Suzuki has great expectations from its all-new Vitara crossover, which competes in the highly-crowded small SUV segment with models like the Nissan Juke, Peugeot 2008, Renault Captur, Fiat 500X and others.
Despite the familiar name, the Vitara is not a replacement for the Grand Vitara, but rather a model that fills the gap between the larger SUV and the small Jimny.
Carbuyer’s Ginny Buckley took it for a test drive and found it offers plenty of legroom and good headroom even on the rear seats, as well as a comprehensive standard equipment.
So what is it like to drive? As you’d expect, the Vitara will not sweep you off your feet with its performance or handling capabilities. But it’s a good all-rounder, the reviewer found. She drove the version equipped with the 1.6-liter diesel engine, which packs plenty of punch on a wide range of speeds in combination with the six-speed manual gearbox.
However, the engine is quite unrefined and the Suzuki Vitara lets too much wind and road noise enter the cabin at higher speeds. Furthermore, the cabin is likened to that of a budget car. See what else she had to say about the Vitara in the following video.