With a straightforward approach, the Suzuki Vitara has all the right ingredients to being a great SUV that doesn’t skimp on safety or practicality.

There’s a simple, no-frills approach that Suzuki takes to its cars that warrants more praise than it receives. Rather than trying to keep up with the Joneses in the technological arms race that is in-car infotainment and heaping swopping lines on top of scalloped body panels, Suzuki takes a more measured and straightforward approach. I like to think that if Suzuki were a friend, it would be the one that would tell you exactly how a situation is, warts and all, and in as few words as possible. 

Unlike the current swarm of SUVs descending on the market, the Suzuki Vitara is something of a veteran, having made its debut way back in 1988. Suzuki even made a nifty two-door convertible version, long before Land Rover thought about chopping the roof off of a Range Rover Evoque. It went on to be sold around the world and even spawned another cult SUV called the X-90. There is also a whole generation of gamers that will fondly remember the twin-engined Pikes Peak Escudo from Gran Turismo. 

However, the Vitara of today is a more sensible proposition, and it has been around in its current guise since 2015. Its looks aren’t what you’d call head-turning by current SUV standards, especially with models like the Ford Puma and Renault Captur, but there’s a certain charm to the Suzuki that suggests dependability. It’s not the mini Tonka truck that the Jimny is, but you can still equip the Vitara with an all-wheel-drive transmission if you’re living in more rural conditions. For most, the front-wheel-drive setup will suffice once you’re sticking to tarmac. 

How the Suzuki handles on the road is a pleasant surprise, thanks in part to its relatively lightweight. At just over 1,200kg, it’s by no means lardy for a car of this size. It remains composed even when you chuck a series of bends at it, with only moderate amounts of body roll, which is partly due to the suspension set up having more of a bias towards comfort. Whether clipping along through narrow country lanes or navigating the urban jungle, the Suzuki is equally adept. 

Along with some decent tyre sidewalls on the 17-inch alloy wheels (standard on this SZ-T) to help cushion the impact, the Vitara glides over speed humps and soaks up surface imperfections without fuss. By today’s SUV standards, where so many manufacturers try to make cars feel sporty by chucking on larger wheels and increasingly stiffer suspension, the Suzuki is refreshingly different as it isn’t trying to be something it’s not. 

Only one engine is available with the Vitara, a 1.4-litre turbocharged four-cylinder that is helped by an electric motor. This mild hybrid system is a simple one that saves energy during deceleration and braking and stores it in a small battery beneath the front passenger seat. The 48-volt electrical system can then use that energy for ancillary systems like the air conditioning and lights, as well as providing a small bit of additional power to the engine through an integrated starter generator. This ISG is essentially a more powerful type of starter motor that not only restarts the engine more smoothly but adds some torque when pulling away from rest. 

Not to be confused with a hybrid that can cover short distances electrically, this type of mild hybrid only supplements the engine. It can help to reduce emissions and decrease fuel consumption, but only by small amounts. The upside is that you don’t have to do anything differently when driving; it takes care of everything automatically. 

A willing engine ensures that it makes decent progress, though you will need to work the gearbox a bit when getting up to speed on motorway slip roads. The six-speed manual isn’t the worst to use, and top gear is long enough to keep the engine settled at cruising speeds. Many will like the elevated driving position, while outward visibility is mostly unobstructed. Suzuki doesn’t skimp on the driver assistance systems either. Lane Departure Warning and Prevention, Blind Sport Monitoring, Rear Cross Traffic Alert and Road Sign Recognition are all standard fare across the Vitara range. 

Elsewhere inside the cabin, it’s more of that simple but functional approach. Clear and easy-to-read analogue instrument dials include a small colour display at the centre with a trip computer and relevant driving info, including a little symbol that shows when the hybrid system is operating. The buttons on the multifunction steering wheel, along with the column stalks and climate controls are all basic but have a robust feel to them that tells you they’ll still work just as well in 20 years. A touchscreen display is the most modern part of the interior. It is compatible with smartphone mirroring for Android and Apple devices, so you can easily run your Spotify playlists, podcasts or Google Maps through it. 

Rear passenger space is on par for the segment, with fair amounts of head and legroom especially in the two outer seats. For an SUV, the boot space of 375 litres isn’t much to write home about, falling just below that of a Volkswagen Golf, but the opening is wide and load height not too high, so loading bulky items isn’t that difficult. The rear seats also have a 60:40 split and fold forward to increase volume to 710 litres. 

If you’re not concerned about being the trendiest car owner on the block, but instead prefer a car that gets the job done and is decent value for money, then the Suzuki Vitara is going to be right up your street.

Model: Suzuki Vitara SZ-T

Price: £22,999

Engine: 1.4-litre four-cylinder petrol with 48v mild hybrid

Transmission: 6-speed manual

Power / Touque 127bhp / 235Nm

0-62mph: 9.5 seconds

Top speed: 118mph 

WLTP fuel consumption: 49.7mpg

CO2 emissions: 128g/km

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