2012 & 2011 Suzuki SUV Reviews & Ratings

Suzuki may have began its foray into motor vehicles through motorcycles, but if there is anything that the company has become known for it is their production of four wheel drive vehicles. Long before SUVs fully took off, Suzuki was making a miniature version that appealed to the masses. As the ninth largest automobile manufacturer in the world, this had led to extensive name recognition and a loyal fanbase. The Suzuki SUV is easily recognized even today after all of the changes to the design and style. There are currently two types of SUV on the market and both have been around for quite some time.

The first real Suzuki SUV was produced in 1968 and is now known as the Jimny. This miniature version of an SUV started when Suzuki bought another automaker. After the purchase of Hope Motor Company, Suzuki finished and produced the line of four wheel drive vehicles that Hope had begun. The Jimny 8, also known as the LJ80, was a version of the LJ50 from the same line. It was followed by many updated models over the years with the newest being released in 1998. Though it was called several different names depending on location, the Jimny is now known by the same name in all markets.

Probably the most notorious Suzuki SUV is the Escudo or Sidekick. The Sidekick was released in 1988 as the successor the esteemed Samurai. The original model was released in 1988 in Japan as the Escudo. The North American version was sold in 1989 and labeled the Sidekick. It was sold in both a hard top and soft top version and came with four wheel drive. The Sidekick was a mini SUV that had a very distinctive design. However, in 1999 North American would see the name change to Vitara with a complete redesign. The third generation Sidekick was released in 2005 and is still on the market today.

Not every Suzuki SUV is recognized under the Suzuki name. In fact, the Sidekick was badged under many different and well recognized names in addition to the Sidekick name. Some of the most common are the Geo (now Chevrolet) Tracker, GMC tracker and Pontiac Sunrunner. Many noticed the similarities between the Sidekick and Tracker, but were unaware that they were, in fact, the same vehicle badged under different names.

Suzuki's love of the four wheel drive is the motivation behind the creation of many of the Suzuki SUV models. Though they have yet to release a full-size SUV, the mini SUVs that the company has produced have been in high demand over the years. The popularity of these vehicles is what has led to Suzuki's high ranking in the automotive industry. They currently rank as fourth largest in Japan. Suzuki isn't known for luxury in their SUVs, but they boast plenty of features to make them comfortable and price that makes them a viable option for virtually everyone.