The Suzuki Grand Vitara was redesigned in 2006. A unique combination of unibody and ladder-frame construction and rear- or 4-wheel drive (4WD) improved the Grand Vitara's road manners while preserving its reputation as a durable and capable off-roader. Changes for 2007 are minimal and include a standard tire-pressure-monitoring system and enhanced trip computer.

Compact, off-road-capable SUVs have been an integral part of Suzuki's lineup since the beginning—that being 1985, when they entered the U.S. market with the Samurai, an inexpensive but rugged 2-door 4x4. Three years later the Sidekick joined the lineup, first as a 2-door soft-top and later as a 4-door. Durable and inexpensive, the bigger Sidekick was a precursor of the mini-SUVs which would soon dominate the market, but it never achieved the popularity of more mainstream vehicles like the Toyota RAV4 and Honda CR-V.