Table of Contents
Generation | Chassis Code | Years | Body Styles | Key Markets |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1st Gen | ET/TA | 1988-1998 | 2-door soft top, 3-door hard top, 5-door hard top | Japan, North America, Europe, Australia |
2nd Gen | FT/GT | 1998-2005 | 3-door, 5-door | Japan, Europe, North America, Latin America |
3rd Gen | JT | 2005-2017 | 3-door, 5-door | Japan, Europe, Latin America, India |
4th Gen | LY | 2015-Present | 5-door | Europe (Hungary-built), Japan, India, Latin America |
1st Gen (ET/TA): Kosai (Japan), CAMI Ingersoll (Canada), Santana Linares (Spain)
2nd Gen (FT/GT): Kosai (Japan), Iwata (Japan), CAMI (Canada)
3rd Gen (JT): Iwata (Japan), Sagara (Japan), Gurgaon (India)
4th Gen (LY): Magyar Suzuki Esztergom (Hungary), Maruti Suzuki Gurgaon (India)
2-door soft top: 1st gen only, removable canvas roof, door visor molding follows the narrower A-pillar-to-B-pillar span
3-door hard top: Available 1st through 3rd gen, shorter door vs 5-door variant, visor length differs
5-door hard top: Available all 4 generations, longest door span, most common export body style
Available in three primary materials:
PC (Polycarbonate): High flexibility, impact-resistant, pairs with 3D stainless steel trim
Acrylic (PMMA): Optically clear, rigid, pairs with mirror stainless steel trim
PS (Polystyrene): Cost-effective, pairs with electroplated bright strip trim
Color styles: Black, Translucent, Smoke, 2-Tone. Installation methods: Clip-on, Tape-on, In-Channel, Out-Channel.
Three chrome trim styles are available, each paired with a specific main-body material:
Electroplated Bright Strip: Chrome plating on PS plastic blanks. Produces a shiny metallic luster under high light. The curvature is more three-dimensional and rounder than 3D stainless steel. Anti-oxidation surface treatment available for weather resistance. Typically paired with PS material.
Mirror Stainless Steel: Nearly embedded installation in the door visor groove. The chrome trim fits smoothly, providing a flat-mirror reflection effect. The large curvature of the visor body complements this smooth design. Pairs with acrylic (PMMA) material.
3D Stainless Steel: Top and bottom sides with a protruding vertex in the middle form a curved design. Produces varying reflection effects under different light angles. Pairs with PC material, which allows the visor to be bent to a large extent.
Process | Machinable Thickness | Mold Cost | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
Injection Molding | 2.0mm - 2.5mm | Higher | High-precision, high-volume orders |
Plastic Uptake (Vacuum Forming) | 1.2mm - 1.8mm | Lower | Cost-sensitive, smaller batch runs |
Width: Door visor width varies by car model and door frame dimensions
Chrome/Steel Trim Film: Protective film covers available in transparent or blue, custom colors available on request
MOQ: 100 sets minimum order quantity
Delivery Terms: FOB, CIF
Payment: T/T, L/C, Credit Card, Western Union
Currency: USD, EUR, HKD
The Suzuki Vitara has one of the richest rebadge histories of any compact SUV, owing to the Suzuki-GM partnership (CAMI Automotive joint venture in Canada). The table below maps each nameplate to its applicable generation.
Nameplate | Generation | Market | Production |
|---|---|---|---|
Suzuki Vitara | 1st, 4th Gen | Global (excl. Japan) | Japan, Hungary |
Suzuki Escudo | All 4 Gens | Japan (JDM) | Japan |
Suzuki Grand Vitara | 2nd, 3rd Gen | Global (excl. Japan) | Japan, India |
Suzuki Sidekick | 1st Gen only | North America | CAMI (Canada) |
Geo Tracker | 1st Gen only | United States | CAMI (Canada) |
Chevrolet Tracker | 1st Gen only | North America, Latin America | CAMI (Canada) |
GMC Tracker | 1st Gen only | Canada | CAMI (Canada) |
Pontiac Sunrunner | 1st Gen only | Canada | CAMI (Canada) |
Asüna Sunrunner | 1st Gen only | Canada | CAMI (Canada) |
Mazda Proceed Levante | 1st Gen only | Japan (JDM) | Japan |
Santana 300 | 1st Gen (3-door) | Spain, Southern Europe | Santana Linares (Spain) |
Santana 350 | 1st Gen (5-door) | Spain, Southern Europe | Santana Linares (Spain) |
Chevrolet Grand Vitara | 2nd/3rd Gen | Latin America | Japan (export) |
Wanli WLZ5020XLD | 1st Gen | China | China (homologation) |
Guangtong GTQ5020XLZ | 1st Gen | China | China (homologation) |
Door frame geometry differs significantly across 4 generations. Each generation requires its own molding profile:
1st Gen (ET/TA): Boxy, upright door frame. 2-door convertible has narrower doors than 3-door/5-door. Door visor has the most angular profile of all generations.
2nd Gen (FT/GT): Rounded door frame, larger windows. 3-door and 5-door share similar curvature but different lengths.
3rd Gen (JT): Monocoque body, more steeply raked A-pillar. Door frame curvature is tighter than 2nd gen.
4th Gen (LY): Crossover styling, significantly different from 1st-3rd gen. Only 5-door body style. Most aerodynamic door frame of all generations.
The following vehicles share platforms or DNA with the Vitara but have different body panels and are not compatible:
Suzuki X-90 (1995-1997): Mechanically identical to 1st gen Vitara but completely different round body with trunk and T-bar roof. Door frame is unrelated.
Suzuki XL-7 / Grand Escudo (2001-2007): Extended-wheelbase 7-seater built on Grand Vitara platform. Longer doors, different window geometry.
Suzuki SX4 S-Cross (2013-present): Shares platform with 4th gen Vitara (LY) but different body dimensions and door frame shape.
Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara (2022+, India): Reuses the "Grand Vitara" nameplate but is an entirely different vehicle based on the Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder platform. Not related to the LY Vitara.
Suzuki Jimny: Smaller ladder-frame 4x4, different platform, different door dimensions.
1st Gen facelift (1996): Exterior refresh, door frame unchanged. All 1988-1998 visors are interchangeable within this generation.
2nd Gen facelift (2001): Minor grille and trim updates. Door frame geometry unchanged.
3rd Gen facelift (2012): Front and rear bumper updates. Door frame stampings unchanged.
4th Gen facelift (2020): Updated front grille and headlights. Door frame profile unchanged through 2025.
The Japanese domestic market Escudo was discontinued in April 2024. The 4th gen LY Vitara continues in production at Magyar Suzuki (Hungary) for global markets. JDM inventory remains available through Japanese dealer networks for the 2024 model year.
| Electroplated Bright Strip Shape Design Electroplated bright trims are processed with chrome plating technology on high-quality plastic blanks. The processed chrome-plated bright trim can present a more shiny metallic luster under high light compared to 3D stainless steel decorative strips. When touched by hand, the curvature of the electroplated bright trim is more three-dimensional and rounder than that of the 3D stainless steel chrome trim. To improve weather resistance characteristics, anti-oxidation surface treatment can be applied to electroplated bright trims. Electroplated bright trim s are usually matched with PS materials. |
| Mirror stainless steel design with PS material main body | Mirror Stainless Steel Design The design of mirror stainless steel creates a nearly embedded installation for the chrome trim, which is smoothly installed in the groove of the door visor. The chrome trim fits smoothly into the groove of the door visor, providing a smooth feel when touched by hand. This smooth design reflects light differently from 3D stainless steel designs, with a single reflection angle that makes it look more like a flat mirror when reflecting objects. The large curvature of the door visor main body complements the smooth decorative design, creating an obvious turning point relationship and enhancing its overall aesthetic appeal. |
| 3D stainless steel design with PC material main body The PC material of the door visor can be bent to a large extent | 3D Stainless Steel Design The shape of the 3D stainless steel trim is more three-dimensional and rounded than the mirror stainless steel shape. The top and bottom sides of the chrome trim and the protruding vertex in the middle form a curved design. When touched by hand, you can intuitively feel the change in curvature. This curved shape produces varying reflection effects under high light at different angles. The main body of the door visor itself already has a certain curve design, and when they are paired together, they show a more traditional design style. 3D Stainless steel chrome trims are commonly used with PC material door visors. The flexibility of the PC material allows for this type of door visor with such a design can be bent to a large extent. |
The Hijet and the Gran Max—one is the ultimate space-saving product under Japan's micro commercial vehicle regulations, and the other is a globalized model that broke free from those constraints to reach the pinnacle of practicality. Whether navigating narrow Tokyo alleys or driving across the vast Southeast Asian market, they demonstrate Daihatsu's "compact cars, big impact" philosophy through solid quality and continuous generational inheritance.
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