Suzuki's new off-road three and five-door Grand Vitara versions, just launched here, are vitally different and the difference isn't in the extra doors.
"We are applying two separate philosophies, taking account of two separate customers," explains Niall O'Gorman, boss of Suzuki Ireland.
Thus, while the three-door features permanent four wheel-drive, it doesn't have a centre differential lock. Suzuki see it as a "soft-roader" providing four-wheel-drive security on-road plus useful levels of traction in muddy fields or gravel tracks.
The five-door, on the other hand, offers a differential lock and low range, signalling its full-on SUV credentials when the going gets really tough. There are four different modes on its system, easily selected via a dashboard-mounted rotary switch.
This is the third generation of Vitara and the second to have the "Grand" appellation. The engine line-up has a 1.6-litre 105 bhp petrol for the three-door and a 140 bhp 2-litre petrol for the five-door.
Coming in a matter of weeks is a 1.9-litre, 130 bhp diesel model with the five-door.
Irish prices start at €25,495 for the three-door 1.6-litre petrol, extending to €34,995 for the five-door 1.9-litre diesel, an increase of about €2,000 on the outgoing versions. The 2-litre petrol is new to the range.
Niall O'Gorman of Suzuki Ireland is forecasting 1,200 Grand Vitara sales next year.
Eight years ago when the second generation Grand Vitara was launched, the 4x4 Irish market was just 6,500 vehicles, 60 per cent of which were commercial. This year the total 4 x 4 market will exceed 21,500 vehicles with a third being mainly passenger SUVs.