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2008 Suzuki Grand Vitara Safety Review

October 31, 2008

SAFETY | 8 out of 10

Expert Quotes:

Four stars, frontal impact; five stars, side impact
NHTSA

Good," crash offset rating
IIHS

standard safety features are plentiful and advanced
Edmunds

Suzuki doesn't skimp on safety to keep prices down
Mother Proof

rear visibility is hindered
ConsumerGuide

The 2008 Suzuki Grand Vitara earns good—but not outstanding—scores on safety.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) gives Suzuki’s small SUV four stars for front impacts and five stars for side impact protection. It did better in Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) tests, where it received the highest rating of "good."

According to Edmunds, standard safety features "are plentiful and advanced for a low-cost compact vehicle, and include stability control, traction control, antilock disc brakes, full-length side-curtain airbags and front seat side-impact airbags." The tester at Mother Proof "was also impressed with the [Suzuki] Grand Vitara's lineup of airbags, which includes dual-stage front airbags, front-seat-mounted side-impact airbags and side curtain airbags," adding that "it's good to know Suzuki doesn't skimp on safety to keep prices down." This review also reports that this Suzuki 2008 vehicle is "outfitted with an electronic stability system and a tire pressure monitoring system."

Visibility is a definite issue with this year's Suzuki Grand Vitara, according to ConsumerGuide: "rear visibility is hindered by thick rear roof pillars and tall front headrests; the rear headrests retract below the driver's sight line."

Conclusion

The 2008 Suzuki Grand Vitara offers respectable crash protection and a comprehensive list of safety features.

SAFETY | 8 out of 10Expert Quotes:Four stars, frontal impact; five stars, side impactNHTSAGood," crash offset ratingIIHSstandard safety features are plentiful and advancedEdmundsSuzuki doesn't skimp on safety to keep prices downMother Proofrear visibility is hinderedConsumerGuide The 2008 Suzuki Grand Vitara earns good—but not outstanding—scores on safety. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) gives Suzuki’s small SUV four stars for front impacts and five stars for side impact protection. It did better in Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) tests, where it received the highest rating of "good." According to Edmunds, standard safety features "are plentiful and advanced for a low-cost compact vehicle, and include stability control, traction control, antilock disc brakes, full-length side-curtain airbags and front seat side-impact airbags." The tester at Mother Proof "was also impressed with the [Suzuki] Grand Vitara's lineup of airbags, which includes dual-stage front airbags, front-seat-mounted side-impact airbags and side curtain airbags," adding that "it's good to know Suzuki doesn't skimp on safety to keep prices down." This review also reports that this Suzuki 2008 vehicle is "outfitted with an electronic stability system and a tire pressure monitoring system." Visibility is a definite issue with this year's Suzuki Grand Vitara, according to ConsumerGuide: "rear visibility is hindered by thick rear roof pillars and tall front headrests; the rear headrests retract below the driver's sight line." ConclusionThe 2008 Suzuki Grand Vitara offers respectable crash protection and a comprehensive list of safety features.  2008 SUZUKI GRAND VITARA STYLING | [6 out of 10] Kelley Blue Book: "applies traditional SUV styling cues to a scaled-down package" Motor Trend: "arguably the best looking car in its class" Edmunds: "flowing lines abound" Mother Proof: "rear of the cabin proved to be very basic" ...

Read More of this Review:

  1. styling
  2. performance
  3. quality
  4. safety
  5. features

Other Choices:

Value for money is a real selling point for the 2008 Suzuki Grand Vitara. For the price of a similarly equipped four-cylinder compact SUV, the Grand Vitara offers a V-6. Unfortunately, performance just isn’t on par with that of the V-6 Ford Escape, Jeep Liberty, or Toyota RAV4. The Jeep Liberty has more torque and is the better choice for demanding off-roading or if you plan to tow a boat, while the RAV4, with its especially useful third row seat, is a top choice for those who plan to go mostly on road. The Liberty’s interior is quite cramped, though. The Sportage, RAV4, and Escape all benefit from carlike handling to bring more security to curvy roads. Then there’s the Grand Vitara’s cumbersome spare tire on the back hatch, which handicaps cargo loading (and visibility, slightly); the RAV4 also follows this silly arrangement.

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See the Suzuki Grand Vitara in Other Years:

2010 | 2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001 | 2000 | 1999

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