(Fri 02 Jul 10)

Suzuki has altered the rear-end look of the Grand Vitara three- and five-door models by removing the spare wheel from its familiar place on the back door, shortening each version by 200mm and creating what the company describes as "a cleaner and more sophisticated bodyline". No argument there.

So where has the spare wheel gone? Well, nowhere, really. As of now, Grand Vitaras don't have spare wheels at all. Instead they have puncture repair kits - a cause of the gravest dismay in the CARkeys office (we've been caught out by kits which fail to repair damaged tyres in the past, and don't fancy repeating the experience).

Better news is the fact that the 1.9-litre DDiS turbo diesel engine (available only in five-door models) has been revised to meet Euro 5 emissions regulations. Combined fuel economy and CO2 emissions are better than before at 41.5mpg and 179g/km respectively.

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