The Good Oil: Did Suzuki invent the ‘life-style’ SUV? – Information

Let’s get off on the best notice by saying that Suzuki undoubtedly didn’t invent the “crossover SUV” as we all know it as we speak. Toyota typically will get the credit score for combining 4×4 styling/packaging with a road-car platform within the Toyota RAV4 three-door (1994), with a bit of assist mainstreaming the idea from Honda (CR-V five-door, additionally 1994).

However making a small-medium SUV actually fashionable? That’s received to be right down to the Suzuki Vitara, which was wowing image-conscious urbanites approach again in 1988.

For many of its profession the Vitara has been a standard, hard-core 4×4: ladder-frame chassis, low-range gearbox, go-anywhere functionality. No dangerous on-road both, however removed from crossover-slick.

However that didn’t cease the first-generation mannequin changing into the darling of classy metropolis drivers, because of its mixture of compact dimension, perky styling and (particularly) a soft-top model. To not point out alternative Nineteen Eighties decals.

The Vitara’s lifestyle-cred merely constructed from there, albeit with a beneficiant garnish of “hairdresser’s automobile” jokes. A five-door got here alongside in 1990 and in 1994 (simply as Toyota and Honda had been getting the dangle of this fashionable SUV factor) it gained a V6 engine possibility. We can also’t let the first-gen Vitara cross with out point out of the now-ironically-iconic Vitara-based X-90 coupe/targa-style convertible.

View all Suzuki Vitara models on DRIVEN

From the second technology (1997) it turned the Grand Vitara, totally embracing the rising world reputation of household SUVs – however retaining that rock-hopping 4×4 skill. It even briefly grew into an extended, but nonetheless unusually slim, seven-seater referred to as XL-7 (beneath).

The third-gen (2005) did make some concession to the crossover technology by combining parts of monocoque building (like a highway automobile) with an built-in ladder body for higher experience and dealing with.

We will just about draw a line beneath that technology, as a result of Vitara model 4 (2015) downsized and developed right into a full crossover, with cheeky styling and unibody building. And naturally the Vitara platform can be now shared with Suzuki’s much more mainstream SX4 S-Cross.

So the present Vitara (beneath) represents an entire change for the mannequin in some respects. But it surely’s additionally circled again to the place it began.