
Suzuki Vitara Hybrid | Test Drive
Words Carlo Brema / Photos S. Lomax
When we talk about offroad, we say Suzuki. And if you don’t want to give up the comfort and practicality of a larger body than the one you get with the unstoppable Jimny, Vitara is the first name that comes to mind. After all, we are still talking about the more civilized alter ego of the small three-door, which in 2018 updated its latest generation with some different aesthetic details than before and an increasingly welcoming interior that somehow tries to make you look away from much more expensive SUVs.

The Vitara is a certainty and enjoys the renowned reliability of the Japanese brand. It is a model that at the same time pays attention to real things and does not get lost in useless stylistic quirks. In its case, everything is brought to the utmost simplicity, as can be seen from the rather clear lines and that especially at the front make the design of the progenitor of the family unmistakable, an off-road vehicle that is increasingly mixing its DNA with crossovers and which does not disdain extensive use on asphalt, not even motorway. With the arrival of the hybrid engine, even better mileage is promised, but rest assured that the nature of the Vitara we all know has not been affected and indeed evolves just enough, thus offering an even more effective car.



Yes, because that of the Vitara is one of those recipes that must not be changed, of those that work as they are and that if twisted they would lose the true essence of the off-road nature of a compact but practical five-door five-seater, still available with front-wheel drive only. The model of our test is the top of the range, equipped with all-wheel drive – which I consider essential when choosing Suzuki – Starview spec with 6-speed automatic gearbox and the 140-volt Full-Hybrid technology, combined with a 1.5 petrol engine for a total power of 114 horses. The alternative, excluding the variables in terms of traction and gearbox, is represented by the 1.4 with 130 horsepower, which however is a Mild-Hybrid unit. Something is lost in terms of liveliness here, but you gain the possibility of a wider use of the electric unit, which is also useful when tackling an arduous path such as the dirt road that leads to the summit of Bric Mindino.

This is where I decided to test a 4X4 with well-established qualities and to do so I traveled a mix of roads that allowed me to get in tune with this Suzuki from the very first kilometers. The cockpit is in fact very simple, but well built. We perceive the intention to use materials designed to last decades and above all to withstand even less delicate users than usual. The driving position is excellent and although the digital screen is quite small, it is fitted with everything you need, including satellite navigation and connectivity with your smartphone. The automatic gearbox makes city driving even easier, while visibility on all sides is enhanced by slightly sloping glass surfaces. In short, the Vitara seems to be sewn on like a haute couture dress.


The 1.5 is not an engine for the fastest lane, in fact it needs its time to ground its peak torque (138 Nm at 4,400 rpm), but it is full bodied, precise and very little thirsty (5.8 l / 100 km). Once we have passed Garessio and reached the Col di Casotto, I pass that difficult stretch that forces some mushroom hunters to leave their car well before today’s destination. It does not matter if the trail becomes narrow and with the exception of a ground clearance not like the Jimny, the Vitara continues without the slightest hint of uncertainty, pocketing even those tight curves with a steep slope towards the void on the side.



The hybrid unit in question works very well and is managed independently by the car’s brain. Alternatively, you can call up the Eco mode using the appropriate button, while the batteries are recharged during braking just enough to keep the electrons available at all times. The design solidity of the Vitara comes in handy especially when the four-wheel drive transmission has to cling over a stone-covered surface that would put much more expensive 4X4s in crisis. Here we have an automatic distribution of the drive torque on both axles and a speed limiter (at 10 kph) for the steepest descents which autonomously manages the brake. One of the strengths here is the small size – 417 cm in length – which makes maneuvering easy on accidental terrain such as that of the Bric Mindino, a sort of mule track designed for pure off-road vehicles just like the Vitara.





And here, without even realizing it, I stop the car just below the gigantic cross placed at over 1,800 meters, relaxed as if I hadn’t even started my trip yet. The Vitara is precisely that, still with the ability to move well even in traffic and on b-roads. So, if you are looking for a car with few frills and that puts what is underneath first over what is simply seen with the eyes, there’s no need to look elsewhere. I consider the AllGrip traction a must-have, while the choice for the automatic transmission or the type of engine is a more subjective argument. Prices starting at € 24.900 (1.4 mild hybrid) and reaching at least € 33.600 for a specimen like the one of our test. Then you only have to add a fun destination like this, the Vitara will take care of the rest.

SUZUKI VITARA HYBRID 1.5 STARVIEW 4WD AT
Engine 4 cylinder Full-Hybrid, 1.462 cc Power 114 hp @ 6.000 rpm Torque 138 Nm @ 4.400 rpm
Traction All-Wheel-Drive Transmission 6-Speed Automatic Gearbox Weight 1.390 kg
0-100 kph 10,2 sec Top Speed 180 kph Price from€33.600
