5 Suzuki Vitara historic models that paved the way for the SUVs we know today

Thanks to its long history, the Suzuki Vitara is one of the pioneers of today’s SUVs. Conceived and designed in 1987, this iconic model has gone through countless versions across its four generations. Nearly 30 years of life have seen everything from two-seater convertible variants of the Vitara to a legendary competition version with more than 1,000 CV of power.

Below we break down the 5 most representative versions of the Japanese model.

First generation of the Suzuki Vitara: pioneer of modern SUVs

The engineers and designers at Suzuki were visionaries in the late 1980s, creating a car that laid the foundations for the modern SUV concept. The Vitara was officially unveiled at the 1988 Tokyo Motor Show and from the very beginning it surprised with its bold philosophy, which challenged the segments, categories and conventions of its era.

It was a robust car, capable off the tarmac, yet not a burden in the city and on the road. Suzuki was not afraid to blend several vehicle types into one car, one that brought together the best of several worlds. On the one hand, it was a car robust and capable off the tarmac, but this was no handicap when driving in town and on the road. In that setting, its privileged elevated driving position was matched by healthy, agile and efficient behaviour; great comfort and ride quality; and a smooth driving feel. The Vitara drove on the road more like a passenger car than a harsh off-roader.

The Vitara became a best seller from the outset, and more than 100,000 units were sold in its first two years on sale. At just 3.57 metres long, its owner had a compact, an off-roader and a convertible in one: an agile, comfortable and versatile car with an attractive, modern and cool image. On top of all this came a smooth engine with modest consumption (for the time), effective behaviour on all terrains and a competitive price. How could it not succeed?

Vitara X-90: ahead of its time

During the 56th Frankfurt International Motor Show (1995), Suzuki innovated once again with a car concept never seen before. The Vitara X-90 is one of the boldest and most original models in Suzuki’s history: an off-road vehicle convertible, performance-oriented and two-seater that today we would classify as a sporty SUV. Its design was so daring that it reached showrooms with a slogan that was a statement of intent in itself: “What are you looking at?”

The Vitara X-90 was, in fact, a targa-top off-roader, with a glass roof that was anchored to a fixed hoop and removed in two pieces that could be stored in the boot. This car was designed for enjoying open-air driving. With sports seats, firm suspension, a weight of just 1,100 kilos and a lively 1.6 engine producing 95 CV, it delivered pure sensations and dynamism behind the wheel.

Available with rear-wheel or all-wheel drive, and with a five-speed manual or four-speed automatic gearbox, the Vitara X-90 was sold until 1997. In total 7,000 units were sold, most of them destined for the United States market, where today it is a true collector’s item.

Suzuki Grand Vitara Pikes Peak Special

The Vitara Pikes Peak ran two Suzuki G16A 1.6-litre engines producing 450 CV each; later it evolved to one producing 1,000 CV of power. The Suzuki Vitara has also made history in competition, becoming a legend in one of the most legendary motor races on the planet: the Pikes Peak hill climb. On this course, 19.9 kilometres long, with 156 corners and a 1,435-metre elevation gain, Nobuhiro “Monster” Tajima made history at the wheel of the most powerful Suzuki of all time.

The Vitara’s first victory (called the Escudo in other markets) came in 1995. Yutaka Awazuhara won with this model in 2001; and “Monster” Tajima imposed his dominance in the 2006, 2007 and 2008 editions with a Vitara XL7 (he also won the next three, but with a Suzuki SX4, with which in 2011 he broke the 10-minute barrier on this climb for the first time in history).

The original 1995 Vitara Pikes Peak was a mechanical “beast” designed to reign in the “race to the clouds”, and the brutal look of its kevlar and carbon bodywork was determined by aerodynamics that pinned it to the ground through the corners of this climb.

This Vitara ran two 1.6-litre Suzuki G16A engines – one on each axle – which, thanks to a powerful turbo, delivered 450 CV, for a total output of 900 CV. As the weight of the whole was 900 kilos, this Vitara offered a staggering power-to-weight ratio of one kilo per CV.

Over the years this base evolved, and with the arrival of the XL7 it adopted a single front-mounted V6 engine that exceeded 1,000 CV of power and 1,000 Nm.

For younger audiences, the Vitara/Escudo Pikes Peak is a cult classic in video games such as Gran Turismo, where it could not be bought with money and the right to drive it was earned only after winning many competitions.

Suzuki Grand Vitara XL-7: 7 seats and “Best Buy”

The second generation of the Vitara, named Grand Vitara, brought many novelties. The XL-7 version arrived in Spain in 2001, although it had been sold in the United States since 1998. Based on the five-door Vitara, the XL7 gained 320 mm of wheelbase and was 485 mm longer. Later the Suzuki XL7 arrived as a standalone model in the Vitara range.

The XL-7 was a huge commercial success in the United States, where for many years it was the most affordable seven-seat SUV on the market. This model won the prestigious “Best Buy” award from Consumers Digest for two consecutive years, in 2003 and 2004. The publication recommended the Suzuki Vitara XL-7 for its value for money, low maintenance costs, extensive warranty, safety, reliability, design, ergonomics, comfort, equipment, interior capacity, performance and handling.

Suzuki Vitara in rally raids

The Suzuki Vitara has also competed in the world of rally raids, proving to be a solid and reliable base for tackling the toughest terrain. Throughout its history, the Vitara has received preparations at every level, from the simpler T1 and T2 to the T3, which practically turned it into a prototype.

The Vitara has competed in off-road rallies since the early 1990s until the present day, where they take part in Italy’s championship for the discipline within a Challenge Suzuki.

The Vitara T1 and T2 competed in the Dakar with good results in their categories, demonstrating robustness and reliability. Those models, and the spectacular T3 Proto, have also taken part in national competitions, achieving outright victory in some editions of the Montes de Cuenca and the Transpaña.

Technical specifications of this car

Off-RoadSuzuki Vitara11 versions · from 27,925 €