Suzuki was for a long time the market leader in the small off-roader segment - of course, that was back when being the market leader in this segment wasn't as impressive because it wasn't such a popular segment.
Along came the SUV boom, though, and Suzuki got left behind as the mainstream players muscled in on its territory. The current-generation Grand Vitara was an attempt to right those perceived wrongs - a tough call in such a crowded and competitive marketplace.
Thankfully the car is a massive improvement on what went before it - it feels much more modern and in keeping with buyers' tastes. The styling is much more fashion-aware and the car itself is far more civilised to drive. This is because its settings in the UK have been tuned specifically for British roads, notoriously some of the poorest quality streets in Europe.
There is a wider range of engines available for the Grand Vitara than ever before too, but as usual British SUV buyers only really have eyes for diesel engines. Which is good, because the petrols do underperform here, feeling gutless and suffering from a lack of power, but still needing lots of fuel to achieve not very much.
The diesel engines are both frugal and yet offer power across the range of the engine's ability. The best option is the Renault-sourced 1.9-litre turbo diesel engine, which has a good range of torque for general driving and for the muddier stuff too.
Whilst the Suzuki isn't the best car to drive dynamically, it still retains more than a modicum of off-roading ability, which is a rarity these days. Many people order a car with four-wheel drive for peace of mind, but for those who have genuine need the Suzuki is a solid prospect.
There is plenty of space on offer in the car, with room for five to be seated comfortably and a seven-seater option available as well. As per usual, those last two seats are really only occasional seats for smaller children, but that extra practicality could make the Grand Vitara that much more compelling to potential buyers.
The downside of all the improvements to the Grand Vitara is that the car now costs more, but given that Suzuki has improved it to the point that it's actually in contention with segment rivals and still remains a reasonable bargain it's a price many people will want to pay.