I MUST confess I've never been a fan of Japanese sushi.

I MUST confess I've never been a fan of Japanese sushi.

A dinner of seaweed and raw fish wrapped in steamed rice leaves me about as excited as a late night call from the Receiver of Revenue requesting a little chat over unexplained expense claims.

What I do enjoy though is watching the meticulous attention that goes into the preparation of this exotic dish. It's the attention to detail, knowledge and perseverance that puts the sushi chef in a class of his own.

I thought of this when giving the Japanese-assembled Suzuki Vitara 3,2litre V6 a closer than normal inspection during the week we had her on test.

It's the same attention to detail - pollen filter in the air-conditioning, the fusion of sleek lines into the main body parts, and safety features (ABS brakes, brake assist, electronic stability programme and electronic brake distribution) - that gives the Vitara the edge.

SmartPass's keyless entry and start system is also a vital security feature as the vehicle cannot be started without the key being within a reasonable range of the ignition.

The SUV vehicle also comes fitted with an impressive seven-speaker sound system.

The Grand Vitara is a true off-road vehicle and although it may not have the appearance of being a "bundu basher" it will definitely surprise you when taken off the tar road.

The 200mm ground clearance is ample when encountering rocky terrain and the permanent four-wheel drive is as simple to operate as turning a dial on the dashboard.

Under the bonnet the engine possesses the grunt (165kW) of a sumo wrestler and will thrust you from 0-100km in about 10 seconds.

In reality though, the Vitara is not built for speed - although you could get to around 210km.

Although perfectly at home in the urban jungle, she comes into her own when navigating South Africa's sand dunes, deep ravines, and rocky outreaches.

Just like a good sushi the Grand Vitara is not cheap (R377900), but then again - this is not some cheap Chinese takeaway!