Suzuki Vitara

Suzuki Vitara
Overview
Manufacturer	Suzuki
Production	1988–present
Body and chassis
Class	Mini SUV (1988–1998) Compact SUV (1998–present) Compact Crossover SUV (2015–present)
Layout	Front engine, rear-wheel drive / four-wheel drive (1988–2015) Front engine, front-wheel-drive / four-wheel drive (2015–present)

First generation
Overview
Also called	Asüna Sunrunner Chevrolet Tracker Chevrolet Vitara Geo Tracker GMC Tracker Mazda Proceed Levante Pontiac Sunrunner Santana 300/ 350 Suzuki Sidekick
Production	1988–1998
Model years	1989–1999
Body and chassis
Class	Mini SUV
Body style	2-door convertible 3 and 5-door wagon
Powertrain
Engine	1.6 L G16A I4 (petrol) 1.6 L G16B I4 (petrol) 1.8 L I4 (petrol) 2.0 L H20A V6 (petrol) 1.9 L XUD I4 (diesel) 2.0 L RF I4 (diesel)
Transmission	3-speed automatic 4-speed automatic 5-speed manual
Dimensions
Wheelbase	3-door: 86.6 in (2,200 mm) 5-door: 97.6 in (2,479 mm)
Length	3-door: 143.7 in (3,650 mm) (1996–98) 142.5 in (3,620 mm) (1989–1995) 5-door: 158.7 in (4,031 mm) 5-door Sport: 162.4 in (4,125 mm)
Width	3-door: 65.2 in (1,656 mm) (1996–98) 64.2 in (1,631 mm) (1989–1995) 5-door: 64.4 in (1,636 mm) 5-door Sport: 66.7 in (1,694 mm)
Height	3-door: 64.3 in (1,633 mm) (2WD, 1992–93 & 1996–98) 65.6 in (1,666 mm) (1989–1991) 65.1 in (1,654 mm) (4WD, 1992–93 & 1996–98) 64.4 in (1,636 mm) (2WD 1994–95) 65.2 in (1,656 mm) (4WD 1994–95) 5-door: 65.7 in (1,669 mm) (2WD) 66.5 in (1,689 mm) (4WD) 66.3 in (1,684 mm) (Sport)
Chronology
Successor	Suzuki Grand Vitara

Second generation
Overview
Also called	Chevrolet Tracker Chevrolet Grand Vitara Mazda Proceed Levante Suzuki Escudo Suzuki Grand Vitara
Production	1998–2005
Model years	1999–2005
Assembly	Japan: Iwata, Shizuoka Canada: Ingersoll, Ontario Indonesia: Bekasi (Suzuki Indomobil Motor
Body and chassis
Class	Compact SUV
Body style	2-door convertible 3 and 5-door wagon
Related	Suzuki XL-7
Powertrain
Engine	1.6 L G16B I4 (petrol) 2.0 L J20A I4 (petrol) 2.5 L H25A V6 (petrol) 2.0 L RF/RFM I4 (diesel) 2.0 L RHW/RHZ I4 (diesel)
Transmission	5-speed manual 4-speed automatic
Dimensions
Wheelbase	3-door: 86.6 in (2,200 mm) 5-door: 97.6 in (2,479 mm)
Length	2002–05 5-door: 164.5 in (4,178 mm) 1999–2001 5-door: 163.0 in (4,140 mm)
Width	3-door: 67.3 in (1,709 mm) 2002–05 5-door: 70.1 in (1,781 mm) 1999–2001: 70.0 in (1,778 mm)
Height	2002–05 5-door AWD: 67.8 in (1,722 mm) 2002–05 5-door 2WD: 67.3 in (1,709 mm) 3-door: 66.5 in (1,689 mm) 1999–2001 5-door AWD: 68.5 in (1,740 mm) 1999–2001 5-door 2WD: 68.0 in (1,727 mm)

Third generation
Suzuki Grand Vitara Limited (USA)
Overview
Also called	Suzuki Grand Vitara
Production	2005–present Extended production continues for some markets
Assembly	Japan: Iwata, Shizuoka United States: Riverside, California Canada: Ingersoll, Ontario
Body and chassis
Class	Compact SUV
Body style	3 and 5-door SUV
Powertrain
Engine	1.6 L M16A I4 (petrol) 2.0 L J20A I4 (petrol) 2.4 L J24B l4 (petrol) 2.7 L H27A V6 (petrol)
Transmission	5-speed manual 4-speed automatic (AW 03-72LE) 5-speed automatic
Dimensions
Wheelbase	5-door: 2,639 mm (104 in) 3-door: 2,440 mm (96.1 in)
Length	2009 5-door: 4,501 mm (177 in) 2006–2008 5-door: 4,470 mm (176 in) 3-door: 4,005 mm (157.7 in)
Width	5-door: 1,811 mm (71 in) 3-door: 1,810 mm (71.3 in)
Height	5-door: 1,694 mm (67 in) & 1,684 in (42,774 mm) 3-door: 1,695 mm (66.7 in)

Fourth generation
Overview
Production	2015-present
Body and chassis
Class	Compact Crossover SUV
Body style	5-door crossover
Layout	Front-engine, front-wheel-drive Front-engine, four-wheel-drive
Related	Suzuki SX4 S-Cross
Chronology
Predecessor	Suzuki Grand Vitara Suzuki SX4

The Suzuki Vitara is a compact SUV produced by Suzuki in four generations since 1988. The second and third generation models were known as the Suzuki Grand Vitara, with the fourth and current series eschewing this prefix. In Japan and a number of other markets, all generations have used the name Suzuki Escudo.

The original series was designed to fill the slot above the Suzuki Jimny. The first generation was known as Suzuki Sidekick in the United States. The North American version was produced as a joint venture between Suzuki and General Motors known as CAMI. The Sidekick was sold in various badges such as the Geo Tracker (Chevrolet Tracker after 1998) in the United States, and as the GMC Tracker, Chevrolet Tracker, Asüna Sunrunner and Pontiac Sunrunner in Canada. It was also sold as the Santana 300 and 350 in Spain. In the Japanese market, it was also sold as the Mazda Proceed Levante.

The second generation was launched in 1998 under the "Grand Vitara" badge in most markets. It was accompanied by a still larger SUV known as the Suzuki XL-7 (known as Grand Escudo in Japan). The third generation was launched in 2005.

The fourth generation, released in 2015, reverted back to the original name "Vitara" in most markets, but shifted from an off-road SUV towards a more road-oriented crossover style. It shares the platform and many components with the SX4 S-Cross, a compact crossover in a similar class.

Escudo was first introduced in the Japanese domestic market in July 1988. The name is derived from the "escudo", the monetary unit of Portugal before adoption of the Euro. North American Sidekick became available for model year 1989 as a two-door convertible or hardtop. An 80 hp (60 kW) 1.6-litre, eight-valve, four-cylinder Suzuki G16 engine was available on the JX and JLX. 1990 brought the deletion of the upscale JLX version. In 1991, a five-door Sidekick with a lengthened wheelbase was introduced. 1991 also brought the introduction of rear antilock brakes. It was thought that the five-door would overlap with the shorter three-door in the market; instead, it appealed to a whole new segment and sales in the domestic Japanese market doubled as a result.