I am in two minds about the new Suzuki Grand Vitara. My problem is that my wife has the previous Grand Vitara which is a real offroad-capable SUV with low range 4×4 or locked high range 4×4 modes.
The new one has an all-wheel-drive model, but is not a true offroader.
I suppose I should not worry about that. It is a completely new, up-to-date soft SUV developed for a new generation.
Designed by Suzuki but built at the Toyota facility in Kirloskar, India. For that reason there is a similar Toyota, the new Urban Cruiser, which is quite a bit bigger than the original Urban Cruiser.
This new Suzuki Grand Vitara is the top or apex model in the Suzuki line-up locally.
This is apparent with the 1.5 GLX 6AT Hybrid AllGrip offering dual-sliding panoramic glass sunroof, leather seats, 12V mild hybrid engine, paddle shifters, wireless charging, head-up display and 360 camera view.Quite an equipment list.
The most basic version, the GL, has items like automatic climate control, a leather-covered multi-function steering wheel, push-button start, and six airbags, LED projector headlamps with follow me home function and so on while the GLX adds 9” Touchscreen with smartphone connectivity, 2x Rear USB chargers (Type-A and Type-C), wireless phone charging, automatic rearview mirror dimming, panoramic glass sunroof and so on.
An effective and customisable TFT display between the rev counter and the speedometer is standard.
You can’t fault this Suzuki on its looks either.
This new GV is a good looking car from any angle but especially the rear with its strip lighting running right across from light cluster to light cluster.
The nose is purposeful and assertive without being a caricature or going over the top. The side view is pleasing, in short, a really good looking car.
Inside the car is neat and stylish and functional.
The layout is practical, the materials used pleasing and the fit seems good. The car is well equipped, especially at the price, with real physical buttons for the normal daily adjustments and settings. The cabin is pleasant to spend time in even on a long road. Personally I would have liked the option of heated seats but that is nitpicking.
The two front seats are comfortable and afford one a good view of the road. The back can seat three adults. It has all the normal cup holders and storage bins one would expect.
There are two drivetrain options, three gearbox options and two- and all-wheel drive. The new model sees the debut of a mild-hybrid petrol-electric powertrain from Suzuki in the top model. Two versions of the Suzuki K15 engine are offered in the Grand Vitara. The K15b is a naturally-aspirated 1.5-litre 4-cylinder engine with 77kW and 138Nm.
The second is the K15C version of the above engine, which features an always-on 48-volt mild hybrid system and has outputs of 75.8kW and 136.8Nm. There is a 5-speed manual gearbox or 4-speed automatic for the 2-wheel-drive non-hybrid models, while the mild-hybrid has a 6-speed automatic transmission with switchable all-wheel drive. The hybrid is a great car but a little pricey, especially compared to the four other variants.
Prices start at a very competitive R339 900 for the 1.5 GL 5-speed manual, with the 4-speed autobox adding R20k. The GLX manual is R397 900 with R20k needed for the auto shifter.
The 1.5 GLX 6AT Hybrid AllGrip is R529 900.
I like the hybrid but the GLX models hit the sweet spot.
The competition includes the nearly identical Toyota Urban Cruiser, the Renault Duster 1.5dCi Zen 4WD at R422 999 (not as spacious), Volkswagen T-Roc or Taiga, Mazda CX-30, Peugeot 2008, Opel Mokka and FIAT500X, among others. The hybrid competes with the Corolla Cross hybrid and Nissan Qashqai, but is more compact than either and cheaper.
The Suzuki Grand Vitara comes standard with a five-year/200 000km promotional warranty and a six-year/90 000km service plan.
Another new, slightly smaller Suzuki model, the Fronx, joins the Suzuki stable soon, offering an alternative to the likes of the VW Taiga, KIA Sonet, Hyundai Venue and soon-to-be-departing Ford EcoSport.
