Suzuki now offers a full line of mini sport-utilities, from the $13,919 two-door Vitara JS with two-wheel drive and a 1.6-liter engine to the loaded $21,429 Grand Vitara with four doors, four-wheel drive, a 2.5-liter V6 and an automatic transmission. In between is a line of four-door Vitaras with 2.0-liter engines that start at $15,829. Most people will opt for the Grand Vitara. All Grand Vitaras come with a 155-horsepower V6. It's Suzuki's first V6 engine and, at just 2.5 liters, is among the smallest V6s ever sold in a car in the U.S. Suzuki's V6 doesn't act small, though. Its stout-hearted performance transforms the Vitara into something truly grand among mini-utilities. The top-of-the line Grand Vitara JLX+ comes with anti-lock brakes and alloy wheels. The stand-alone plus package can be ordered on less expensive JS models.

When it comes to off-road driving, the base Grand Vitara JS stands on the sidelines -- it's strictly a rear-driver. But it offers a long list of standard trim equipment, including power mirrors, power steering, intermittent wipers, air conditioning, power window and door locks, an AM/FM cassette with 4 speakers, cruise control, dual cupholders, and tinted glass.

If it's trail riding you want, opt for the JLX and its standard four-wheel drive, a straightforward system that's easy to use and capable of pulling the Grand Vitara through the worst muck and mess. And while the RAV4 and CR-V offer only all-wheel-drive systems without low-range transfer cases, the Grand Vitara has a 4WD Low gear, essential for creeping over bigger rocks and slogging through thicker mud. The 4WD system can be engaged into 4WD High at speeds up to 62 mph, and locks its hubs automatically.

The standard JLX transmission is a five-speed manual gearbox. A four-speed automatic transmission is optional. It features a locking torque converter, which engages in third and fourth gears to reduce transmission slippage and increase fuel economy and power.