My 02 Vitara (4-cylinder) is my third Suzuki. All have been problem free (Samurai for 10-years as daily driver, 1995 Sidekick 4-door for three years). Since my Sidekick, I have owned an 87 4Runner, 96 Rodeo, 99 Trooper, 96 Land Rover. I have always wheeled some with all of them for my work (photographer for a newspaper, gotta get anywhere I want to), but didn't really start wheeling recreationally until the Land Rover.
I sold the Land Rover in May - $100 to $150/week in gas was killing me - so I looked at the options, RAV4, CRV, but none had the potential to be a wheeling machine so I went with what I knew, and what I knew was good. 20 to 25 mpg, just over $1,000 in upgrades (Old Man Emu springs and struts, Doetsch Tech shocks, 2-inch body lift, Chevy ZR2 skidplates, Rocky-Road rock sliders and a LockRite locker for the rear) make this an impressive little machine.
I can wheel with about anybody except extreme rockcrawlers, which I don't want to do. I'll take this on 3 and 4 rated trails with no issues and have reliability and gas mileage in one package.
At times, I wish I had the V6 (mountain highway driving), but I wanted to maximize gas mileage so searched for the 2.0liter engine. Off-road I don't need anything more.
These things have terrible resale value, Ebay has a good selection of used ones at outrageous prices. If you go with the Chevy ZR2 option, it includes good skidplates. I am completely happy with mine.
Here are some wheeling pics from Saturday, Jan. 7 when I went with my Land Rover buddies. We had one Land Cruiser on 35's (awesome machine), one Jeep and my Zuki:
http://shottscruisers.smugmug.com/gallery/1108700http://www.azlro.org/gallery/2006-01-07http://homepage.mac.com/jeffryscott/PhotoAlbum18.htmlHave fun