2003 Suzuki Vitara Review
2003 Suzuki Vitara Review
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Used Vitara for sale
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Edmunds' Expert Review
by the Edmunds Experts
Pros
- Available two-door soft-top body style, truck-based body-on-frame construction means off-road capability.
Cons
- Meager cargo space, cramped rear seats, lacks refinement.
What’s new
Besides the merging of the JLS and JLX trim levels, not much has changed for the Suzuki Vitara this year.
Edmunds says
The small SUV segment has some pretty heavy hitters for this year, and the Vitara is being squeezed out of its market share. Having off-road capability and being a convertible isn't a strong enough draw for buyers.
Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2003 Suzuki Vitara Rwd 2dr Soft Top SUV (2.0L 4cyl 5M) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.36 per gallon for regular unleaded in Ohio.
Monthly estimates based on costs in Ohio
$193/mo for Vitara Base
Vitara Base
vs
$179/mo
Avg. Compact SUV
Consumer reviews
Read what other owners think about the Used 2003 Suzuki Vitara.
5 star(51%)
4 star(36%)
3 star(10%)
2 star(3%)
1 star(0%)
39 reviews
Trending topics in reviews
Most helpful consumer reviews
4.38 out of 5 stars
My Third One
WOldaker, 07/04/2003
2002 Suzuki Vitara JLX 4WD 4dr SUV (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
This is the 3rd 4wd Suzuki I have
owned. irst was a Samauri,then Side
Kick. and the last one the Vitara.
After owning the "dangerous" Samuari :=)
I knew I would probabably never drive
anther brand though would opt for more
comforts. It was time for my wife to
get a new vehicle so she ended up with
the Vitara. My Sidekick only has 170000
miles and is not ready to go yet. … My
wife teaches at 2 colleges 50+ miles
from each other and I wanted to have a
reliable, durable and safe vehicle for
her in any weather or situation. That
sums up the Suzuki Vitara.
4.25 out of 5 stars
Love my 'Zuki
Laura, 11/19/2006
2003 Suzuki Vitara Rwd 4dr SUV (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
My Suzuki Vitara has been wonderful. It handles easily, is truly economical to drive, and doesn't embarrass the kids. Too bad Suzuki discontinued the model, or I'd be trading it in for a newer one. It also has a pretty decent sound system in it, which I found to be a plus as soon as I started taking longer road trips. It even has nice safety features.
4.88 out of 5 stars
185K Miles with some work
drkrdr318, 07/03/2013
2002 Suzuki Vitara JLS 2WD 2dr Soft Top SUV (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
I have enjoyed my Vitara since I purchased new of the showroom floor. I will have to say the up keep and cost have been a little intense since 150K miles but well worth the trade off. The fuel tank wires frayed (easy fix), Alternator (new brushes 14.95), rear brake shoes (178K miles), differential fluid change (180K make sure you check if your around alot of high water) and Mobil 1 high … milage synth every 3,000 miles. Still running strong. Ive change the front brakes 3x and finally went to cryo rotors with synth pads. Worst problem, A/C pump failed and a/c leaks. Other then the A/C I use maybe 1/4 qt of oil every third fill up. Not bad in my book. www.oemsuzukiparts.com
4.5 out of 5 stars
A Genuine Mini 4-Wheeler
Army Veteran, 07/29/2002
2002 Suzuki Vitara JLX 4WD 2dr Soft Top SUV (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
The vehicle has been a pleasant
surprise in comparison with the Jeep
Wrangler. Unlike some competitors it
has a 4WD Hi/4WD Lo transfer case, and
is based on a true "truck" body. It has
less than half the turning radius of a
Jeep Wrangler. The rack-and-pinion
steering has a more precise feel. I
also got the advertised 25 mpg mileage,
which is 40% better than the Jeep. … The
torquy 16-valve DOHC 2 liter four
breathes freely at top end. Too bad
Jeep doesn't make this little 4-wheeler!
We have a limited number of reviews for the 2003 Suzuki Vitara, so we've included reviews for other years of the Vitara since its last redesign.
2003 Vitara Highlights
Base MSRP Excludes Destination Fee | $15,599 |
---|---|
Engine Type | Gas |
Combined MPG | 22 MPG |
Cost to Drive | $193/month |
Seating | 4 seats |
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place | 12.1 cu.ft. |
Drivetrain | rear wheel drive |
Warranty | 3 years / 36,000 miles |
Safety
NHTSA Overall Rating
The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration offers independent analysis.
- Frontal Barrier Crash RatingOverallNot RatedDriverNot RatedPassengerNot Rated
- Side Crash RatingOverallNot Rated
- Side Barrier RatingOverallNot RatedDriver4 / 5Passenger5 / 5
- Combined Side Barrier & Pole RatingsFront SeatNot RatedBack SeatNot Rated
- RolloverRollover3 / 5Dynamic Test ResultNo TipRisk Of RolloverNot Rated
IIHS Rating
The Insurance Institute of Highway Safety uses extensive crash tests to determine car safety.
- Small Overlap Front Driver-Side TestNot Tested
- Small Overlap Front Passenger-Side TestNot Tested
- Moderate Overlap Front Test – OriginalAcceptable
- Moderate Overlap Front Test – UpdatedNot Tested
- Side Impact Test – OriginalPoor
- Side Impact Test – UpdatedNot Tested
- Roof Strength TestNot Tested
- Rear Crash Protection / Head RestraintNot Tested
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