Suzuki have garnered a really big following and that’s mostly because they always offered individuality as well as plenty of equipment. They also offered customers something that seems so simple and yet eludes lots of dealerships, which is customer care. And it is for this very simple reason why many of their customers keep going back.
Special mention : Comfortable front seats with decent space & good hard wearing textiles throughout the cabin. That hybrid tech means a very low tax band. Infotainment easy to use.
Needs work : Interior design hasn’t moved on too much from previous version. Hybrid creates a hesitancy if you try and push it.
| BHP 115 HP | Petrol / Auto |
| 0-100 km/h in 12.7 seconds | Road Tax €210 |
| Price: from €27,535 €29,495 | Boot space 289 litres |
And now here we are with the most recent Vitara, updated to include hybrid technology, it must compete against the Ford Puma and Volkswagen’s T-Cross and T-Roc. The hybrid auto claims decent fuel consumption figures (unless you get the four wheel drive version which adds weight and Co2).
The Vitara full hybrid has a new 1.5-litre petrol engine and a 33bhp electric motor powered by an 0.84kWh battery for a sum total of 113bhp. The regenerative braking tech as well as the battery adds to energy savings too and while the battery isn’t the most powerful, it adds to the feeling of smooth sailing as long as you feather the throttle. Another thing that Suzuki fans look for is the ALLGRIP four wheel drive system, which is still available. Even with that extra weight on-board it’s still only 1,275 kg which means it’s light and with a high driving position it feels steady on the road. It feels agile without being too dynamic but what it’s really good at is its useability.
There’s great passenger space up front with plenty of storage and Tech available. The drivers seat is comfortable, although there’s no adjustable lumbar support or electric seat adjustment. The controls are easily accessed and intelligently laid out with physical buttons and dials for air con etc but they haven’t changed the design enough to move it on in this generation against the competition, it might look a little dated. Full Hybrid Vitaras feature Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, LED headlights, keyless entry, climate control, loads of safety kit, a rear camera, touchscreens with built-in nav and 17-inch alloys.
There’s a USB port and 12V socket behind the gearstick and a small pocket of space here too. The cupholders are positioned awkwardly though and could do with better placement. You also get a rear-view camera as standard but you need to upgrade to get parking sensors. The rear bench can comfortably fit two adults and perhaps a small child for minimum journeys that don’t require luggage for all passengers. However when you do need extra space, the seats split fold 60/40 opening up much more luggage space but at 289 litres it could do with a bit more. The backrests are light making them easy to raise and lower via the levers on the seat shoulders so you can access the boot easily.
The interior is mainly gloss-black plastics with the suede seats on SZ-T models upping the quality feel. The materials lower down on the doors are all hard wearing and will take a scuff or two without damaging any high quality textiles.
The Vitara’s handling is decent and it rarely gets unsettled, it doesn’t quite glide over big potholes but rather, dulls the impact. The hybrid version adds an extra 40 kgs but has little effect on how the car handles. The steering is light and this makes less for dynamic driving and more for ease of parking. When gently accelerating, the engine is smooth and reasonably silent until pushed hard when it makes its presence known. The full hybrid has slow gear changes and you’ll definitely notice as the Vitara changes gears. There are paddles behind the steering wheel if you feel like changing manually but it’s not that sporty an engine to warrant their use.
The hybrid can power itself for a short while on electricity alone. The electric motor and petrol engine combined only build a total of 113bhp, which means a slow 0-100 km/h of around 13 seconds.
All Vitara’s get a 7.0” touchscreen infotainment which you can hook up your mobile device via USB port or Smartphone Link, which lets you mirror your smartphone on the screen using Apple CarPlay or Android Auto. Some trims add sat-nav and an upgraded stereo system. The touchscreen, while easy to use, is a little slow to respond. Instead of physical buttons or dials, there are touch-sensitive pads for volume adjustment and other frequently used functions.
While the Vitara isn’t screaming luxury on the inside, the interior does feel extremely durable and hard wearing. There are gloss-black plastics and the suede seat fabric on SZ-T models look and feel good too. The thing is, it’s very much made to be brought everywhere from the shopping centre car park to the hills, mountains and beaches for those weekend adventures, without you worrying too much about it. It’s going to get the job done admirably and you won’t worry too much about the amount of sand in the boot.
