transport something voluminous?
A large company will have to go light, behind the backs of the third row, there will be only something for skewers. If there are few passengers, Suzuki put almost horizontally cut backs of the third (50/50), and then the second (60/40) rows. It turns out a completely acceptable cargo platform, but only 760 mm remains to the ceiling, and even less to the top of the opening of the fifth door. Ter Strape in the third row, in fact, has two separate chairs: you can only fold the backs or raise them up to the sides above the wheeled arches, freeing the entire floor. The second row of split (60/40) and allows you to throw forward only the backs or both sections. Here, nothing prevents the use of the entire height of the cabin for the cargo, and it is 1040 mm.

Snow tatami
Unfortunately, the snow -covered roads did not allow you to check dynamic qualities with equipment, but according to subjective estimates in overclocking, cars are approximately equal. The lighter, although not so powerful Grand Vitara starts a little more frowning (in all -wheel drive) thanks to the more toothy buses of the Bridgestone Duler 687, but the terrible terrorist engine in combination with a rather rigid hydrotransformer allows us to eliminate the lag.
In the snow, Vitara quickly stops and you have to connect the front bridge. By the way, in the rear -wheel drive version, the front branch of the transmission to save fuel turns off the wheels using the couplings located at the differential. Basin ter Sterge is always ready for the vicissitudes of fate - he has a permanent all -wheel drive with electronic locking of the center differential and the rear inter -white differential of increased friction. The first begins to draw the snow virgins with the Bland Vitara - it has a lumen on the bottom almost everywhere 190 mm and 10 mm less under the rear axle gearbox. The wheels of a larger dimension provide a minimum of 205 mm in the area of \u200b\u200bthe axes and 225 mm within the base.
Fresh snow can hardly be considered a serious obstacle to an all -terrain vehicle, but a careful look at the car from the pit allows you to accurately predict its survivability on the off -road. Vitara’s front of the rack McEferson - thanks to their reaction of the car on the highway, are more clear. But the combination of such a suspension and a handout with a lowering gear is a rarity. After all, the large traction efforts necessary in heavy ground are destructive for macsons, in which stroke rods work on bending. Yes, and the rhealhic steering on off -road can overdo it in reactive actions - the efforts on the steering wheel will be excessive.
Terryan in front has double transverse levers - the design is much more durable. In addition, the worm steering mechanism: even if it does not differ in informativeness, but the steering wheel will not break out of the hands in some cruel pardy. And with diagonal hanging, the door of the terroristore open, they open, are all the same as easily, while Vitara’s fifth is inflated in a skewed opening - the rigidity of the elongated body is such that it is better to avoid the crossed terrain.

A relatively low price, fast, accurate reactions on the road, informative steering, good tires.

The low hardness of the body, limited off -road qualities, small width (and with seven passengers - and length) of the salon, modest possibilities of its transformation, difficult to pass to the third row.

A durable hard body, good off -road opportunities, a spacious interior, excellent sound insulation, rich decoration and equipment.

Slowed reactions on the road, tangible rolls in corners, uninformative steering, a large fuel consumption.

SUMMARY
Each car, like every fighter, has its own strengths and favorite exercises in which he is the best. Karatist, like Suzuki-grand Vitara XL7, distinguish a quick reaction, accurate movements, mobility. Best of all, these qualities are manifested on the roads - good and not very. The trump cards of the Sumo and Hyunde -Terracen fighter are irresistible pressure, strength, endurance. The car does not care at least off -road, at least the dirt is knee -deep.
Text / Yuri Nechetov
Photo / Alexander Polunin

Source: The magazine "Driving"