One good thing I can say about the Grand Vitara is that it's relatively distinctive looking. It has some similarities to earlier-generation Saturn Vues, and whether you like it or not is for you to determine, but standing out in today's market is uncommon. Suzuki's play on the ubiquitous fender vent is an element notched into the trailing edge of the hood where it wraps over the fender. The Grand Vitara is one of the few remaining SUVs that carries its spare tire on the outside below the rear window. This keeps the tire from robbing interior space without taking up residence in the undercarriage, which diminishes the car's departure angle. But I'll get to that aspect in a moment.
2009 Suzuki Equator review By Jim Mateja
The obvious question is why Suzuki added a midsize pickup for 2009 when
trucks are losing favor.
"Why not?" responds an unapologetic Gene Brown, Suzuki's vice president of
marketing.
...
Pure driving exhilaration
The Suzuki SX4 was engineered from the outset to offer all-wheel drive
capability, yet still deliver sharp, dynamic performance. The inherent qualities
of sporty hatchbacks are evident in the car' ...
Windshield Wiper and Washer Lever
Windshield Wipers
To turn the windshield wipers on, move the
lever up and down to one of the four operating
positions. In the “INT” position (if
equipped), the wipers operate intermittently. ...