If they put a Chevy badge on the Grand Vitara, people would clamor for the new and stylish face of General Motors. And the 2006 Grand Vitara almost was the new face for Chevy SUVs…sadly for The General, though, Chevy and Saturn will have to be content slopping about with the likes of the Equinox and the Vue, while Suzuki, on their own platform, sells a true off-road SUV with a suburbia-suitable interior.

Compared to the outgoing Grand Vitara, well, there’s simply no comparison. Much of the credit for that goes to the wider track. Longer and wider than the old model, the 2006 rendition has more room to stretch out and a more attractive stance. Thankfully, designers took that and eschewed fancy, whoop-dee-doo design for clean, hard lines that appeal to those who want refined, mainstream styling in their SUVs. This is not a girlie SUV anymore, gents. It’s one that has the look of a substantial, well thought-out purchase. It’s the look of an up-and-comer in the market. Based on the Concept X-2 that debuted last year at the New York International Auto Show, designers actually stayed close to the overall look of the concept – enough so that you can see a relationship between fact and fiction. Exterior design highlights include large fender flares, and a blended light display, both front and rear. The rear hatch opens from the side, and the spare tire is kept on the back hatch. Overall, the Grand Vitara’s lines are smooth and taut, with a conservative bent much like all other SUVs.

Those who dream of Nissan Muranos or Toyota RAV4s may grind their teeth and plead boredom over the Grand Vitara. And perhaps they have a point. But after years spent trying to distinguish itself from the competition with eccentric design, it’s nice to see Suzuki offering what is, ultimately, the look people want to buy when they’re shopping for an SUV.