2017 Suzuki Grand Vitara

Suzuki Grand Vitara

Suzuki’s Grand Vitara is aimed at folks who want a proper SUV stance without the punchy price tags you’ll find on a Hyundai Tucson, Kia Sportage, or Toyota Corolla Cross. On paper at least, it’s what the Grand Vitara should have been from the start: honest, upright, and unashamedly old-school. You get a single 1.5-litre petrol engine almost everywhere in the range, plus a lone 2.4-litre Dune variant lurking in the listings. Transmission choices are as simple as you’d expect at this price point—4-speed auto, 5-speed manual, or a semi-auto, depending on which trim you pick. Pricing sprawls from R179,900 to R381,900, with new examples rarer than a Joburg thunderstorm in winter—just two new cars against 17 used, and that tells you who's stretching their rands the hardest. The numbers don’t lie: ten of the 19 listings are for the 1.5 GL 4AT, priced between R289,900 and R381,900, and that’s where most buyers land. GLX trim brings a bit more kit, hovering from R319,800 to R369,900. These used Grand Vitaras average just 30,975 km, with model years from 2017 right up to 2026, so you’re not exactly scraping the barrel. SA buyers gravitate here because the Grand Vitara actually looks and feels like an SUV, and crucially, you get real 4WD on some trims—a big deal if you live outside Gauteng and your “road” is more suggestion than reality. The Corolla Cross might be a household name, but the Suzuki’s upright shape and off-tar credibility are what keep it relevant. Flash isn’t the point here—practicality and honest intent win out.