If you travel widely in DR and not just the cities and Autopistas but deep into the campo and on some s**t surfaced roads and some really s**t unsurfaced roads and then don't have deep pockets or are simply money conscious, the question is what new all round car would you buy with reasons?
If you tell me some large gas guzzling, low all round driving performance SUV with blacked out windows or tuned up racer you haven't read the first paragraph. Why waste $$$$$ with a gas guzzler when you can't enjoy the wide variety of driving conditions and aren't a government official or gigolo trying to make a statement?
I have been influenced in the islands where Suzukis seem to be very popular and handle the very worst and best on offer and survive, yet I don't understand how the new range compares, so ask a question for the future.
Suzuki has a strong foothold throughout the Islands, but they pale in comparison to other vehicles in their market segment.
In the small/compact SUV market segment that the Vitara occupies, two choices that seem to fit your criteria are the Toyota RAV 4 and the Subaru Forester. Both are similarly priced and are head and shoulders quality and performance wise above the Grand Vitara.
Amongst those two, the Subaru Forester is overall slightly better than the Toyota.....except for name recognition in the DR. However, I have seen, more and more Subaru's in the DR than ever before.
The Suzuki 1.6 gas engine is under powered and if you chose that route (gas), the 1.4 turbo model is better.
One discussion not yet mentioned here is 2 wheel drive versus 4 wheel/All wheel drive. Most people may not even realize that the SUV they purchased is only two wheeI drive. If you truly may need campo/mountain road traction, then the all wheel drive/4 wheel drive option is a must. Why, other than perhaps road clearance and to show off their jeepeta, Dominicans will buy an SUV of any size without it, escapes the logic of buying an SUV......but it does save a few dollars.....and allows more splash for the cash.
In the end however it is a personal decision, and the only person that needs be happy with it is you.
Good luck.
Respectfully,
Playacaribe2