Everybody has an opinion about what's wrong with the world today. Some blame the apparent decline of morality in the Western world on inequality and greed, while others target vices like drugs, violence and the entertainment industry. Then there are those who think things could be solved by placing more emphasis on the simple things, like minding one's manners and treating others respectfully.
Though we doubt it would solve the world's problems, it couldn't hurt people to be a bit more courteous to one another. With that said, we have a simple, polite request for Suzuki after testing its 1999 Vitara JX 2.0 4WD: "More power, please."
Our Victory Red test car came equipped with the larger of the two engines available in the Vitara--a new, 2.0-liter, 16-valve, DOHC four. But after spending five frustrating days trying to get the vehicle to move as fast as we wanted, we shuddered to think what the base 1.6-liter SOHC engine would have felt like. After loading up the two-door convertible in late June, we drove it from Denver to Vail, Colo., for a Vertical K Skyrunning race, but found it impossible to break 50 mph while climbing up I-70. The 30 extra horsepower we had didn't seem to make much of a difference in the above-10,000-foot altitudes that constitute Summit County, and we found ourselves pleading for more oomph while we mashed the gas pedal to the floor. Despite our complaints, the powertrain is new this year and more powerful than ever before, so if you're used to a smaller engine or if you live at sea level, perhaps you'll be more forgiving of the car's performance than we were.
The Vitara's 127 horsepower and 134 foot-pounds of torque disappointed us tremendously, but that didn't stop us from having some fun in the sporty little truck. Our first order of business was to remove the softtop--an endeavor that left four 20-somethings feeling ragged. Mercifully, the owner's manual explained things nicely; without it, we'd still be driving around with a few pieces of canvas flapping in the wind. Putting the top back on was even more of a hassle and it took two of us almost 30 minutes to complete the task. The lesson? If (and only if) you own a garage, live in a rain-free climate, or have a ton of energy, the Vitara would provide lots of fun for squirting around town with the wind in your hair.
A five-speed manual transmission comes standard in the Vitara, though consumers can buy an automatic for an extra $1,000. It took some strength to wrench the standard tranny's shift lever from gear to gear, decreasing the vehicle's fun-to-drive marks. Other performance attributes were more satisfying, like the responsive steering and surprisingly smooth suspension. The Vitara proved nimble for maneuvering through tight places and offered a 15.4-foot turning radius. Its two-speed transfer case, 86.6-inch wheelbase, light weight and nearly 8 inches of ground clearance may help out drivers stuck in mud or wishing to clear a rock.
Inside, we discovered an interior that was well laid-out and ergonomically sound with four easy-to-use cupholders. Climbing inside was hassle-free, and we appreciated the way the front seats tilt and slide forward for easy access to the rear. The driver's seating position provided uncorrupted views to the front and sides, but the thick B-pillar posed problems when changing lanes with the top up. For smaller individuals, seats both front and rear were comfortable, though we noticed that the driver's seat track on our test car moved a bit while in motion. One 6-foot-3-inch front-seat passenger found that his 41.4 inches of legroom were not enough when there were occupants in the rear seats. When he moved the seat back to where he was comfortable, he would encroach upon the backseat dweller's space and crush the legs of the person sitting directly behind him.
Road noise was not a problem in Suzuki's Vitara, but the wind whistled through the softtop loud enough to drown out the radio. We wished for a traditional volume dial instead of the tiny volume buttons on the stereo and thought the stereo controls took too much fiddling to figure out. We were delighted, however, with the thick, sturdy feel of the steering wheel and the easy-to-reach shift lever and four-wheel-drive lever, and we found plenty of room in the cargo area to store our luggage.
With the mini-SUV segment booming, Suzuki has an adequate contender with the entry-level Vitara. What makes the Vitara stand out is its low price coupled with its long list of standard equipment. For about $16,500 (including destination charge), consumers receive a sporty little SUV with a two-piece convertible top, shift-on-the-fly four-wheel drive, auto-locking hub control with manual shift, power windows and door locks, full-size spare tire with cover, dual power outside mirrors, side-window demisters, AM/FM/cassette stereo, split-folding rear seats, sun visors with sliding center shade, tilt steering wheel, tachometer, intermittent windshield wipers, and tinted glass. Now, if it only had...
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