The Grand Vitara was the long-wheelbase version of the popular Vitara and offered more room for five adult passengers.
Suzuki produced the Vitara as an upgrade for customers who asked for more comfort and a relaxed, affordable SUV. The new range featured a new platform with independent front suspension and a rigid axle in the rear. Along with the unit-body construction, the new vehicle was not only spacious but more comfortable as well. In 1988, the Japanese carmaker introduced it as a three-door hard-top or a two-door convertible, but three years later, the bigger, five-door version arrived on specific markets.
The Grand Vitara/Escudo kept the same front fascia as its three-door sibling, with rectangular headlights and rectangular headlights. Its three-slat grille with chrome surrounding was available for the full-option version, together with light color wrapped-around plastic molds. Suzuki installed flared rear wheel fenders for the car's rear side, extended over the back doors. Even though the car was long enough to accommodate the spare wheel inside the trunk, the Japanese carmaker still kept it mounted on the tailgate.
Inside, the front seats and the dashboard were similar to the one in the three-door version, but it was a different story in the back. As expected, thanks to its longer wheelbase, the car offered more legroom for the rear passengers.
Under the hood, Suzuki offered the Grand Vitara a choice of four engines, depending on the market. The most unusual was the 2.0-liter V-6 gasoline version, which was offered in Vietnam and Indonesia, where that displacement led to lower taxes.