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Used 2011 Suzuki Grand Vitara Consumer Reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars
33 reviews

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We have a limited number of reviews for the 2011 Grand Vitara, so we've included reviews for other years of the Grand Vitara since its last redesign.

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Pros
Cons
5 out of 5 stars

Solid choice for low price

shermsgirl, 10/18/2010
2010 Suzuki Grand Vitara XSport 4dr SUV (2.4L 4cyl 4A)
17 of 17 people found this review helpful

This car is beyond our expectations. It handles light and easy, great mileage (27 MPG w/ 5,000 miles to date), solid build. Love the GPS with bluetooth. We also find the unlocking feature without the key very convenient. Our Honda CR-V was a big disappointment compared to this car.

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4 out of 5 stars

59000 mi in 2022

A. Miller, 03/26/2018
updated 10/02/2023
2010 Suzuki Grand Vitara 4dr SUV (2.4L 4cyl 5M)
13 of 13 people found this review helpful

(Too many updates so this may not read smoothly.) Bought new for $15k in 2011 (last one on the lot) so it was a steal. The former Suzuki dealership lost the GPS and owners manual but I use my iphone for GPS and Googled the manual. Almost 8 years of ownership and it just turned 56,000 miles with no problems. I live in the Phoenix, Arizona, area where it’s fairly flat and 25 MPG is normal. Being the base model, it has a 5 speed manual and rearwheel drive and that does the job. I never towed anything and it doesn’t have roof rails so I don’t know how it would be for hauling. The front seats are not very comfortable after an hour of sitting although I did add sheepskin seat covers. Three sets of tires so far — the original Yokohama’s wore out quickly, then the Hankooks, and now the Goodyears are getting old and need replacing. NO problems until the headlight relays; it’s reliable and never let me down. Still looks good. Paint hasn’t oxidized (always garaged). I use synthetic oil and drive about 10,000 between changes. The side-opening rear gate is perfect for me. Good cargo room. Road and tire noise isn’t too bad. Our other car is a Cadillac CT6 AWD so I’m familiar with comfort and quiet. It’s a good car; probably not much resale value anymore but it just keeps running. I also got a 2021 Buick Enclave Avenue but kept the Suzuki. Annual tags and insurance are cheaper the older it gets so for a few hundred dollars a year I’ll keep it. No problems. Fourth battery in 12 years. I’ll keep it for now. My base model Grand Vitara isn’t fancy. The base model only comes in black. It’s a 5-speed manual without cruise control. I’ve had it for over 12 years and put 60,000 miles on it and it’s my local run-around vehicle. It was marked down from an overpriced $23k sticker to $15k as it was the last Suzuki on the dealer’s lot. Some things were missing, like the standard nav and the owner’s manual but the markdown made up for it. Until 2022 I never had anything not work but then hi & lo beam headlight relays crapped out. (This isn’t a complaint against the Grand Vitara but I can’t believe how much the auto parts stores charge for a simple relay ($35-45/ea) so I found them on Amazon for less than $20 for 2). The seats are not comfortable for long drives so I added sheepskin covers with extra padding. It helps some for comfort and my seat fabric still looks like new underneath. I read every review on the Grand Vitara before purchasing and then the main complaint seemed to be about the left-side opening hatch. It might have been designed for Japan but I like it. Gas mileage is about 20-25mpg — it’s not geared for high speed or economy. It has a timing chain instead of a belt. The spare tire is hung on the hatch and I have a bike carrier that straps on to that. It has 4-wheel disc brakes — not all that common in 2010 it seems. I don’t have a tow hitch or roof rack. It’s a convenient size for 1 or 2, + 2 more if necessary. It doesn’t have any of the now-standard Nannies other than single climate control, anti-lock brakes, and electronic stability control.

Safety
4 out of 5 stars
Technology
4 out of 5 stars
Performance
4 out of 5 stars
Interior
4 out of 5 stars
Comfort
3 out of 5 stars
Reliability
5 out of 5 stars
Value
5 out of 5 stars
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5 out of 5 stars

A Spectacular Build Quality and Comfort

john bertini, 07/12/2010
2010 Suzuki Grand Vitara Limited 4dr SUV (3.2L 6cyl 5A)
11 of 11 people found this review helpful

Purchased the v6 2wd version limited all loaded except the 4wd, i must say it is a great build!, quiet and smooth ride on the highway, in town around 21 mpg highway about 26, the transmission is smooth shifting at any pedal response! loaded with features the price for this vehicle far surpasses the others in the SUV market bar far! Keep up the good quality build Suzuki it will catch on!.

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3.88 out of 5 stars

Better at some things than other

hunqapillar, 02/10/2013
2011 Suzuki Grand Vitara Limited 4dr SUV 4WD (2.4L 4cyl 4A)
17 of 18 people found this review helpful

We bought a lightly used 2011 GV Limited with 5700 miles on the odo. After two months of owning it and another 1500 miles on the odometer we've discovered what we like and what we don't. First off, we love the looks. We love that it is NOT just another RAV4, CRV, or Forester that everyone else around here owns. Seats are comfortable, stereo is good, standard GPS is a nice touch. The ride is a bit rough but manageable. Rear seat is more cramped and the cargo space is lacking compared to our Forester. Gas mileage SUCKS!! It was a compromise taking the hit on mpg's compared to the Subaru we traded in, but we are not even getting the listed mpg. Mixed city/hwy of 16-17. Good car for the $$.

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2.88 out of 5 stars

we got a lemon

lovebug, 01/19/2010
2009 Suzuki Grand Vitara 4dr SUV (2.4L 4cyl 4A)
17 of 18 people found this review helpful

Bought truck in April 2009. LOVING the truck until the cold weather hit and we started turning on the heat. Late November motor started overheating. They replaced the thermostat. Early December motor overheating again, and no heat in the vehicle. They replaced the thermostat again, but it was still overheating. They opened up the motor and the head was cracked! They've had our vehicle since Dec 14th, waiting for parts from Japan. Asside from the mechanical/electrical problems, my biggest complaint is about their customer service. They've never once contacted us to give us an update. It's always us calling them. We usually get voice-mai

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