Suzuki has updated the Grand Vitara for the 2011 model year and dropped the optional V-6 engine. Eliminating the 230-horsepower V-6 should help Suzuki improve its overall efficiency ratings as it attempts to meet upcoming CAFE standards.
With the 166-horsepower 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine under the Grand Vitara's hood, the Suzuki achieves 19/25-26 mpg city/highway in rear-wheel-drive form with the five-speed manual or four-speed automatic. Go for the four-mode full-time four-wheel-drive system and fuel economy drops to 19/23 mpg.
For all your on-road adventures, Suzuki has improved the standard Garmin navigation system for 2011. The Garmin 1600 series unit has real-time traffic, weather information, gas prices, Google search, and more.
Towing capacity remains 3000 pounds. If you need more than that but want to stay loyal to Suzuki, you could try the Equator pickup. Essentially a rebadged Nissan Frontier midsize pickup, the Equator is unchanged for 2011.
That means you still have a choice between a 152-horsepower 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine and a 261-horsepower 4.0-liter V-6. The five-speed manual is only available with the four-cylinder engine; all other trim levels use the five-speed automatic.
Towing capacity is 3500 pounds on the four-cylinder models and 6500 on the V-6 trucks.