Today we are looking at the latest generation of the Suzuki Vitara. Is this an interesting used car to buy?
Suzuki was always a bit in the shadow of the really big Japanese car brands. But secretly, Suzuki’s value for money is usually quite okay. Today we zoom in on the latest generation of the Vitara, a car that has been around for a long time but is still competing. Is this an interesting used outsider?
Which engines are there for the Suzuki Vitara?
Suzuki surprised in 2018 with this renewed Vitara with a 1.4 mild hybrid version. A 1.4-liter engine with turbo and intercooler – it’s called Boosterjet – but also equipped with a modest electric assistance, of course to reduce the emissions figures. It’s not a bully, it’s not an economy miracle, but it’s just a nice engine. The other relevant engine is a 1.0 Boosterjet turbo engine. Practical experiences confirm what you can think of yourself, the 1.4 is just a bit nicer. And even a must if you want to pull something by car, which we in the Netherlands are quite fond of. It can pull up to 1500 kilos! So for a used Vitara this is the engine.
Does the Suzuki Vitara have four-wheel drive?
Quite a tough cart, but the four-wheel drive is not standard. This is also just a front wheel drive and that is fine for 99% of the daily use that Vitara drivers do with their car. Keep it simple. It saves money, fuel, maintenance, so fine.
How economical is a Suzuki Vitara 1.4 Smart Hybrid?
A nice engine we said. Well, a nice engine is smooth and has power to offer throughout the rev range. We have 129 hp and 235 Nm on board, while the 1-liter is stuck at 112 hp and 160 Nm. In addition, the Vitara has a practical consumption of 1 in 14, which is pretty neat for this bodywork. The weight contributes to this because the Suzuki weighs 1200 kilos, so although the 1-liter is sufficient for the Netherlands, with a 1.4 you logically always have something left over and that drives nicely.
And how is the transmission?
But then the machine. Go shopping. An SUV of this size and price with an automatic transmission. Those are rare. That’s why we opted for the automatic. But… not super-refined. Not that either. And we find that typical Suzuki. The brand doesn’t get that refinement, in any area, from Honda or Toyota or Mazda. That is allowed, because it is generally a bit sharper with its price. They watch the money at Suzuki without really disappointing their customers, something like that.
How spacious is the Suzuki Vitara?
A bit disappointing with this generation Vitara is the available space. There are more spacious cars on the market. It seems that this Vitara is really something for empty nesters, children out the door. In the back seat it is still ok, but the trunk is below par.
What is the equipment of the Suzuki Vitara?
You can see from the infotainment system that the Vitara has been around for a while, because the last facelift was in 2018. And a few years is an eternity in the car world. Just look at the placement and size of the infotainment. But again: adaptive cruise control with memory.
How does the Suzuki Vitara drive?
What immediately stands out when driving: more noise inside. We just mentioned that Suzuki operates just a little bit under the big Japanese names. This is one of its characteristics, it is a bit thinner, a bit less insulated, just a bit cheaper. But Suzuki hits back hard with the famous Japanese quality. Because even though the brand is not perceived as being on a Japanese stage, the reliability of the technology makes it all right.
Are there known problems?
Suzuki lives up to Japan’s reputation for reliability. No real points of attention known besides regular maintenance things. So look beyond a less slick interior or an audible engine roar, this is good stuff.
We would dare to do it with a used Vitara. You can have complete confidence in the reliability and longevity. But don’t expect a premium SUV. Suzuki operates a little lower in the market and you notice that, without it being bad. A quality product without attitude, that’s what it is. And with this engine and automatic transmission and equipment you have a nice package.
Pros and cons
+ Nice rugged design
+ Technically reliable
– Not very spacious
– Slightly less sophistication