SUZUKI has bet the house on the Vitara. Prime-time TV ads during I'm A Celeb (off-road in the jungle) and The X Factor (red carpet arrival) have cost them squillions. And next up, there will be another themed ad for Saturday Night Takeaway.
But "don't just watch the ads ... GET IN THEM".
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Take one for a spin. I say that because the Vitara is brilliant value at £13,999 — or from £149 a month on finance.
This little SUV ticks all the boxes: Nice high riding position, safe, good storage, big enough to keep little Ant & Dec happy in the back — and it's brimming with kit.
Look past the hard plastics, the basic SZ4 model has seven airbags, alloys, DAB, USB, Bluetooth, cruise control with speed limiter, auto aircon, hill hold assist and electric windows. But this test car is the ace in the pack. It's the new range-topping Vitara S arriving in showrooms next month at £20,849.
Yes, it is a bit pricey, but it's got the best engine. It takes the mega new 1.4-litre 140hp Boosterjet petrol engine paired with Suzuki's clever all-wheel drive system.
Let's start with the engine. It has more pace and more torque than the 1.6-litre so overtaking is much easier — rather than a calculated risk. It's also better on juice. I nudged 40mpg darting around North Yorkshire.
The Allgrip AWD system has four simple modes — auto, sport, snow and lock to stop you getting stranded — plus Hill Descent Control, normally reserved for big-money 4x4s.
It's worth noting Suzuki has more than 45 years of off-road know-how. VERDICT: Vitara S or Yeti 4x4? Hmmm. The Suzuki is £3,500 cheaper.
Key Facts
- Price: £20,849
- Engine: EU6 1.4-litre Boosterjet petrol
- Economy: 52.3mpg
- 0-62mph: 10.2 secs
- Top speed: 124mph
- Road tax: £110
- CO2: 127g/km
- Servicing: Every 9,000 miles
- On sale: January
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