2004 Suzuki Vitara V6 New Car Buyer's Guide

What's New for the 2004 Suzuki Vitara V6?
For 2004, Suzuki has dropped the Vitara two-door convertible and the standard four-cylinder engine. All Suzuki Vitaras now have four doors and a new standard 2.5-liter V6, making it the least expensive V6-powered SUV on the market. Styling has been updated with a revised spare tire cover and new charcoal-colored bumpers, fender flares and mudguards. A single Suzuki Vitara trim level, called LX, includes air conditioning, power windows and locks, power mirrors, a CD player, cruise control, remote keyless entry, and a tilt steering wheel. As before, buyers can select either two- or four-wheel-drive.

Advantages of the 2004 Suzuki Vitara V6:

• Seven-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty
• Excellent value for the money
• True off-road capability

Objections to the 2004 Suzuki Vitara V6:

• Small 50.2 cubic-foot maximum cargo capacity
• Cramped rear seats
• Buckboard paved road ride quality

Editor's Advice:
Suzuki has made smart changes to the 2004 Suzuki Vitara that make it a compelling choice despite its old-school ladder frame construction and buckboard paved road ride quality. First, they ditched the two-door convertible model and the lame four-cylinder engine. All 2004 Suzuki Vitaras come with a standard 165-horsepower V6 engine. Next, they killed all but the midlevel trim, called LX, and made a number of nice-to-have goodies standard equipment. Every single Suzuki Vitara now comes with enough feature content to make options a thing of the past. After that, they put no-nonsense charcoal bumpers, overfenders and mudguards on the exterior, giving the Suzuki Vitara a more aggressive and purposeful appearance. Finally, they provided every Vitara buyer with a seven-year/100,000-mile transferable powertrain warranty. All for a base price of $16,299 plus destination charge. Add the four-wheel-drive system, an automatic transmission, alloy wheels and antilock brakes and you’re squeaking in just under the $20,000 barrier. That’s value, and unlike the majority of small SUVs on the market, the 2004 Suzuki Vitara V6 possesses true off-road capability. But beware: this means it doesn’t make for a comfortable ride during daily commutes.