Sixth Gear Herald

Oriental Face-off: 2007 Grand Vitara vs. 2007 Santa Fé

By Daniel Souza

If you recall early history classes through junior high, you remember well that the West has always tried trading with the East. Well, this week I bring you a battle of the East right to your very own backyard in the West featuring two compact SUVs that even the most gearheads may get them confused.

Perhaps a few years ago, Suzuki and Hyundai could be considered flying under the radar, but the Oriental companies have been getting a push in advertising along with public recognition. Their increased visibility has fueled my desire to put the two together and see which one rates better.

Let the battle begin.

Both vehicles rate under the compact sport utility vehicle category. Both will seat five passenger plus cargo space. The Japanese Grand Vitara opens its back door—that also holds the spare tire—swinging counter-clock wise. The Korean equivalent has a more traditional, non-spare-mounted back door that raises upward granting access to the cargo area.

The Spanish titled Santa Fé—translated as Holy Faith—has a better developing six-cylinder power plant. Our loaner housed the 3.3-liter Lambda V6 which is lighter, more fuel efficient and cleaner burning than the previous Santa Fe 3.5-liter V6, while producing an additional 42 horsepower. Output is 242 horsepower and 226 lb.-ft. of torque with fuel economy ratings of 19 city and 24 highway, up from the 17/23 rating of the 2006 model.

On the other side of the rink, Suzuki’s Grand Vitara doesn’t “wow” the audience with a six that feels a bit tied up and sluggish right off the line. But, it does hit Hyundai’s Santa Fé with a right hook considering that the 2.7-liter V6 engine delivers 185 horsepower and 184 lb.ft. of torque and comes with standard automatic transmission with a 2WD AND a 4WD transfer case, a feature not present in the Santa Fé. Our rising-sun loaner has an estimate fuel economy of 19 city and 24 highway—identical to the Santa Fé—in 2WD AND 19/23 in 4WD, unlike the Korean 2WD only. The Grand Vitara can also pull up to 3000 lbs.

While the Grand Vitara boasted confidence and the four-wheel drive capability in our snow packed Utah County, the Santa Fé allowed more passengers to tag along, being Hyundai’s first crossover with optional seven-passenger seating. The third-row seat is split 50/50 and can be folded flat like the 60/40-split second-row seat. Total cargo volume is a cavernous 78.2 cubic feet.

As for safety, the Grand Vitara features a unibody construction reinforced with a built-in ladder frame for true off-road capability and on-road comfort. It is strengthened by independent MacPherson strut front suspension and independent multi-link rear suspension and boasts good approach, departure and break-over angles.

The 2007 Korean equivalent answers back with a 50-percent improvement in body bending rigidity over the prior model and is 59 percent stiffer than the Toyota Highlander. The second-generation Santa Fe rides on an all-new, purpose-built unibody crossover platform with a 106.3-inch wheelbase that is 3.1 inches longer than its predecessor.

I would love to rattle more about the two, but I don’t have much more newsprint to go on and on. As much as these two can look similar to the naked eye, I must say that if your cup of tea involves constant off-roading or rough terrain driving, then stick with the Japanese maker’s Grand Vitara. On the other hand, if you just want to drive the kids around town and the term “back-road” doesn’t appear often on your dictionary, then the Korean maker has the crossover for you.