The Suzuki Vitara Is Showing Its Age, But Still Knows a Few Tricks
All three reviews agree this car has been around a decade and it shows in the cabin, yet keep finding real reasons to still recommend it over flashier, newer rivals.
Illustration for editorial purposes
A Decade-Old Design, Still Finding Fans
Ten years is a long time to go without a full redesign in this class. Reviewers keep crediting the underlying engineering and rare four-wheel-drive option with keeping this car relevant anyway.
Specs at a Glance
| Body style | Small SUV |
|---|---|
| Engine | 1.4L Boosterjet turbo mild-hybrid (129bhp) or 1.5L full hybrid |
| Transmission | 6-speed manual or automatic; Allgrip 4WD optional |
| 0–62mph | 9.5 sec (1.4 manual) to 12.7 sec (hybrid) |
| Fuel economy | Up to 53mpg (mild-hybrid), 56mpg (full hybrid) |
Full Review Summary
Top Gear
Top Gear found more to like than expected, praising a genuinely fun character despite the Vitara not being the coolest crossover on sale. They rated the door plastics and physical dials as refreshingly hard-wearing for family life, even if they lack the soft-touch glamour of TFT-packed rivals, and recommended sticking with the mild-hybrid engine and manual gearbox over the automatic option.
What Car?
What Car? measured the 1.4-litre mild-hybrid at 9.5 seconds 0-62mph with a manual gearbox — quicker than an entry-level Ford Puma or VW T-Cross — while the full hybrid trades pace for a modest fuel economy gain. They rated the ride as firm but well-damped, never becoming jarring even over bigger bumps, though found it falls short of rivals like the Skoda Kamiq and VW T-Roc on outright comfort. Their overall verdict was blunt: it falls short of rivals in enough key areas that several competitors are worth considering first.
🎬 Watch: Suzuki Vitara review (same video, watch above ↗)
Carwow
Carwow rated build quality as reassuringly solid despite so-so interior materials, with a "veiny grey plastic dashboard" on entry trim doing the cabin no favours. They singled out the self-charging hybrid's automated gearbox as genuinely worth avoiding, describing it as clunky, slow and unrefined enough to undermine the rest of the car, and recommended the mild-hybrid manual instead as genuinely quite good fun, especially with the optional Allgrip four-wheel-drive system.
🎬 Watch: Suzuki Vitara review (same video, watch above ↗)
Strengths
- Genuinely fun to drive in mild-hybrid manual form
- Rare four-wheel-drive option in this class
- Durable, hard-wearing cabin materials
- Competitive pricing for the segment
Weak points
- Interior technology and layout feel dated
- Full hybrid's automated gearbox is clunky and slow
- Ride comfort trails newer rivals
- Only average cabin space for the class
Who It Actually Suits
Buyers who want a genuinely fun, no-nonsense small SUV and specifically value the rare four-wheel-drive option. Stick with the mild-hybrid manual — every review agrees the self-charging hybrid's automated gearbox is worth avoiding.
Common Suzuki Vitara Parts & Costs
- Suzuki Vitara Alternator
- Suzuki Vitara Battery
- Suzuki Vitara Brake Discs
- Suzuki Vitara Brake Pads
- Suzuki Vitara Cabin Air Filter
- Suzuki Vitara Engine Mount
- Suzuki Vitara Exhaust System
- Suzuki Vitara Fog Lights
- Suzuki Vitara Front Bumper
- Suzuki Vitara Front Suspension
- Suzuki Vitara Fuel Pump
- Suzuki Vitara Grille
- Suzuki Vitara Headlights
- Suzuki Vitara Radiator
- Suzuki Vitara Rear Bumper
- Suzuki Vitara Rear Shock Absorber
- Suzuki Vitara Rear Springs
- Suzuki Vitara Spark Plugs
- Suzuki Vitara Tail Lights
- Suzuki Vitara Timing Belt
- Suzuki Vitara Wing Mirror
More Suzuki Reviews
Watch the Reviews
Suzuki Vitara review ↗ (same video, watch above ↗)