On the road: IT’S been a while, but the all-new Vitara is here. From a manufacturer that was at the forefront of the crossover sector, it had arguably fallen behind its rivals.
This is just one of a range of models that is aiming to turn the tide.
Built on the same platform as the SX4 S-Cross, the Vitara looks more likely to enjoy a day of soft-roading than its sibling thanks to better ground clearance and chunkier tyres.
But while it has a purposeful look about it, it is not so adventurous as to put off those who prefer to use it for the school run.
It comes in a range of 1.6 litre petrol or diesel powered engines and with four-wheel drive as an option.
Our test car was the SZ5 petrol with just shy of 120bhp, which was more than enough for our combination or urban and dual carriageway driving.
It handled well in the main, aside from a little body roll in the corners.
On the inside: WHILE the Vitara looks fresh and modern I felt it was let down by the quality of the materials used. There seemed an over-reliance on cheap and scratchy plastics and things felt really light and insubstantial. It was a shame really, because the overall design of the interior and the layout is easy on the eye.
One thing that I just couldn’t get to grips with was the touchscreen infotainment system, which was hard to work out and equally hard to use on anything other than a dead smooth road surface.
What do you get: OUR car came well-equipped with the likes of hill hold control, airbags, radar brake support, remote central locking, engine auto stop start, front and rear parking sensors and electric front and rear windows. In addition, there was keyless entry and start, a double sliding panoramic roof, automatic air conditioning, front fog lamps, electrically adjustable and heated mirrors, DAB digital radio, 17ins alloys, rear privacy glass, silver roof rails and suede and leather upholstery.
How practical is it: The Vitara is well suited to family life, having plenty of room in both the front and rear. It has a 375 litre boot which also features a removable floor. Drop the 60:40 split-folding rear seats and you have 710 litres to play with.
There are also decent size stowage bins with bottle holders on all doors.
Running costs: SUZUKI says it should be possible to get more than 53mpg on the combined cycle. CO2 emissions are 123g/km.
Verdict: AN able successor to the original let down by cheap interior materials.
Alternatives: Nissan Juke, Renault Captur
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