A Buyer’s Guide to the 2012 Suzuki Grand Vitara

When we talk about Suzuki, the first thing that comes to mind is the company’s decision in 2012 to pull its automobile division out of the United States market. Still, some of their lineup offers desirable features, and the Grand Vitara is OK as far as affordable crossovers go.

Key Features

Sometimes it’s the little things, and while automated climate control and a navigation system are usually premiums in other SUVs (meaning, you’ll pay extra for them) both come standard in the GV. Keyless entry and large dials on the console controls make for added convenience.

Changes for 2012

For 2012 the Grand Vitara got a minor tailgate restyle, as well as a boost to the navigation system with the addition of voice recognition and bonus features like weather and traffic.

What We Like

The cargo room is generous – with 69 cubic feet of space when the fold-n-tumble seats are down, you’ll have little trouble transporting equipment for nearly any activity (or a whole lot of groceries). The GV seats five and the interior is unrefined yet functional and reasonably comfortable.

What Concerns Us

The modest 4-cylinder struggles to power the weight of the Grand Vitara and the ride is less than luxuriously smooth. At high speeds road noise can become an annoyance and the side-opening tailgate is a throwback to the old days of the woody station wagon. Plus, there’s the issue of Suzuki closing up shop on American car sales. Service can still be obtained for the brand but you’ll want to check your local area.

Available Models

There is only one engine option in the 2012 Grand Vitara – a 2.4L inline 4 that has 162 lb.-ft. torque and 166 HP, garnering a reasonable 19/26 mpg fuel efficiency in the base manual 5-speed, 19/25 in the automatic, and 19/23 in the versions with 4-wheel drive.

The Premium trim offers an upgrade to 4-wheel drive while the Limited version is the only way to get 4-mode 4-wheel drive (useful on steep and rugged terrain because it allows low-range gearing).

Major Recalls

There are no major recalls on the 2012 Suzuki Grand Vitara.

Most Common Issues

There are not many reported issues with this vehicle and consumer reviews are overall positive. There has been one report of a GV that was less than two months old bursting into flames under the hood.

Suzuki Grand Vitara 2012 Interior


Next Step

Schedule Pre-purchase Car Inspection

The most popular service booked by readers of this article is Pre-purchase Car Inspection. YourMechanic’s technicians bring the dealership to you by performing this job at your home or office 7-days a week between 7AM-9PM. We currently cover over 2,000 cities and have 100k+ 5-star reviews... LEARN MORE

SEE PRICING & SCHEDULING

The statements expressed above are only for informational purposes and should be independently verified. Please see our terms of service for more details

Recent Pre-purchase Car Inspection reviews

Excellent Rating

(5,493)

Rating Summary
5,137
193
39
38
86
5,137
193
39
38
86

Jermaine

25 years of experience
382 reviews
Jermaine
25 years of experience
Dodge Durango V6-3.6L - Pre-purchase Car Inspection - Silver Spring, Maryland
Awesome mechanic! Very reliable !! Awesome personality! Explained everything and now I feel less stressed.
Hyundai Ioniq - Pre-purchase Car Inspection - Chevy Chase, Maryland
Jermaine was very friendly, efficient and professional. He kindly explained to me those things that did not score well in the service report, so that it didn't come as a surprise, and I would know what to do about it.

Caz

18 years of experience
146 reviews
Caz
18 years of experience
Mercedes-Benz GLA250 L4-2.0L Turbo - Pre-purchase Car Inspection - Woodstock, Georgia
Caz was extremely knowledgeable, personable and provided excellent service. He was on time for the appointment and answered and explained everything I asked concerning my vehicle. I will definitely use the company again and I would love to have Caz as my mechanic! Excellent!
Mercedes-Benz S550 - Pre-purchase Car Inspection - Mableton, Georgia
Caz Arrived on time much earlier than scheduled. He was very professional in inspecting the car and made excellent recommendations.

Brian

19 years of experience
138 reviews
Brian
19 years of experience
Lexus RX350 V6-3.5L - Pre-purchase Car Inspection - McDonough, Georgia
Brian was very informational and knowledgeable about the Inspection. He throughly inform me what issues on vehicle. Great Mechanic !!!
Ford Transit-350 HD - Pre-purchase Car Inspection - McDonough, Georgia
Great service. Honest , respectful and truly cares about making sure you get the best options possible at an affordable price. Finding a mechanic you can trust is rare. I highly recommend Brain.

Jay

24 years of experience
262 reviews
Jay
24 years of experience
Honda CR-V L4-2.4L - Pre-purchase Car Inspection - Glendale Heights, Illinois
Jay did a great job! Excellent at taking time to explain things about your car. And provided sound recommendation on repair. Courteous and responsive. I would definitely recommend Jay!
BMW 535i xDrive - Pre-purchase Car Inspection - Des Plaines, Illinois
Excellent ! Jay is very detail oriented and forward thinking. I would highly recommend him to anyone.

Need Help With Your Car?

Our certified mobile mechanics make house calls in over 2,000 U.S. cities. Fast, free online quotes for your car repair.

GET A QUOTE

Related articles

5 Essential Things to Know About High-Performance Vehicles
There’s There’s just something enticing about sitting in a high-performance vehicle that makes the heart start pumping before you ever hit the gas. However, there are a few things you should know about them before you sign on the dotted...
The Best Used Cars to Buy If You’re an Interior Designer
As As an interior designer, you need to transport a great many different items, including fabric, paint and wallpaper samples and sometimes even furniture items. You probably don’t handle overly large loads very often, and when you have to, you’ll...
How to Replace a Lost or Stolen Car Title in Oklahoma
The The moment you are given your car title, it’s a wise idea to store it somewhere safe that isn’t your vehicle. However, over time it’s very common to lose the title or even have it stolen. Now suppose you...

Related questions

What does the information display tell you?
The information display on your dash gives you access to critical information. You can cycle through each readout and adjust some of these as well. Here’s what you need to know: Odometer: The odometer tells you how many miles the...
What does the smell of burnt rubber mean on a 2012 Honda CR-V?
Check the drive belt on the engine and see if its still intact. Burnt smells in the car and then the air conditioning stops working means that the belt has burned off (https://www.yourmechanic.com/services/serpentine-drive-belt-replacement). This could be caused by the compressor...
Permanent DTC Code cylinder 4 misfire on Jeep Wrangler
Hi there. The best way to clear any stored error codes in your ECU is to have one of our professional mobile mechanics come to your location and complete a check engine light inspection (https://www.yourmechanic.com/services/check-engine-light-is-on-inspection) using a professional digital scanner....

How can we help?

Our service team is available 7 days a week, Monday - Friday from 6 AM to 5 PM PST, Saturday - Sunday 7 AM - 4 PM PST.

1 (855) 347-2779 · hi@yourmechanic.com