The Suzuki Suzuki Vitara under the spotlight here is the fourth-generation model launched in 2015. It’s another well-rounded effort from Suzuki that offers more than its unpretentious styling and reasonable pricing suggest. It’s an SUV, of course, but one that justifies the term by being both a competent sports and a convincing utility vehicle in one.
From launch, buyers could choose a 1.6-litre petrol or a 1.6-litre diesel, each with 118bhp. The petrol is smooth and eager and the diesel economical but a bit gruff. They were dropped in the 2019 facelift but the petrol, especially, is good value. Also available from launch was the 1.4-litre Boosterjet, a more modern petrol unit that produces 138bhp and, being turbocharged, is stronger from low revs than the naturally aspirated 1.6 petrol. However, it can be thirsty when pushed hard and early ones are expensive because they’re all four-wheel drive and in top-level S trim.
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After the facelift, the engine range amounted to just two units. The 1.4 Boosterjet remained but was now available with two-wheel drive as well as in cheaper trims. Today, you can get into, for example, a 2019-reg two-wheel-drive SZ-T with 20,000 miles for £11,999. This compares with £15,800 for the equivalent Allgrip SZ5, the only trim offered with the four-wheel drive system and 1.4 engine combined. The second engine in the post-2019 line-up is a three-cylinder 1.0-litre Boosterjet. This turbo petrol has a modest 109bhp but is actually quite sprightly and will return around 43mpg at a squeeze. A 2019-reg SZ-T with 15,000 miles is £12,000.
Allgrip four-wheel drive was available from launch on the 1.6-litre engines and the 1.4 Boosterjet. More recently, it became standard on the 1.4 Boosterjet MHEV (mild-hybrid electric vehicle), launched in 2020. The system can shuffle drive between the wheels automatically or, in extremis, can be locked in four-wheel drive, turning the Vitara into a credible off-roader. That said, two-wheel-drive versions can make light off-roading skirmishes without complaint.
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The Vitara is a great car and WAS a reasonably priced alternative to other makes that despite having squashy dashboards, were far less dependable.
Then they started fitting pointless 'mild hybrid' tech to them to justify huge price hikes - just like in the Swift Sport.
What made things worse for potential Suzuki Vitara buyers was that the non-mild-hybrid versions had a no-VAT promotion going on for months last year so a mid spec Vitara cost just over £16k, then after the pointless mild-hybrid 'tech' was fitted, the price of the same model lept to £23k (the no-VAT promotion ending and then a substantial rise for the hybrid gubbins).
This has raised the prices of used Vitaras too - so it is no longer easy to forgive the Vitara's shortcomings at those high prices (just like with the Swift Sport).
Certainly no longer the bargain make they used to be and Suzuki seem to be feeling the impact of that as looking at their website today shows they are now offering customer discounts on Vitaras again - but they're still a lot more expensive than they were not that long ago.
A lot to applaud
My wife has owned a 65-plate from new and I agree with other posters that it's an excellent all-round proposition. The elevation is spot-on, there's huge space inside (considering the modest overall footprint) and it's reasonably well equipped too. We've had an indicated 43+ mpg over the lifetime of the car so far, from the 1.6 NA petrol unit, which is perfectly refined and offers adequate performance for what I presume are the typical demands of this particular vehicle. Ok, a bit underpowered to be honest if you're trying to get more of a move on, or if your other family car has substantially more shove, but the mechanics and electronics have never put a foot wrong. It is a bit of a brittle plastic fest, though mostly solid and rattle-free (can't say that about my Range Rover, even if I do still love it), except for the carpets which can wear through in ways which isn't really forgivable even when built to a budget. All in all a very likeable car, and totally unpretentious with it.