Grand Vitara diesel proves powerful and clean

Going the diesel way is likely to increase the Grand Vitara's popularity

Suzuki has boosted its four-wheel-drive Grand Vitara line-up with the addition of a diesel model, using an engine built by French carmaker Renault.

The 1.9-litre turbocharged diesel offers an 18.7 per cent increase in power and an 11 per cent boost in torque over the previous Grand Vitara diesel.

The new model costs $37,500 and is visually similar to the five-door versions of the Grand Vitara series launched in New Zealand last September.

"Arrival of the diesel model means the Grand Vitara will appeal to an even wider section of the market," says Suzuki New Zealand marketing manager Tom Peck. It is available in three-door and five-door forms, a choice of four engines, and six different models."

The diesel is the Renault F9Q common-rail with direct electronic fuel injection, a Garret water-cooled turbocharger and a single overhead camshaft. Gearbox is a five-speed manual. There is no automatic option with the diesel. The four-cylinder unit has a compression ratio of 17:1 and produces 95kW (129bhp) at 3750 rpm. The diesel in the previous Grand Vitara delivered 80kW (112bhp). Peak torque of 300Nm at 2000rpm exceeds any other Suzuki model and helps provide the Grand Vitara with mid-range response and flexibility.

By comparison, the 2-litre petrol Grand Vitara achieves 183Nm and the 2.7-litre V6 petrol version a maximum of 250Nm. Towing capacity of the diesel is 1850kg. Fitted with a particulate filter, the F9Q engine complies with stringent Euro 4 emission regulations.

Suzuki says it is one of the cleanest diesels available, emitting a low 205 grams/km of CO2. In the official urban/city fuel test cycle, the Grand Vitara diesel is 23.4 per cent more economical than the 2-litre petrol version. In all three fuel tests, the diesel versions averaged an 18.4 per cent improvement.

In European tests the diesel model achieved 6.7 litres/100 km (42.2mpg) in the extra urban open road fuel cycle, 9.4 litres/100 km (30.1mpg) in the urban cycle and 7.7 litres/100 km (36.7mpg) in the combined cycle.