Grand Vitara’s designers and engineers get it. They understand that people like an all-terrain vehicle for different reasons. On the power scorecard, Grand Vitara’s 2.7-liter V6 engine – 185 horsepower at 6000 rpm and 184 pounds-feet of peak torque at 4500 rpm – makes a confident statement. For go-anywhere moves, the vehicle’s ground clearance is 7.9 inches for AWD and 7.4 inches for the rear wheel drive models. For pulling strength, the tow rating is 3,000 pounds. It’s a roomy vehicle, providing 24.4 cubic feet with the seats up and 68.9 cubic feet with seatbacks folded forward. And Grand Vitara scores superb on the coolness chart – both in terms of looks and an air conditioning system that can seriously cool down hot bodies in seconds rather than minutes. Even back seat riders were exceedingly impressed by the a/c’s nearly immediate cool down power. Grand Vitara – sold in base, XSport, and Luxury versions – underwent only minor alterations for the 2007 model year. For instance, the vehicle now offers a tire pressure monitoring system, and the trip computer can now – among other things – display an estimate of miles that can be driven before the next fuel stop. The unibody vehicle with a built-in ladder frame offers several standards, including 6 airbags, a 7-speaker audio system with CD/AM/FM/MP3/WMA and XM satellite radio prepped, power tilt/side sunroof, full spare tire cover, and that wonderful air conditioning system. The V6 powered SUV with 5-speed automatic transmission collects estimated per gallon fuel numbers of 19 city/23 highway. That same AWD Grand Vitara Limited carries a MSRP of $24,799.