2025 Suzuki Vitara overview | CarExpert

The fourth-generation Suzuki Vitara has been with us now for 10 years, and it doesn’t seem like going wherever anytime quickly.

NOTE: That is an up to date model of a overview that was revealed in July 2024. There have been no main adjustments to pricing or specification since publication.

It’s value noting that the manufacturing of the present Vitara has ended for Australia as a result of it not assembly Australian Design Rule 98/00. A facelifted model of this mannequin will amend this and is because of arrive regionally within the second quarter of 2025.

Suzuki sellers nonetheless have inventory of the present Vitara out there, together with some autos which date again to MY23. We’ve up to date key particulars with probably the most up-to-date info out there. You possibly can learn the unique model of this overview right here.

WATCH: Paul’s video overview of the 2022 Suzuki Vitara Turbo

This small SUV is now among the many likes of the outgoing Mitsubishi ASX because the oldest automobile in its section, although the Hungarian-sourced Suzuki nonetheless has a lot to supply.

The Suzuki Vitara Turbo, as examined right here, is fitted with the model’s Boosterjet engine which is obtainable within the likes of the Swift Sport and bigger S-Cross. With 103kW and 220Nm, it has loads of grunt to get this 1.2-tonne SUV transferring.

Inside, there haven’t been many adjustments all through the present Vitara’s time on sale, although Suzuki not too long ago reverted to utilizing the factory-fitted Bosch-supplied 7.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system. It was beforehand becoming a bigger 9.0-inch unit regionally as a result of semiconductor shortages.

Abroad there was yet one more facelifted model of the Vitara revealed, and Suzuki Australia has confirmed it should arrive right here within the second quarter of 2025. It’ll additionally regionally debut a hybrid powertrain that has been out there in different markets for years now.

Is the Vitara Turbo nonetheless value contemplating? Learn alongside to seek out out.

How does the Suzuki Vitara examine?

View an in depth breakdown of the Suzuki Vitara in opposition to equally sized autos.

Suzuki

Vitara

How a lot does the Suzuki Vitara value?

On take a look at right here is probably the most inexpensive Vitara variant with the extra highly effective Boosterjet turbocharged engine.

To see how the Suzuki Vitara stacks up in opposition to its rivals, use our comparability software

What’s the Suzuki Vitara like on the within?

When you’re anticipating drastic adjustments contained in the Vitara’s cabin over a mannequin from a number of years in the past, suppose once more…

This 10-year-old small crossover hasn’t had any main adjustments to the inside because it debuted regionally in 2015. Solely minor tweaks that happened with the facelift in 2019 included a brand new color instrument cluster show and the deletion of the cool-looking central analogue clock.

With the present asking value of the Turbo variant on take a look at right here, extra know-how and better high quality supplies are anticipated. Chinese language rivals supply newer and higher-tech interiors for much less.

Certain, Suzuki affords the S-Cross, which has a more moderen inside and a few plusher touches, however it’s much more costly than the Vitara. Regardless of this, there’s nonetheless nothing objectively incorrect with the Vitara’s inside, it simply is what’s – budget-oriented. It additionally seems to be and feels old-school now amongst more energizing rivals.

Hopping into the Vitara is simple because it has a raised experience top synonymous with crossover SUVs. That is significantly helpful for these with restricted mobility and don’t need to step down or up too far right into a automobile.

You get a primary whiff of the Vitara’s budget-oriented finishes because the doorways are tremendous gentle to open and shut. It doesn’t really feel like there’s a lot padding within the doorways, which is one thing I’ll increase upon additional within the driving part.

When you’re in, the Vitara has a fairly bare-bones inside for a brand-new automotive in 2024. Nearly each floor is difficult plastic, which doesn’t sit fairly proper with me in a small automotive that prices over $36k drive-away.

In all equity, there are squidgy soft-touch textile sections on the door armrests and centre armrest, in addition to a small felt-feeling panel on the entrance doorways.

The motive force’s seat within the Vitara Turbo is mounted excessive which provides you a perched really feel. It pairs properly with the big home windows and skinny pillars that present wonderful all-round visibility. The seat itself is comfy for shorter journeys, offering sufficient facet bolstering and thigh assist to maintain me locked in.

On longer journeys, nonetheless, my higher again felt unsupported, making me tense my shoulders. As a result of minimal attain adjustment for the steering wheel as nicely, I felt I wanted to lean ahead to correctly grasp the wheel.

Talking of the steering wheel, it’s a typical Suzuki unit that hasn’t modified for the lifetime of the current-generation Vitara. Its leather-based wrapping, just like the seat bolsters, doesn’t really really feel like actual leather-based, which is frequent for the section.

All of the buttons on the steering wheel are logically laid out, although it nonetheless feels just like the voice assistant and name buttons mounted on the left-hand facet of the steering column are an afterthought.

Forward of the motive force the instrument cluster feels correctly previous within the age of absolutely digital instrument clusters. In saying that, although, the analogue dials to your pace and revs are clear to learn and perceive at a look.

The 4.2-inch color instrument cluster show has various informative pages that may be cycled by means of. These are good to have however I do want there was one which confirmed a digital speedometer to enrich that correct bodily dial.

Additionally, if you activate cruise management the graphic for this takes up a substantial quantity of valuable display actual property.

Transferring throughout, Suzuki has reverted to becoming the Vitara vary with a Bosch-sourced and factory-fitted 7.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system.

I’ve loads of expertise with this explicit infotainment system because it was fitted to my Jimny after I purchased it. After various points, together with intermittent Apple CarPlay connectivity, I not too long ago determined to ditch it and set up an aftermarket Pioneer unit as an alternative and have been loving it ever since.

Regardless of my earlier expertise with my Jimny’s normal infotainment system, our Vitara Turbo tester didn’t show any infotainment glitches or smartphone mirroring dropouts in any respect throughout our (notably quick) time with it.

It does take some time for the system besides up when beginning the automotive, although as soon as it’s on, you’ll be able to soar round from web page to web page simply. Be conscious, nonetheless, that there isn’t an entire heap to the interface – it’s a reasonably low-tech implementation.

The Vitara solely comes with wired types of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Just like the booting up of the system, it takes some time for the infotainment system to enter the respective smartphone mirroring software. This may be irritating if you’ll want to shortly punch in navigation particulars, for instance, in a rush.

There’s additionally built-in satellite tv for pc navigation, which is good to have simply in case you’ll want to navigate dwelling and don’t have any telephone service. It’s not probably the most intuitive system to make use of, nonetheless.

Trying across the cabin there’s no correctly good place to stow my plus-sized telephone when plugged in. I ended up smooshing it forward of the gear lever, which felt like one of the best spot however nearly bought in the best way of shifting into ‘Park’.

There are additionally two cupholders behind the gear selector. These can maintain espresso cups superb, although bigger bottles battle to suit as a result of their sq. form. There are additionally no enamel to securely maintain drinks.

Different storage choices embrace a small centre console field for odds and ends, a decently sized glove field, and door pockets with giant areas for bottles.

Transferring to the second row, it looks like a good additional step down when it comes to perceived high quality. There are not any soft-touch supplies in any respect which makes it a grim house to spend time.

At a leggy 182cm I discovered leg and shoulder room to be slightly on the tight facet, however this isn’t unusual on this dimension of auto. Head and toe-room are okay, although.

With a purpose to get comfy behind my very own driving place, I needed to splay my legs on both facet of the seat in entrance. That is superb for shorter journeys, although on longer journeys, this may get very annoying.

Whereas it’s not a really extensive automotive, two shorter adults ought to give you the chance sit behind the Vitara comparatively fortunately, although pushing it to 3 abreast would trigger for some sad passengers.

The centre seatbelt within the rear can be roof-mounted, which means when it’s in use, it could possibly impede rearward visibility.

When it comes to youngster seat functionality there are the requisite ISOFIX anchor factors on the outboard seats and prime tethers on all three rear seats. It’d be very tight becoming a couple of youngster seat on this ca,r although.

Moreover the big facet home windows, which assist make the small cabin really feel airier, there aren’t very many facilities within the second row. There are not any rear air vents, USB charging ports, nor centre armrest with cupholders.

You solely get bottle holders within the doorways and a singular map pocket on the rear of the entrance passenger seat.

Out again, the tailgate feels very gentle and skinny. It’s tremendous simple to shut with one hand, which is a profit when you don’t need to put your hand on the paint.

Whereas the second row is slightly on the cramped facet, the Vitara packs a boot house that’s bigger than various its newer and extra fashionable rivals.

There’s even a small hid house below the ground the place you’ll be able to stow gadgets out of sight.

At 375 litres with the rear seats upright, it’s not what you’d name big, however for the section, it’s a sq. and usable house.

Folding down the 60/40 split-folding rear seats expands the boot house to 1120 litres. Whereas the rear seats don’t fold utterly flat, there’s no awkward step-up like a few of the Vitara’s rivals.

Lastly, below the boot ground is a space-saver spare wheel. Whereas this isn’t fairly as helpful as a full-size spare wheel, it’s nice to have when you get a puncture and also you’re in the midst of nowhere.

To see how the Suzuki Vitara stacks up in opposition to its rivals, use our comparability software

What’s below the bonnet?

The Vitara Turbo is provided with the extra highly effective 1.4-litre turbocharged four-cylinder ‘Boosterjet’ engine. Our tester is front-wheel drive, although there may be an all-wheel drive mannequin out there.

It’s value noting on a 80km drive loop together with heavy city, freeway and outer-urban windy roads, I achieved a median of 5.5L/100km, which is fairly nice for this sort of automotive.

To see how the Suzuki Vitara stacks up in opposition to its rivals, use our comparability software

How does the Suzuki Vitara drive?

Beginning up the Boosterjet engine involves life quietly, even when it’s chilly. It has a crisp idle sound that isn’t as intrusive as some Mazda or Subaru automobiles, for instance.

Setting off this little crossover feels zippy and peppy. It surges away from a standstill with ease and is keen to rise up to the sign-posted pace restrict in an honest time.

The Vitara Turbo is certainly not a sizzling SUV, however the Boosterjet engine makes this small SUV really feel slightly hotter than you initially suppose. It’s a cracker of an engine, and I can see why it’s additionally fitted to the S-Cross, in addition to the Swift Sport.

As normal, there’s a six-speed torque-converter automated transmission that’s arguably fairly low-tech in 2024. It does the job, although and doesn’t have a studying curve just like the dual-clutch transmissions which might be fitted to the Vitara’s newer rivals.

The six-speed auto does prefer to shift up gears reasonably shortly to maintain revs down and minimise gas use. Fortunately the 220Nm of peak torque comes on faucet from simply 1500rpm, which means it could possibly lean into this reserve usually, making a fuss-free driving expertise.

The place this comes undone at factors, nonetheless, is the transmission can hold on to increased gears for slightly too lengthy, inflicting the automotive to really feel prefer it’s bogging down. After a second or two, the transmission does ultimately kind itself out and adjustments down a gear or two that will help you speed up quicker.

Sadly there are not any sporty drive modes within the Vitara to assist make the revs flare slightly faster. There’s a guide mode, however then you’ll want to use the paddle shifters to vary gears your self.

Round city and within the metropolis, the Vitara Turbo feels prefer it’s in its ingredient. It’s very gentle on its toes, making it a brilliant enjoyable automotive to chuck round in on a regular basis situations. It solely weighs 1.2 tonnes, so it’s a light-weight for the section.

The Vitara Turbo’s dynamism is let down, nonetheless, by its steering because it doesn’t really feel correctly linked to what’s occurring with the wheels. It feels awkwardly heavy on centre after which overly assisted when the wheel is turned a bit additional.

For such a light-weight automotive I additionally wasn’t anticipating the suspension to be so agency and brittle over bumps and pimply metropolitan roads. Many highway imperfections transmit into the cabin, which may get tiring fairly shortly.

As I discussed within the inside part, the Vitara has acres of glass, which offers loads of outward visibility. You’re additionally simply capable of place every nook of the automobile, which makes parking a breeze.

As normal the Vitara Turbo comes with entrance and rear parking sensors, in addition to a reversing digital camera. The latter doesn’t have the best decision and likewise makes an annoying singular beeping sound each time it’s activated.

Increase pace, the Boosterjet engine doesn’t really feel pressured in any respect. The automotive will fortunately sit alongside at freeway and freeway speeds with revs stored down low. It’ll additionally solely drop a gear if it actually must.

What turns into extra of a significant factor at increased speeds within the Vitara nonetheless, is the copious quantities of highway and tyre noise. Contained in the cabin, it sounds very tinny, which is probably going a results of the sunshine doorways and minimal padding.

With a purpose to negate the roaring highway and tyre noise you’ll be able to flip the sound system quantity up, however in the end this doesn’t repair the issue.

At increased speeds, the suspension additionally doesn’t actually settle, feeling busy nearly on a regular basis. Mid-corner bumps actually upset the automotive, too. That is unlucky as a result of it makes longer drives fatiguing.

The Vitara Turbo could be a way more comfy automotive to rack up kilometres on the freeway if it had extra sound deadening and a barely extra compliant suspension tune, because the turbocharged powertrain can undoubtedly deal with the duty.

On the security entrance, the adaptive cruise management system is sweet however not nice. It’s a helpful characteristic that helps cut back how fatiguing freeway driving could be, however it additionally likes to go away a beneficiant hole between the automotive forward.

There’s additionally a lane departure warning that solely performs a chime if you find yourself beginning to drift out of your lane. It doesn’t really present any help to steer you again within the lane like many more moderen rivals.

Additionally of observe, I had one second the place the autonomous emergency braking (AEB) system went off falsely. It was on a slim city highway with automobiles parked on each side. Any such factor occurs sometimes and I’m glad there have been no different transferring automobiles round me.

Lastly, I want to say the headlights. The Vitara Turbo has LED low beams, that are improbable and vivid, nonetheless, the excessive beams are halogen. Sure, you learn that appropriately.

To see how the Suzuki Vitara stacks up in opposition to its rivals, use our comparability software

What do you get?

On take a look at right here is the penultimate variant within the present vary, the Vitara Turbo.

Suzuki Vitara tools highlights:

• 17-inch alloy wheels
• Area-saver spare wheel
• Roof rails
• Privateness glass
• Halogen headlights
• Entrance fog lights
• 4.2-inch instrument cluster show
• 7.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system
• Wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
• 4-speaker sound system
• Local weather management
• Keyless entry and push-button begin
• Leather-based-wrapped steering wheel
• Cloth upholstery

Vitara Shadow provides:

• 17-inch black alloy wheels
• Black entrance bumper and grille inserts
• Black roof spoiler
• Black decals

Vitara Turbo provides (over the bottom mannequin):

• 17-inch polished alloy wheels
• Computerized LED headlights
• Rain-sensing wipers
• Energy-folding facet mirrors
• 6-speaker sound system
• Leather-based-accented upholstery
• Autonomous emergency braking
• Blind-spot monitoring
• Rear cross-traffic alert
• Lane-departure warning
• Adaptive cruise management
• Entrance and rear parking sensors

To see how the Suzuki Vitara stacks up in opposition to its rivals, use our comparability software

Is the Suzuki Vitara secure?

As of January 1, 2023, the Suzuki Vitara vary is ‘unrated’ by impartial automobile security authority ANCAP in Australia. Automobiles constructed earlier than January 1 have a five-star ANCAP security ranking primarily based on 2015 evaluation in opposition to older standards.

It’s value noting that lively security assists weren’t a requirement to get a five-star ranking when the Vitara was initially examined, and the bottom grade presently does with out options like AEB and lane departure warning.

Normal security options embrace:

• 7 airbags incl. driver’s knee
• Anti-lock braking system (ABS)
• Brake help
• Digital brake distribution (EBD)
• Digital stability management (ESC)
• Reversing digital camera

Vitara Turbo provides:

• Autonomous emergency braking (AEB)
• Blind-spot monitoring
• Lane departure warning
• Rear cross-traffic alert
• Adaptive cruise management
• Weaving Alert

To see how the Suzuki Vitara stacks up in opposition to its rivals, use our comparability software

How a lot does the Suzuki Vitara value to run?

The Suzuki Vitara, like the broader Suzuki vary, is roofed by a five-year, unlimited-kilometre guarantee.

To see how the Suzuki Vitara stacks up in opposition to its rivals, use our comparability software

CarExpert’s Tackle the Suzuki Vitara

The Suzuki Vitara is now one of many oldest autos in its section, however this small SUV nonetheless proves itself to be an ideal fuss-free runabout for many who don’t need all of the frills.

The turbocharged Boosterjet engine is an absolute gem and is certainly the choose of the lineup. Whereas its outputs don’t seem to be a lot on paper, in follow they get the automotive transferring together with ease.

There may be an all-wheel drive model of the Vitara Turbo out there for an additional $5000, although I’d argue the additional weight doesn’t carry any tangible added worth apart from safety in slippery conditions. The common punter additionally doubtless gained’t actually use the system to its full benefit anyway.

The Vitara Turbo feels finest suited and most at dwelling within the metropolis. Its gentle kerb weight makes it a enjoyable automotive to throw round corners, plus the raised seating place and acres of all-round visibility make it easy to park.

Though the Boosterjet engine can simply deal with freeway and freeway driving, the Vitara makes this tiring with its bumpy and fussy experience, and it’s loud because of the copious quantities of highway and tyre noise.

On the finish of the day you will have to remember this automotive has clearly been constructed to go well with tighter budgets. Certain there are a few mushy touches within the inside, however just about each different floor is difficult plastic.

What isn’t low-cost nonetheless in regards to the Vitara Turbo is its asking value. At $36,490 earlier than on-roads, this small SUV goes up in opposition to some actually robust rivals which might be significantly newer, supply plusher interiors, and have extra refined infotainment and lively security applied sciences.

If that is one thing that doesn’t fear you, although, the Vitara Turbo is an old-school, enjoyable, small SUV that you need to exit and expertise.

Concerned about shopping for a Suzuki Vitara? Get in contact with considered one of CarExpert’s trusted sellers right here

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