SUZUKI Escudo / Vitara 3 Doors 2005-Present Photos, engines & full specs

Suzuki introduced the third generation of the Escudo/Vitara in 2005 and offered it with either three or five doors, depending on the market.

While the long version, with five doors, was named Grand Vitara, the three-door model lost the "Grand" from its nameplate for an obvious reason: it was shorter. Maybe it wasn't that practical for transporting family and friends around, but it could fit easier in tight parking spots. In addition, the drivers didn't have to worry if they hit a curb or if there were any drainage systems that could trap their cars.

Gone were the rounded shapes of the bio-design era, and Suzuki took advantage of it when it penned the Vitara. With its sharp lines and curved panels, it blended into the new-edge design trend that conquered the market. At the front, the Vitara featured big, rectangular headlights placed high above the tall bumper to protect them against shopping carts and bushes alike. From its profile, the two-door version featured a raked-forward B-pillar, which was not fitted on its longer sibling. That left the rear passengers with smaller side windows ending at the back on the tilted C-pillars. Suzuki chose to install the spare wheel on the tailgate, leaving more room for the trunk area.

Inside, despite the hard-plastic materials used on most of the panels and dashboard, the cabin offered a pleasant ambiance. The clean design was disturbed only by the numerous buttons on the center stack, where the buttons for the audio and HVAC systems were placed. In the back, there was very limited room for passengers, while the trunk was large enough for just a few backpacks.

Under the hood, the Japanese carmaker installed either a 1.6-liter gasoline engine or a 1.9-liter (Fiat-sourced) turbo-diesel, depending on the market. Power went to all four wheels via a two-speed transfer case and a five-speed manual.