Looking good: The Grand Vitara is better all-round though let down by a weak engine

If you stick with what you know buyers might not realise you've got a new model in the showroom. Alternatively, if you start again it can take years - and a ton of money - to build up brand recognition from scratch.

And what happens if the existing brand is popular but tarnished?

That's the difficulty facing Suzuki over the new Grand Vitara. The old model was popular but Vitara is a name that's loved and loathed by motorists in equal measure.

To me a Vitara always conjures up a mental image of a small 4x4 in white paint sitting on over-sized chrome wheels with a picture of two rutting rhinos on the spare wheel cover.

To have called the original Vitara a hairdresser's car would be grossly unfair on the average crimper and their choice of wheels.

So to my way of thinking, the biggest problem facing Suzuki with this new vehicle is the Grand Vitara badge on the boot.

This Grand Vitara is so much better than the car it replaces that it deserves a new name. In almost every way the new Grand Vitara is a huge improvement. Only a gutless engine lets the side down.

There are two things you should know. Firstly, that it's still a lot cheaper than the Nissan X-Trail and the Toyota RAV4. The 2.0 petrol model costs £15,499. That's £3,000 less than the base-spec RAV4 and £1,000 cheaper than the 2.0 SE XTrail, which only has two-wheel drive.

The second fact you need to know is that the Grand Vitara goes almost as well as it looks.

The engine is quiet at cruising pace and the chassis copes much better with bumps in the road than its bouncy predecessor.

The Grand Vitara is bigger all round than the model it replaces but it still isn't quite a full-sized 4x4.

It's certainly the best Suzuki yet with a well-trimmed cabin and a logical control lay out. The instruments are perfectly clear and the air-conditioning dials easy to reach and simple to operate.

The audio system is controlled by one big rotary dial that's perfect for straightforward twiddling at traffic lights. Some of the plastics are a bit hard but at least they should last the lifetime of the vehicle. There were absolutely no squeaks or rattles even after an enthusiastic romp across a muddy field full of dips and bumps.

The five-door model has enough room for a family but the boot is still a bit on the cramped side. I filled it with a small pushchair and a week's shopping, Ride comfort is a major improvement on the old Grand Vitara.

Where that model used to pitch the driver and passengers around as it traversed even moderately deteriorated roads, this new Grand Vitara soaks the worst of it up.

The X-Trail probably has the edge in ultimate ride comfort (and the RAV4 certainly feels sportier) but whereas before the Grand Vitara felt horribly unsophisticated now the odd bump and shudder offers no cause for concern.

The X-Trail probably has the edge in ultimate ride comfort and the RAV4 certainly feels sportier, but whereas before the Grand Vitara felt horribly unsophisticated, now the odd bump and shudder offers no cause for concern.

The 2.0-litre model may be a lot cheaper than key Japanese rivals but it doesn't skimp on standard equipment. You get air conditioning, four electric windows, power steering and a decent CD audio system.

Although the body is higher than your average saloon it's not so tall as a full on 4x4 like the Discovery. In fact, the car's height was perfect for slotting my one-year-old into his car seat without lifting him up. This also makes it easier to slot heavy items into the boot.

I suspect lots of mums and dads will have reason to be thankful for this feature.

Unusually for this class, the Grand Vitara retains the permanent fourwheel-drive system of its predecessors.

A knob on the dash controls the drive mode: fourwheel high or low range for really tough going off the road when you need maximum engine braking and torque at very low speeds.

Away from muddy fields the Vitara feels far more at home on the road than its ponderous predecessor. There's less lurching as you go around a corner and better grip from the generously-proportioned tyres.

The steering has no feel but the gearbox is easy to use and precise in its selection. It's not as sporty as the Toyota but still right up there alongside cars like the Kia Sportage and the Hyundai Tucson.

Twenty years ago the Suzuki SJ series of mini off-roaders were at the centre of a safety scare when it was claimed a sudden avoidance manoeuvre could induce a roll-over. Subsequent testing showed that the Suzukis were no better or worse than many rivals in this respect.

The new Grand Vitara is a much safer vehicle to be in. Its wheels are wider apart, giving better stability, and a plethora of active and passive safety aids are fitted as standard.

Airbags were the stuff of dreams two decades ago - 4x4 drivers were just thankful if their brakes worked - but now they are standard kit. Ditto antilock brakes.

Suzuki cars have an excellent reputation for mechanical longevity.

Just look at the number of ratty old first-generation Vitaras still running around nearly 20 years later.

Some buyers will be tempted by the 1.9 DdiS model because it uses a Renault-sourced 127bhp diesel engine.

But, because the Vitara uses a five-speed gearbox and not six like most of its rivals, the fuel economy benefits aren't as great as you would imagine, especially on the motorway, where the DDiS feels particularly restless.

The petrol engine version is also cheaper. An average motorist would need to cover more than 80,000 miles to recoup the extra outlay.

You are more likely to get a generous discount on a petrol-powered Grand Vitara as well. Although the car hasn't been with us very long at all Suzuki dealers are always open to a bit of horse trading.

Buying one now is a good idea, too. That way you can keep your car three years and sell it in the knowledge that a new model isn't just around the corner putting potential purchasers off your pride and joy.

After this test I was more convinced than ever that Suzuki should have changed the name of its new 4x4. It may be called a Vitara but this vehicle is certainly no toy.

Better to drive than a Kia Sportage and better looking than a Hyundai Tucson, the Suzuki has the Korean opposition (the only manufacturers competing at the same price level) soundly beaten.

The interior is better appointed than a Nissan X-Trail and the looks are on a par with the latest Toyota RAV 4 but it's miles cheaper than both.

Suzuki should be able to repeat the phenomenal success of the original Vitara with this car. In fact, when my wife tires of our X-Trail I'd be tempted to splash my own cash. If only it had another name.

20/05/2006