Introduced for the 2001 model year, this long-wheelbase Vitara variant was Suzuki’s three-row answer to buyers who wanted a compact SUV with real utility. Suzuki positioned it as the flagship of the Vitara family, pairing the familiar body-on-frame 4x4 hardware with a stretched cabin and seven-seat layout, while also offering a five-seat version in some markets. In Suzuki’s own materials, the model is identified as Grand Escudo in Japan and as Grand Vitara XL-7 in export markets, reflecting the same vehicle sold under different regional names. It was part of the second-generation Vitara era and represented Suzuki’s move toward larger family-oriented SUVs without giving up the brand’s off-road image. The nameplate remained in Suzuki’s lineup through the mid-2000s, after which Suzuki moved on to a separate XL7-era successor rather than continuing the Grand Vitara XL-7 badging.
MODEL HISTORY