The Suzuki Grand Vitara XL-7 spans 2002–2008 with 2 recorded NHTSA recalls and a 3.5/5 ForCar reliability score. The years to approach with caution are 2006, 2002, 2008 (most owner complaints); the cleanest are 2007, 2008, 2002. It delivers up to 24 mpg combined and NHTSA-rated safety.
Is the Suzuki Grand Vitara XL-7 a good car?
Short answer: it depends heavily on which year you buy. Our score for the Suzuki Grand Vitara XL-7 is 3.5 out of 5, built from NHTSA crash-test results, how often it gets recalled and what owners actually complain about — not from reviews.
The complaint that comes up most is the air bags — 61 of the 255 reports owners filed with NHTSA. If you're choosing a year, 2007, 2008, 2002 score best in our data, and 2006, 2002 worst.
This page describes the model. It can't tell you whether that car has an open recall, a rolled-back odometer or a branded title — for that, run its number through our free VIN check.
How we score: NHTSA crash-test safety (40%), recall frequency across all years (25%) and the share of owner complaints involving a crash, fire or injury (35%). Based on NHTSA & EPA data — not user reviews.
Overview
The Suzuki Grand Vitara XL-7 is one of the most popular vehicles in its class, produced from 2002 to 2008 across multiple generations.
How to read a Suzuki Grand Vitara XL-7 VIN — every digit explained
Every Suzuki Grand Vitara XL-7 carries a unique 17-character VIN stamped at the factory. Each position is a code — together they spell out where, when and how your car was built. Here's exactly what every digit means.
- WMI (1–3) — country & manufacturer. Tells you it's a Suzuki and the country it was built in (real Suzuki codes below).
- VDS (4–8) — model, body style, engine, trim & restraints. The 8th digit is the engine code.
- Check digit (9) — a math check that proves the VIN is genuine.
- Model year (10) — the year it was built (e.g. R = 2024, S = 2025).
- Plant (11) — which factory assembled this Grand Vitara XL-7.
- Serial (12–17) — the unique sequential production number.
- Japan2S2 · JG7 · JKS · JS1 · JS4 · JSA
- TaiwanLM1 · LM4 · RK6 · RK7
- USA5SA · 5Z6
- South KoreaKL5
- ChinaLC6
Digits 4–17 — the engine code (8th), model-year letter (10th) and plant — follow the universal SAE standard, identical on every car. To decode a VIN number position by position, including the year-code table and where to find the number on a Grand Vitara XL-7, use our free tool.
How many recalls does the Suzuki Grand Vitara XL-7 have?
The Suzuki Grand Vitara XL-7 has 2 recorded NHTSA recalls across 2002–2008. Pick a year below to see its recalls — then verify open recalls against your specific VIN.
2002 Suzuki Grand Vitara XL-7 recalls 1
Fuel System, Gasoline
What's wrong. ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, UNDER AMBIENT TEMPERATURES BELOW -25 DEGREES CELSIUS, MOISTURE CAN FREEZE IN THE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR. AS A RESULT, FUEL SYSTEM PRESSURE MAY INCREASE AT THE TIME OF ENGINE START UP, CAUSING FUEL LOSS AT THE FUEL PIPE/FUEL HOSE CONNECTION.
Risk. FUEL LOSS IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.
Fix. DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR, THE FUEL DELIVER HOSE AND REPLACE THE HOSE CLAMP WITH AN IMPROVED CLAMP. THE RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 29, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT SUZUKI AT 1-800-934-0934.
Best and worst years for the Suzuki Grand Vitara XL-7
Based on NHTSA owner-complaint volume across 4 tracked years, the worst years are 2006, 2002, 2008 and the best (fewest complaints) are 2007, 2008, 2002.
ForCar aggregate — our own analysis of complaint volume, not published by NHTSA.
| Year | Owner complaints | Top issue | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 Grand Vitara XL-7 | Engine And Engine Cooling | Avoid | |
| 2006 Grand Vitara XL-7 | Air Bags | Avoid | |
| 2007 Grand Vitara XL-7 | — | Best | |
| 2008 Grand Vitara XL-7 | — | Avoid |
What are the most common Suzuki Grand Vitara XL-7 problems?
The most-reported Suzuki Grand Vitara XL-7 problems are Seats (11 reports), Tires (15 reports) and Engine (7 reports) — out of 255 owner complaints NHTSA holds for the model. Here's how they break down:
Most-reported components — tap a category to read what owners actually experienced:
Source: NHTSA owner complaints, all model years. Bar = share of total complaints. Full reports searchable on NHTSA.gov.
Suzuki Grand Vitara XL-7 specifications & dimensions
The 2008 Suzuki Grand Vitara XL-7. Full dimensions below — engine, horsepower and trim decode from your VIN. For the original factory build — MSRP, trim and standard equipment — rebuild the Suzuki Grand Vitara XL-7 window sticker.
Source: NHTSA vPIC / Transport Canada vehicle specifications. Metric values converted to imperial; generation ranges approximate.
Suzuki Grand Vitara XL-7 cargo space, seating & interior room
How much the Grand Vitara XL-7 holds — passengers and cargo. EPA measures its interior at 95 cu ft of passenger volume and 15 cu ft of cargo. Seating capacity and legroom vary by trim.
Exact seating capacity, third-row availability, legroom and headroom decode from your VIN or vary by trim — the original factory equipment & options list shows what each trim included.
Passenger & cargo volume from EPA fueleconomy.gov (largest configuration). Seats, legroom and headroom from NHTSA vPIC on VIN decode.
Suzuki Grand Vitara XL-7 tire size, oil type & owner specs
The fitment owners look up most — tires, wheels, oil and batteries. Exact wheel and tire sizes decode from your VIN or the driver's door-jamb placard; the universal items are listed below.
Exact tire, wheel, oil grade, capacity and battery group are added per trim and model year — decode your VIN above for the factory fitment. Universal items shown as-is.
What MPG does the Suzuki Grand Vitara XL-7 get?
The Suzuki Grand Vitara XL-7 returns up to 24 combined MPG (EPA), which works out to roughly $2,600/yr in fuel. Pick an engine to see MPG, annual running cost and CO₂ by year:
The 2006 Suzuki Grand Vitara XL-7 (2.7L 6-cyl) gets 18 mpg combined and costs about $3,450/yr to fuel, emitting 494 g/mi CO₂ (smog 5/10) — about $6,250 more than the average new vehicle over 5 years.
| Year | City | Hwy | Comb | Fuel/yr | CO₂ g/mi | Smog | Engine |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 Grand Vitara XL-7 | 16 | 21 | $3,450 | 494 | 5/10 | 2.7L 6-cyl | |
| 2002 Grand Vitara XL-7 | 15 | 18 | $3,650 | 523 | — | 2.7L 6-cyl |
The 2008 Suzuki Grand Vitara XL-7 (2L 4-cyl) gets 23 mpg combined and costs about $2,700/yr to fuel, emitting 386 g/mi CO₂ (smog 6/10) — about $2,500 more than the average new vehicle over 5 years.
| Year | City | Hwy | Comb | Fuel/yr | CO₂ g/mi | Smog | Engine |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 Grand Vitara XL-7 | 20 | 28 | $2,700 | 386 | 6/10 | 2L 4-cyl | |
| 2007 Grand Vitara XL-7 | 22 | 28 | $2,600 | 370 | 5/10 | 2.3L 4-cyl |
Source: EPA fuel-economy database (ForCar-hosted, 1986–2027) — best combined rating per engine & year, with EPA annual fuel cost and tailpipe CO₂. Trim & drivetrain vary slightly; decode your VIN for the exact figure.
See how the Grand Vitara XL-7 stacks up against the most fuel-efficient sedans, or calculate this Grand Vitara XL-7's real yearly fuel cost.
What engines does the Suzuki Grand Vitara XL-7 have? Power & range
The Suzuki Grand Vitara XL-7 is offered with 2 powertrains — 2.7L 6-cyl, 2L 4-cyl. Here's the lineup by engine, transmission and drivetrain.
| Engine | Displacement | Transmission | Drive | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| V6 | 2.7L · 6-cyl | Automatic 5-spd | RWD | Regular |
| 4-cyl | 2.0L · 4-cyl | Manual 5-spd | FWD | Regular |
Horsepower, torque and fuel-tank size decode from your VIN — exact figures vary by engine and trim.
Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov (engines, drivetrain, range, charge time). Horsepower & torque from NHTSA vPIC on VIN decode.
How much does a Suzuki Grand Vitara XL-7 cost to own?
A Suzuki Grand Vitara XL-7 depreciates at about an average rate. A typical example keeps roughly 46% of its value after five years — losing about 54% to depreciation. Check what a used Grand Vitara XL-7 is worth today or browse current used-market prices before you buy or sell. Fuel, maintenance and insurance add to the total cost to own.
| Age | Value retained | Est. resale value | Lost to depreciation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 80% | $24,000 | −$6,000 |
| Year 2 | 70% | $21,000 | −$9,000 |
| Year 3 | 61% | $18,300 | −$11,700 |
| Year 4 | 53% | $15,900 | −$14,100 |
| Year 5 | 46% | $13,800 | −$16,200 |
What goes into the five-year cost to own:
- Depreciation — the biggest cost: this Grand Vitara XL-7 loses about 54% of its value over five years. See the full depreciation curve by age.
- Fuel — ≈ $13,000 over five years at roughly 15,000 miles a year.
- Maintenance & repairs — routine service, tires and wear items as the Grand Vitara XL-7 ages.
- Insurance — varies by driver, state and trim; get a quote for your exact figure.
Resale & depreciation are ForCar estimates from typical segment value-retention curves — not a live market quote. Fuel from EPA fueleconomy.gov at ~15k mi/yr.
How much is a Suzuki Grand Vitara XL-7 to insure?
A Suzuki Grand Vitara XL-7 costs about $1,852 a year to insure for a typical driver on full coverage — roughly 29% above the average car. That's from its real HLDI insurance-loss index (129, where 100 = average car); your own rate moves with state, age, record and coverage.
Estimate = US-average premium × the Grand Vitara XL-7's HLDI loss index. See Suzuki insurance cost by model, cost by state, or compare any car.
Is the Suzuki Grand Vitara XL-7 safe?
NHTSA crash-test ratings aren't published for the Grand Vitara XL-7 yet — see the top-rated safest cars instead.
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How many miles does a Suzuki Grand Vitara XL-7 last?
A well-maintained Suzuki Grand Vitara XL-7 typically lasts 200,000–250,000 miles. With regular oil, transmission and timing service, most examples comfortably pass the 200,000-mile mark. Its ForCar Reliability Score is 3.5/5.
Check your Suzuki Grand Vitara XL-7’s VIN — history, recalls & specs
Title records, open recalls, build details and paint code — straight from the VIN. Free.
Check this Grand Vitara XL-7’s VIN free →All Suzuki Grand Vitara XL-7 model years
A year-by-year snapshot of the Suzuki Grand Vitara XL-7 — recalls, best EPA fuel economy and NHTSA safety. Tap a year for full details.
| Year | Recalls | Best MPG | Safety |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 Grand Vitara XL-7 | 0 | — | |
| 2007 Grand Vitara XL-7 | 0 | — | |
| 2006 Grand Vitara XL-7 | 1 recall | — | |
| 2002 Grand Vitara XL-7 | 1 recall | — |
Recalls = NHTSA campaigns that year · MPG = best EPA combined · Safety = NHTSA overall stars (tested years).
Frequently asked questions
What are the worst years for the Grand Vitara XL-7?
By owner-complaint volume, 2006, 2002, 2008 drew the most reports. 2007, 2008, 2002 have the cleanest records.
How many recalls does the Grand Vitara XL-7 have?
2 recorded NHTSA recalls across 2002–2008. Always check open recalls by your VIN. See all Suzuki recalls and reliability across every model.
What MPG does the Grand Vitara XL-7 get?
Up to 24 combined MPG (EPA), depending on engine — from the base 4-cylinder to the hybrid.
How many miles does a Grand Vitara XL-7 last?
A well-maintained Grand Vitara XL-7 typically reaches 200,000–300,000 miles with regular maintenance.
Is the Grand Vitara XL-7 reliable?
Our ForCar Reliability Score for the Grand Vitara XL-7 is 3.5/5, based on NHTSA safety, recall history and complaint severity.
What's the Suzuki Grand Vitara XL-7 warranty?
New Suzuki models carry a 3 years / 36,000 miles basic (bumper-to-bumper) warranty and a 5 years / 60,000 miles powertrain warranty. Coverage can vary by model year and market — confirm with a Suzuki dealer.
Where is the Suzuki Grand Vitara XL-7 made?
The assembly plant is encoded in the VIN — the 11th character. Decode your Grand Vitara XL-7's VIN above to see exactly where it was built; Suzuki may build it at more than one plant depending on the year.
How much ground clearance does the Grand Vitara XL-7 have?
Ground clearance varies by trim and drivetrain — AWD/4WD versions often sit higher. Decode your VIN or check the specific trim for the exact figure.