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Let’s get off on the right note by saying that Suzuki definitely did not invent the “crossover SUV” as we know it today. Toyota generally gets the credit for combining 4×4 styling/packaging with a road-car platform in the Toyota RAV4 three-door (1994), with a little help mainstreaming the concept from Honda (CR-V five-door, also 1994).
But making a small-medium SUV truly trendy? That’s got to be down to the Suzuki Vitara, which was wowing image-conscious urbanites way back in 1988.
For most of its career the Vitara has been a traditional, hard-core 4×4: ladder-frame chassis, low-range gearbox, go-anywhere capability. No bad on-road either, but far from crossover-slick.
But that didn’t stop the first-generation model becoming the darling of trendy city drivers, thanks to its combination of compact size, perky styling and (especially) a soft-top version. Not to mention choice 1980s decals.
The Vitara’s lifestyle-cred simply built from there, albeit with a generous garnish of “hairdresser’s car” jokes. A five-door came along in 1990 and in 1994 (just as Toyota and Honda were getting the hang of this trendy SUV thing) it gained a V6 engine option. We also can’t let the first-gen Vitara pass without mention of the now-ironically-iconic Vitara-based X-90 coupe/targa-style convertible.
View all Suzuki Vitara models on DRIVEN
From the second generation (1997) it became the Grand Vitara, fully embracing the growing global popularity of family SUVs – but retaining that rock-hopping 4×4 ability. It even briefly grew into a long, yet still strangely narrow, seven-seater called XL-7 (below).
The third-gen (2005) did make some concession to the crossover generation by combining elements of monocoque construction (like a road car) with an integrated ladder frame for better ride and handling.
We can pretty much draw a line under that generation, because Vitara version four (2015) downsized and evolved into a full crossover, with cheeky styling and unibody construction. And of course the Vitara platform is also now shared with Suzuki’s even more mainstream SX4 S-Cross.
So the current Vitara (below) represents a complete change for the model in some respects. But it’s also circled back to where it started.
Keyword: The Good Oil: Did Suzuki invent the ‘lifestyle’ SUV?