← Back to portfolio
Published on

I Spend Time with the Suzuki Vitara 1.4 Turbo GLX

The Suzuki Vitara Turbo GLX is a car with a lot of heritage, I spent a week sampling one of the oldest SUVs.

Quick Facts

  • Price: From R 302 900
  • Engine: 1.4-litre turbo-petrol
  • Power/Torque: 103 kW/220 Nm
  • Transmission: 6-speed manual/6-speed Auto
  • Fuel consumption: 5.8 L/100 km (I managed 6.8L)

The Suzuki Vitara is over 30 years old and with the way the latest generation looks, you would not think that it is in its third generation. The Suzuki Vitara has a great reputation for being reliable and after spending a week with the GLX trim, I can understand why it has stuck around for over 30 years. 

Exterior

The Suzuki Vitara GLX has a striking look, the Vitara has a badge that really stands out, The raised bumper features a large central air intake and sleek DRLs which sit just around the fog lamps. The Vitara has LED head and brake lights with the GLX receiving automatic lights while the radiator grille has vertical trim strips to add a 3-D touch to the Vitara’s rather blunt nose. 

The range-topping Vitara Turbo GLX I had on test had 17-inch alloy wheels which were on Continental Conti tyres and made the ride smooth. There is a choice of five solid colours and seven dual-tone combinations, where the body colour is contrasted by the choice of a black or white roof, depending on the colour chosen. My test unit was dressed in the Yellow and Black colour which is easily the best looking colour in the fleet in my opinion. 

The Suzuki Vitara has a set of silver roof rails and chrome detailing in the front grille and under the fog lamps.

Interior

The Suzuki Vitara has an exceptionally well-executed cabin which is easy to use while looking really fancy.

The interior of the Suzuki Vitara is a beautiful and comfortable place to be in, I could spend a lot of time in the cabin without ever leaving. The diamond shapes in the Alcantara-trimmed seats are classy and very fancy while the Soft-touch materials, as well as suede inserts in the doors, have been added to give it a premium look. Comfort has not been compromised whatsoever, the cabin feels very welcoming. The multi-functional steering wheel is covered in leather and offers easy to use functions such as Cruise control with a limiter, Volume adjustments as well as voice command activation buttons. 

Front seat passengers have plenty of headroom and because there isn't a sunroof, even better because even rear passengers are accommodated. There are two cupholders and a space for your phone under the climate-control switches while the sliding armrest can double up as a cover for a storage bin.

The 7-inch infotainment touchscreen which offers Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, radio as well as BlueTooth connectivity and it stands out really well. It also works as the reverse-view camera. 

There is also a 4.2-inch driver multi-information display which is clear and obstruction-free which the driver can use to view trip information, fuel range, power and torque. 

The diamond shapes in the Alcantara-trimmed seats

Overall, the interior of the Suzuki Vitara GLX is easily one of the best looking and comfortable interiors in the segment. Every element is ergonomically laid out to ensure the driver is not distracted and to ensure that the driver is comfortable. I really loved the interior. 

How does it Drive?

The Suzuki Vitara Turbo is no slouch, offers a great engaging drive in the manual disguise and is not shy of sprinting.

The Suzuki Vitara GLX I had on test was powered by a 1.4-litre turbo four-cylinder Boosterjet engine which produces 103kW and 220nm of torque and all this was mated to a six-speed manual transmission. (a six-speed automatic is also available) 

The Suzuki Vitara shares the same engine as its younger sibling the Suzuki Swift Sport however the Swift Sport has a little more torque. The Vitara is no slouch at all, in fact, Suzuki claims a 0-100 time of 9.5s but I think they are shying away from telling us the truth. The Vitara is an eager performer and delivers power without struggling, the gearbox is smooth and the ride is very comfortable. The Vitara handles really well in city or highway driving however the steering wheel feels quite light but this helps a lot in tight spaces within the city. 

Fuel consumption in the Vitara is also something to cheer about, while Suzuki claim fuel consumption of 5.8L/100km, I managed 6.8L/100km which did not feel like a bad thing at all. The 47-litre fuel tank goes an extra mile and you do not see yourself at Fuel stations a lot. 

Safety - The Vitara comes with vast safety features, Hill hold control, ABS with BAS, EBD, ESP, two ISOFIX child seat anchors, Childproof door locks, Front and Rear parking sensors as well as a reverse camera among many other features. 

For comprehensive features and specifications, please click here

Verdict

The Suzuki Vitara is a spacious compact SUV which offers great value for money, the features are very useful for everyday driving. It is definitely a great looking car and the 1.4 turbo engine makes everyday driving worthwhile. While it looks like manual transmission in compact SUVs are slowly dying,  I would definitely recommend the manual derivative as it offers a very engaging driving experience and the fact that it has survived the industry for over 30 years while winning awards should tell you just how great this offering from Suzuki is, and to complement it all, there is a 200 000 km warranty which should put your mind at ease. 

Pricing

Pricing of the Vitara range starts at R 302 900 with the Suzuki Vitara Turbo 1.4 GLX I had on test coming in at R 396 900. 

The Suzuki Vitara Turbo is sold with Suzuki’s promotional 200 000 km / 5-year mechanical warranty and a full 6-year / unlimited-kilometre warranty against corrosion. Suzuki has also added a 24/7 roadside assistance plan for the same period as the warranty and a comprehensive 4-year / 60 000 km service plan.

Subscribe to get sent a digest of new articles by Kumbi-M on Cars

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.