Travel by train or by car — which option saves time during the holidays? That question inspired a bold on-road experiment conducted by Suzuki Russia in partnership with LAV Productions.
Motoring journalist Andrey Leontiev climbed behind the wheel of a Suzuki Vitara for a cross-country sprint that stretched over 9,100 kilometers, tracing the route from Moscow to Vladivostok along the historic Trans-Siberian corridor. Simultaneously, a parallel journey unfolded by rail: Yulia Kostyushkina, a travel blogger, boarded an express train from Yaroslavsky Station in Moscow with Vladivostok as the ultimate destination.
To keep the race fair, Leontiev needed to reach Vladivostok before the train did, maintaining a demanding pace of at least 1,500 kilometers each day for six days straight. He could not swap drivers or pause behind the wheel. The clock didn’t just measure speed; it counted how the car performed under real-world strain, including the constraints of contemporary speed limits, traffic laws, camera surveillance, roadwork delays, weather, and the often challenging conditions of Russian highways.
Leontiev spoke about the Vitara’s strengths in this intense test: ergonomic interiors that kept the driver comfortable on long stints, a responsive powertrain with ample torque, and a suspension setup that balanced stability with grip across a mosaic of road surfaces. The comparison highlighted how a compact SUV can handle long-haul travel with energy efficiency and reliability, even when the route is as demanding as the Trans-Siberian corridor. The story of the race was not just about who crossed first; it was about how practical daily trips translate into real-world capability, comfort, and driveability when the landscape keeps changing and the clock keeps ticking. The final moment came on July 25, with Leontiev arriving in Vladivostok ahead of the high-speed train and greeting Kostyushkina on the platform with a bouquet, signaling a successful demonstration of the car’s endurance and logistics under strenuous conditions. Attribution: Suzuki Russia and LAV Productions documented the event and provided the data for analysis.
- Recently, the Grand Vitara crossover has been reintroduced into Suzuki’s global lineup.
- Driving can now be viewed on RuTube as part of the ongoing coverage of the project.