Grand SUV: Grand Vitara is larger, more powerful and newly styled

Thank goodness Suzuki's Grand Vitara sport utility vehicle moved closer to the mainstream for the 2006 model year.

The Grand Vitara's odd, cladding-sided styling is gone, replaced by a more substantial and pleasing look and modern, unibody construction. The small interior is gone, too; the 2006 Grand Vitara is a full 11.5 inches longer than its predecessor and it's a bit wider.

And the old, less-than-impressive, 165-horsepower V-6 is upgraded to a larger V-6, delivering 185 horsepower.

Even accompanied by a $600 price increase at the base model level, these changes should help bring attention to the new Grand Vitara and boost declining sales in the United States.

The starting manufacturer's suggested retail price, including destination charge, is $19,594 for the base, 2006 Grand Vitara 2WD with manual transmission and standard V-6 -- less than the Ford Escape, the most popular car in the class, less than the Toyota RAV4, less than the Kia Sportage.

And the new Grand Vitara comes standard with six airbags, including two frontal bags, two side-mounted airbags for front-seat passengers and two curtain airbags -- one for each side of the SUV; the side-mounted and curtain airbags are options on the Escape and RAV4.

Traction control, electronic stability control and antilock brakes also are standard safety items on every Grand Vitara now.

The test Grand Vitara Luxury model with two-wheel drive was pleasantly styled, inside and out. It's done just right for maximum appeal to a wide range of buyers, who, by the way, could include young families as well as empty nesters on a budget.

The interior in the test Grand Vitara mixed materials well, and fit and finish was noteworthy.

Be aware that some items -- such as navigation system and backup sensors -- aren't offered. Intriguingly, though, the low-priced Grand Vitara has optional no-key entry.

There's a decent amount of rear-seat space now. Rear-seat legroom has grown to 37.2 inches from its former, minuscule 30.6 inches.

And while three adults sit closely in the Grand Vitara's back seat, they get more shoulder room than before.

Power comes on adequately from the 2.7-liter, double overhead cam V-6. Horsepower is improved by 20, and torque is now 184 foot-pounds at 4,500 rpm compared with 162 foot-pounds in the 2005 Grand Vitara with a smaller engine.

The Grand Vitara's fuel economy is worse than many four-cylinder SUVs and not as efficient as some SUVs with V6s.

For instance, the test Grand Vitara with two-wheel drive and automatic transmission had a government rating of 19 miles a gallon in the city and 24 mpg on the highway. This compares with 20/26 mpg for a six-cylinder Hyundai Tucson and 22/26 mpg for a Ford Escape with four-cylinder power.

I was disappointed by the Grand Vitara's four-wheel independent suspension. While it delivered a smooth ride on smooth pavement, passengers were jarred when the vehicle traveled on pothole-filled streets.

This suspension also seemed bothered and less than composed on uneven roads and unpaved lanes.

There was some wind noise in the Grand Vitara that picked up noticeably at highway speeds. And when I pressed the Grand Vitara aggressively for power, the engine droned a bit.

But the audio system came through strongly, and I appreciated that it was an easy step to get into the Grand Vitara. Also, all five passengers have shoulder belts and height-adjustable head restraints.

The flat, rear cargo area is bigger than before, at a competitive 68.9 cubic feet with the rear seats folded.

But the tailgate door still opens to right, so people approaching curbside to load items into the back must walk around this tailgate.

NHTSA has no crash test ratings to report for the new Grand Vitara.