VIDEO: Suzuki discovers why SUVasaurus went extinct
Click above to watch video after the jump
As part of Suzuki's recent "Live Large. Drive Small" advertising campaign, the automaker has released a video called SUVasaurus. We've pasted it after the break and it's definitely worth a watch. The video is very well done and attempts to explain why the full-size SUV has gone the way of the dinosaur - extinct that is. Those pesky gas prices strike again. Of course, Suzuki believes that it has the answer to this particular conundrum in its Grand Vitara, which we recently got the chance to drive.
For 2009, the Grand Vitara gets two brand-new engine options that replace last year's lone and very lackluster V6. One is a Suzuki-designed 2.4-liter four-cylinder that will also see duty in the upcoming Kizashi sedan. It offers up 166 horses and can be mated with either a standard five-speed manual or, unfortunately, an automatic with only four forward ratios. An optional 3.2-liter V6 engine shares its architecture with GM's high-feature V6 family and produces a very willing 230 horsepower paired with a five-speed automatic.
We're not ready to call the GV the second coming of the SUV, but it definitely has plenty to offer those who need a real sport utility vehicle. Our angst is directed more at SUV pretenders that don't offer anything more than a typical station wagon or hatchback, and that's not the GV. As the only vehicle in its class that offers true four-wheel drive and an independent rear suspension, we can accept the GV as a vehicle with a purpose. Plus, that four cylinder engine can still tow 3,000 pounds and gets decent mileage, for a non-hybrid SUV, at 19 city and 23-26 highway. We do feel kinda bad for the poor SUVasauruses in the video... it's not their fault.
[Source: Suzuki]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
MikeW 8:05PM (11/12/2008)
It is too bad that Suzuki couldn't get GM's 2.8 V6 for a 4x2 GV
The 3.2 is nice for 4x4 GVs/
Reply
Brn 9:50AM (11/13/2008)
So this thing has less power and gets worse gas mileage than a Ford Escape? That's quite an accomplishment.
Cute commercial though.
Reply
Geoff 10:39PM (11/13/2008)
Suzuki went with their own engines because they know they can design and build them better.
Power and fuel economy between the 2009 Escape and Grand Vitara are virtually identical. What is amazing is that Suzuki was able to accomplish this with a *real* SUV with a proper off-road-intended chassis and 4WD drivetrain, instead of "cheating" like Ford did with a flimsy unibody, low-hanging air-dams, light-duty, on-road-only AWD system, and low-rolling-resistance tires. The Escape is not an SUV; it's a jacked-up Focus station wagon. The Grand Vitara is a proper 4x4, intended to do the things that 4x4's are designed to do, such as tow and go off-road in low-range.