Suzuki's improved Vitara features both mild hybrid and full hybrid tech. Jonathan Crouch takes a look.

Ten Second Review

This Suzuki Vitara may be one of the older designs in the compact SUV segment but Suzuki has constantly tried to improve it, most recently with the update we look at here. There's a fully electrified engine range, with the choice of either mild hybrid or Full Hybrid petrol powertrains. Unusually in this class, there's still the option of a proper lockable 4WD system if you want it. Time to take a second look at this car.

Background

Electrification is these days so important to automotive makers that developing it takes precedence over creating new designs. For proof of that, take a look at the Suzuki Vitara. The current fourth generation 'LY'-series design has been around since 2014 and was facelifted in 2019. In late 2024, Suzuki introduced the further update we're going to look at here. With this, Vitaras get a slightly smarter look and some extra equipment, but otherwise, things are much as before, with a choice of either mild hybrid or Full Hybrid drivetrains. The idea behind this update is to remind customers that this Suzuki is still very much a credible and affordable contender in the compact SUV segment. And it's one of the few contenders in that class still available with 4WD as an option. So should you put it back on your wish list if you're shopping in this sector? Let's take a closer look.

Driving Experience

The Vitara has a slightly more athletic feel than Suzuki's other compact SUV in this segment, the S-Cross, and that hasn't been appreciably diluted by the marginal extra weight of the additional electrified tech. Let's start with the 1.4-litre mild hybrid model, which comes only with a manual gearbox and the choice of front wheel drive or ALLGRIP 4WD. You may be familiar with the way that mild hybrid engines work but just in case not, here's a quick re-cap. Basically, energy that would otherwise be lost when braking or cruising off-throttle is harvested via a kinetic energy recovery system and sent to a small lithium-ion battery that here has been placed beneath the front passenger seat. This is used to drive a belt-driven 'ISG' unit (an 'Integrated Starter/Generator') and power the engine's stop/start system. Suzuki's old 12-volt mild hybrid package didn't do a lot more than that but this improved 48-volt set-up can also deliver a couple of other important benefits. The first is something quite unusual amongst current mild hybrids - the ability for this Suzuki to idle and even coast on full-electric power, though only below 10mph. What about the alternative 1.5-litre Full Hybrid model? Well here, a normally aspirated petrol unit with 114bhp is combined with a 33bhp belt-driven electric motor generator powered by a tiny 0.84kWh battery. All the power is fed through a 6-speed automated manual gearbox, which you can expect to feel somewhat slow and clunky until you learn to lift off between ratio changes. There's an 'Eco' mode to improve frugality, but you might not want to engage it too often because it restricts throttle response and even in its normal drive setting, this car is no ball of fire. Rest to 62mph occupies 12.7s on the way to a top speed of 108mph. This powertrain can be specified with a proper lockable ALLGRIP 4WD system on the top-spec 'Ultra' variant.

Design and Build

Suzuki has taken the opportunity as part of this update to make a few small visual tweaks. There's a re-designed front grille and bumper, a rear upper spoiler incorporating rear window side spoilers and newly designed 17-inch alloy wheels. This remains a crossover positioned size-wise somewhere between the small and mid-sized SUV segments, 4,175mm in length and slightly taller than its visually less striking S-Cross showroom stablemate. This remains quite an assured piece of design work with its clamshell bonnet, blacked-out floating glasshouse, heavily sculpted flanks and a very neat tail-lamp finish. Inside, the cabin is beginning to date a bit, with quite a few hard plastic surfaces, though it all seems to have been pretty well screwed together by the Hungarian factory. The centre-dash infotainment screen is now 9-inches in size and now boasts a wireless link for its 'Apple CarPlay'/'Android Auto' smartphone-mirroring systems. There's reasonably comfortable room for a couple of adults in the rear, though the twin sunroofs of the top 'Ultra' model do rob a few centimetres of headroom. Out back, there's a reasonably-sized 375-litre boot. If you need more room, pushing forward the 60:40-split rear bench frees up 710-litre of space - and the floor can be completely flat if you position the adjustable boor floor in its upper position.

Market and Model

Pricing is quite a bit higher than it used to be for the Vitara, sitting in the £27,000-£32,000 bracket. That's partly because going forward, Suzuki doesn't plan to offer smaller, more affordable engines than this 1.4 Boosterjet mild hybrid unit in our market. Partly it's also because the car these days features a higher standard of spec (Adaptive Cruise Control on all models for instance). And partly it's reflective of the cost of the extra forms of hybrid technology. You'll need a premium of around £1,750 if you want to move from the manual gearbox 1.4-litre mild hybrid model to the 1.5-litre Full Hybrid version, which features a 6-speed automated manual gearbox. Either way, there are two main trim levels, 'Motion' and 'Ultra'. Even base 'Motion' trim gives you LED projector headlights, auto air conditioning, auto headlamps and wipers, 17-inch alloy wheels, front and rear electric windows, roof rails, heated door mirrors, keyless entry, a 9-inch infotainment screen, High Beam Assist, an auto-dimming rear-view mirror and rear parking sensors, plus Suzuki Connect connected services that includes three years free subscription. Along with navigation, skid plates, rear privacy glass and white-stitched upholstery. The top 'Ultra' trim level you have to have if you want the option of ALLGRIP 4WD gives you a double-sliding panoramic sunroof, 17-inch polished alloy wheels, front parking sensors, power-folding mirrors, an overhead storage console and suede upholstery. As for safety, well that's now been improved. There's now Lane Keep Assist, Intelligent Speed Control, Driver Monitoring System andan eCall system linked to the seven airbags. A further important and standard safety feature for both grades is an upgraded Dual Sensor Brake Support system using a millimetre-wave radar (previously lidar) combined with a monocular camera. This system has enhanced collision mitigation with improved night time and intersection visibility and with its improved functionality can detect pedestrians, cyclists, motorcyclists and vehicles in front.

Cost of Ownership

The WLTP figures show a front-driven version of the mild hybrid model managing 53.2mpg on the combined cycle and 119g/km of CO2 emissions. It's 52.3mpg and 128g/km for the ALLGRIP 4WD version. So, what kind of efficiency difference does the alternative Full Hybrid tech make to the Vitara? Well, the official combined cycle WLTP figure of the front-driven Full Hybrid version is 56.4mpg, with 113g/km of CO2, which is comparable in this segment to what you'd get from, say, a Toyota Yaris Cross Hybrid or the full-Hybrid self charging version of Renault's Captur E-TECH. It's 50.4mpg and 127g/km for the ALLGRIP 4WD Full Hybrid Vitara. As with all Suzukis, all Vitaras are covered by a three year/60,000 mile warranty, plus a year of AA Suzuki Assistance, providing 24 hour UK and European roadside assistance, recovery and associated services. There's also a 12 year perforation warranty. Insurance groups are between 16E and 22A.

Summary

There's still plenty to like about the Vitara. The light kerb weight delivers agile handling. There's more space inside than you get with competitors like Nissan's Juke. And there are high standards of specification to sugar the showroom proposition. If you regularly drive on potentially treacherous roads, it'll also matter than this Suzuki is one of the few SUVs in the class that can be ordered with 4WD. But it's harder to like all of this quite as much at the significantly higher prices that Suzuki needs to charge to cover the cost of the mild hybrid and Full Hybrid tech. Particularly given the fact that the electrification benefits, though welcome, are still not quite as extensive as you might hope. Still, this is now much more a Vitara for the modern world. And a car that in this form is now just a little more than just a fashion statement.

Body Glass

Electric front+rear windows

Rear window demister

Automatic front rain sensing wipers

Rear privacy glass

Green tinted windows

2 speeds (low/high) with adjustable intermittent front wiper + washer

1 speed with intermittent rear wiper + washer

Brakes

Hill descent control

Electronic Stability Programme

Anti-lock Brake System + Electronic Brakeforce Distribution + Brake assist

Hill hold control

Dual sensor brake support

Communication

Smartphone link display with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto

E-call

Bluetooth integrated into audio unit

Driver Aids

Power assisted steering

Adaptive cruise control

Rear parking camera

Lane departure warning system

Speed limiter

Front and rear parking sensors

Emergency stop signalling system

Traffic sign recognition

Rear cross traffic alert

Lane departure prevention

ALLGRIP 4 mode 4 wheel Drive system

Driver Convenience

Engine start/stop button

Driver Information

Navigation system

Analogue clock

Tachometer

Door ajar warning lamp

Service indicator

Blind spot monitor

Engine oil change reminder

Driving Mirrors

Electric adjustable heated door mirrors

Embellishment Trims

Chrome dashboard trim rings

Film instrument panel ornament

Entertainment

4 speakers

2 Tweeters

Steering wheel mounted audio controls

DAB Digital radio

USB connection

4.2-Inch Colour LCD display

Exterior Body Features

Chrome front grille

Body coloured bumpers

Body colour door mirrors and handles

Silver roof rails

Chrome lower front bumper insert

Visible VIN plate

Double sliding panoramic sunroof

Electrically folding door mirrors with built in turn signal lamp

Wheel arch extensions with side skirts

Rear side wing doors

Exterior Lights

Automatic headlights

Automatic headlamp levelling

High mounted stop lamp

Front fog lamps

Rear fog lamps

LED daytime running lights

LED rear combination lamp

LED multi reflector headlamps with low and high beam

Low fuel warning lamp

Heating/Cooling/Ventilation

Pollen filter

Climate control air conditioning

Heater

Interior Features

Front centre armrest

Luggage cover

3 spoke leather covered steering wheel

Front cupholders x 2

Chrome interior door handles

Drivers footrest

Tilt/telescopic adjustable steering wheel

Front passenger side assist grip

Chrome handbrake release button

12V Accessory socket in the load area

Rear assist grips x2

2x Front and rear door bottle holders

Removable double luggage room floor

Black shift knob with silver accent

Silver door trim ornaments

Silver centre console ornament

Suede upholstery

Front suede door trim insert

12V accessory socket in centre lower box

Interior Lights

Front map light

Glovebox light

Luggage area lamp

Centre cabin light

Front footwell and centre lower console box lights

Safety

Side impact protection beams

Side airbags

Childproof rear door locks

Curtain airbags

Driver/Front Passenger airbags

Drivers knee airbag

Front passenger airbag deactivation

Tyre pressure monitor

Front and rear seatbelt reminder

Sway warning system

3-point front ELR seatbelts with pretensioner, force limiter and shoulder height adjuster

3-point rear ELR seatbelts with pretensioner and side force limiter and 3-point ELR centre seatbelt

Seats

3 rear headrests

Front head restraints

Driver/front passenger seat height adjustment

60/40 split folding rear seat

Child seat tether anchorage points x3

ISOFIX child seat anchorages X 2

Single front passenger seat

3 bench rear seats in 2nd row

Security

Alarm

Immobiliser

Locking wheel nuts

Light - on and Key in reminder

Deadlocks

Remote central door locking

Freewheeling lock cylinders

Keyless entry and start

Vanity Mirrors

Driver/passenger sunvisors with ticket holders + illuminated vanity mirrors

Wheels - Alloy

17" Polished alloy wheels

Wheels - Spare

Emergency flat tyre repair kit

Emissions - ICE

Particles: N

HC+NOx: N

Standard Euro Emissions: EURO 6

CO2 (g/km): 111

WLTP - CO2 (g/km) - Comb: 132

Engine and Drive Train

Gears: 6 SPEED

Engine Code: K14D

Cylinders: 4

Cylinder Layout: IN-LINE

Number of Valves: 16

Camshaft: DOHC

Fuel Delivery: TURBO DIRECT INJECTION

Catalytic Convertor: No

Engine Layout: FRONT TRANSVERSE

Transmission: MANUAL

CC: 1373

Fuel Consumption - ICE

WLTP - MPG - Low: 42.1

WLTP - MPG - Medium: 53.2

WLTP - MPG - High: 54.3

WLTP - MPG - Extra High: 43.4

WLTP - MPG - Comb: 47.8

WLTP - FC (l/100km) - Low: 6.7

WLTP - FC (l/100km) - Medium: 5.3

WLTP - FC (l/100km) - High: 5.2

WLTP - FC (l/100km) - Extra High: 6.5

EC Directive 1999/100/EC Applies: 0

WLTP - FC (l/100km) - Comb: 5.9

General

Did at least one aspect of this vehicle's safety give cause for concern?: 0

NCAP Adult Occupant Protection %: N

Special Edition: 0

Special Order: 0

Based On ID: N

Insurance Group 1 - 50 Effective January 07: 23A

Service Interval Mileage: 12500

Service Interval Frequency - Months: 12

Timing Belt Interval Mileage: 999999

Alternative Fuel Qualifying: No

NCAP Child Occupant Protection %: N

NCAP Pedestrian Protection %: N

NCAP Safety Assist %: N

NCAP Overall Rating - Effective February 09: N

Badge Power: 129

Badge Engine CC: 1.4

Vehicle Homologation Class: M1

Generation Mark: 4

Manufacturers Corrosion Perforation Guarantee - Years: 12

Standard manufacturers warranty - Mileage: 60000

Standard manufacturers warranty - Years: 3

Manufacturers Paintwork Guarantee - Years: N

Coin Description: Boosterjet 48V Hybrid ALLGRIP

Coin Series: SZ5

Performance

Engine Power - BHP: 129

Engine Torque - MKG: 24

Engine Power - PS: No

Engine Torque - RPM: 2000

Engine Torque - NM: 235

0 to 60 mph (secs): 0

Top Speed: 118

Engine Torque - LBS.FT: 173

Engine Power - RPM: 5500

Engine Power - KW: 95

0 to 62 mph (secs): 10.2

Test Cycles

RDE Certification Level: RDE 2

Emissions Test Cycle: WLTP

Tyres

Tyre Size Front: 215/55 R17

Tyre Size Spare: TYRE REPAIR KIT

Space Saver?: 0

Alloys?: No

Tyre Size Rear: 215/55 R17

Wheel Type: 17" ALLOY

Wheel Style: N

Vehicle Dimensions

Wheelbase: 2500

Width (including mirrors): N

Height: N

Height (including roof rails): 1610

Width: 1775

Length: 4175

Weight and Capacities

Gross Vehicle Weight: 1770

Minimum Kerbweight: 1275

Fuel Tank Capacity (Litres): 47

Max. Towing Weight - Braked: 1500

Max. Towing Weight - Unbraked: 600

Max. Loading Weight: 495

Luggage Capacity (Seats Up): 362

No. of Seats: 5

Turning Circle - Kerb to Kerb: 10.4

Luggage Capacity (Seats Down): 642

Exterior Body Features

Metallic paint

Two Tone Metallic paint

Two tone solid/metallic paint

Paint - Metallic

Metallic - Silky silver

Metallic - Galactic grey

Metallic - Atlantis Turquoise pearl

Metallic - Cosmic black pearl

Paint - Solid

Solid - White

Paint - Two Tone

Two tone metallic - Solar yellow pearl/Cosmic black pearl

Two tone Metallic - Atlantis Turquoise Pearl/Cosmic black pearl

Two tone Metallic - Galactic Grey/Cosmic black pearl

Two tone Metallic - Ice greyish blue/Cosmic black pearl

Two Tone Metallic - Savannah ivory/Cosmic black pearl

Two tone Solid/Metallic - Bright Red/Cosmic black pearl

Trim - Cloth

Suede cloth - Grey