The Suzuki Escudo is a compact sport utility vehicle off-road produced by Suzuki since 1988. The Suzuki Escudo was also known as Sidekick in the United States since 1988 to 1998, Recuerdos in Western Europe, United States, Bolivia, Ecuador, Hong Kong, Philippines and Taiwan from 1999, and Grand Recuerdos in the United Kingdom, Eastern Europe, and parts of South Asia, South Africa, Caribbean, Iran, Canada, and in Australia. The North American version was produced as a joint venture between Suzuki and General Motors known as Cami. Follow-up car was to the popular SJ413 and Samurai. Also, the vehicle, while sold in North America, Suzuki Escudo designed to slot above the Samurai. A large and mid-size version is displayed, known as the Suzuki Grand Escudo. The name is derived from “Escudo”, the unit cost to Portugal to the Euro was adopted.

The Sidekick was sold at various badges such as the Geo Tracker (Chevrolet Tracker after 1998) in the United States and as the GMC Tracker, Chevrolet Tracker and Pontiac Sunrunner in Canada. It was also sold as the Santana 300 350 in Spain. In the Japanese home market, it was a variety sold with Mazda badge.

Suzuki Escudo First Generation (1988-2000)

First introduced as the Suzuki Escudo domestic Japanese market in May 1988, North American Sidekick became available for the 1989 model year as a convertible 2-door or hardtop, in 1.0-liter JA powerful 4-wheel drive JX & JLX trims. An 80 hp (60 kW) 1.6-liter, 8-valve, 4-cylinder Suzuki G16 engine is available on the JX & JLX. 1990 brought the deletion of the JLX version upscale. In 1991, a Sidekick 4-door a wheelbase lengthened introduced and the following year a 95 hp (71 kW), 1.6-liter, 16-valve Suzuki G16A engine was introduced. 1991 and brought the introduction of the rear of the antilock brakes. The first Sidekick updated in 1996 with new Sport version is available with a 120 hp (89 kW), 1.8-liter 16 valve 4-cylinder Suzuki J18 engine. The Sport and had dual airbags, 2-tone paint, 16-inch alloy wheels.

1993 brought the update of the dash with the Suzuki Escudo outside. There is a very limited special edition factory called Recuerdos Rossini going pink metallic with cream leather interior, only 250 of this model were produced around the world. In 1996, Suzuki introduced the Suzuki X-90 which was mechanically identical Sidekick but had a much rounder body, trunk, and removable T-bar roof. The Suzuki X-90 disappeared from the Suzuki after the model year 1998. The Sport variant was replaced by the Grand Recuerdos in 1999. In Spain, production continued at Suzuki’s partner Santana nameplate Recuerdos. After a facelift in 2005 the name was changed Santana 300/350.

In Australia, there were two models available. The Recuerdos JX and Recuerdos JLX. The JLX featured primarily electric windows. Both versions featured 1.6 Litre engine. In May 1997, Suzuki introduced 1995 cc 2.0 4 L Valves / Cylinder Double Overhead Cam engine with both soft-top and hardtop 3-door model. This engine was rated at 97 kW (130 hp) at 6300 rpm. At the same 5-door received a 1998 cc 2.0 liter V6. Engine power is rated for the 5-door V6 model was at 100 kW (134 hp) at 6500 rpm. The 1.6-liter variant for the 3-door model called the Suzuki Recuerdos Rebel. All of the models in Australia were sold as four-wheel drives.

The naming scheme, engines and color options available in Chile, closely follows the Australian market. In 1998, when the models available featuring 1.9 liter turbo-diesel engines from PSA, built in Spain by Santana Motors, all they that were with 4WD vehicles equipped with manual spirit. Since 2001, all diesel 1st Gen Vitaras should be imported from Argentina, built by the General Motors in Argentina, featuring 2.0 liter HDI engines from PSA, all 5-speed transmissions mechanic. Automatic Spirits are only available on Japanese models generated with gasoline engines.

In Indonesia, Indomobil as Suzuki sole agent introduced Recuerdos in 1992. Although Recuerdos was still on the market, Suzuki added 4×2 version and labeled as Escudo in 1994 for urban-driver on the market. In 1996, Suzuki introduced the Sidekick, as Spec-down version of the Escudo, as an entry level. Indonesia is the only market in the world to find the names of three different Escudo. Only 5 door models, the 1.6-liter petrol engine offered with no automatic transmission. In 1995, Recuerdos received a fuel-injection system and marketed as Recuerdos EPI (Electronic Petrol Injection). However, because of the very high price, Recuerdos EPI sold in the market and later considered a collector item from its rarity. And 1995, Recuerdos got new interiors. The official production for this generation ended in 2006 and the end of Santana 300/350.

Suzuki Escudo Second Generation (1998-2006)

The first generation of Grand Suzuki Escudo version is slightly larger, pricier and more powerful Suzuki Recuerdos 4-door. It was facelifted in 2002 and 2004 A rebadged version was sold in North America General Motors as the Chevrolet Tracker. Tracker is sold in Latin America, but Mexico, as the Chevrolet Grand Recuerdos. In Mexico, Grand Recuerdos and Tracker are different cars, sold by Suzuki and Chevrolet, respectively. In Chile, 5-door Grand Recuerdos known as the Grand Nomad.

As of 2003, small Suzuki Escudo removed from the North American market. Sales were slow, and just 4.860 sold in 2004 of the United States. In Canada, the sales were strong. All North American Vitaras formed at Cami Automotive in Ingersoll, Ontario, and North American Grand Vitaras built in Japan, where it is Suzuki Escudo. The model 2006 has been re-structures with a ladder-chassis Boxed new integrated into a unibody construction. In India, it is was sold by Suzuki’s Indian unit, Maruti Suzuki. The 2001 model Suzuki Grand Recuerdos comes standard as 2.0 Liter 4WD vehicle in New Zealand. The 2005 and onward Grand Recuerdos sold in Ecuador by Chevrolet, but still retains its Suzuki badges.

Suzuki Escudo Grand

In 1998 The Grand Escudo been a long, slightly larger, pricier version and the more powerful and five-door. Market Japanese Grand Escudo was sold in North America and as the Suzuki XL-7. In Australia and in Europe it was marketed as Grand Recuerdos XL-7.

Suzuki Escudo Third Generation (2005-present)

The second generation was in the autumn of 2005 by a new car using other parts of the GM Theta platform, and is built in Japan. In 2006 Suzuki Escudo was developed independently by many of the same Suzuki engineers who developed the Theta. While using some of the componentry Theta, especially in the establishment, it is different and should not be considered Theta car. Significantly, it uses a longitudinally mounted engine and at least the rear-wheel drive with 103.9 in (2639 mm) wheelbase, and all other Theta cars are Ned transverse, a mistake to front-wheel drive. Although some of the Theta vehicles can be ordered with front-drive biased, the ‘all-wheel drive, the Escudo instead offers off-road capable selectable four-wheel drive. Contemporary generation Suzuki XL7 (the start of the model year 2007) was the true Theta car, and was built alongside the Chevrolet Equinox and Pontiac Torrent at Cami Automotive in Ingersoll, Ontario, Canada.

The Suzuki Escudo the most widely available 5-door version, but 3-door version is also available in other markets. In some markets such as 3-door drops “Grand” to mark simply “Recuerdos”. In some countries, including the 5-door version is called “Grand Nomad”. The Suzuki Escudo is also mass-produced in Iran by Iran Khodro Manufacturing Co. In Ecuador, the version of the SUV is as Suzuki Grand Recuerdos SZ known.

Until 2008 standard gasoline engine for the 5-door was new J20A (4 Center 2.0L 140 PS.); with an optional Suzuki H engine H27A (V6 2.7L 185 PS) in some higher models. Pre-2001 turbo diesel models are fitted with Mazda RF engine, later models fitted with a 1.9 L 4-cylinder turbo diesel featuring 129 PS (95 kW), manufactured by Renault). The engine fitted to the 3-door model before 2008 was M16A (4 Center. 1.6L 106 PS (78 kW)). In the second quarter of 2012 model year 2013, Suzuki unvelied a Suzuki Escudo facelifted new wheels, a new grille and front lights.

Suzuki Escudo Motorsports

Since 1995, Nobuhiro Tajima used a heavily modified V6 Escudo in the Climb Pikes Peak International Hill. This version of the car was popularized its use Gran Turismo video game series.

Suzuki Escudo