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Suzuki Vitara: Nothing Will Stop It
SUZUKI VITARA
MUD OR TARMAC, NOTHING WILL STOP IT!
Words: Marco Rallo
Photography: Lomax
If I say Suzuki, what do you think of? Unstoppable 4x4s ready to jump in mud and perfectly focused on tackling any kind of terrain, or at least it is what they used to do with the various Samurai, Jimny and Vitara. Now the music has changed and to meet those customers that do not want to drive sit on a table of metal, the new Vitara has grown – in every way. In addition to its name and characteristic shell front hood, the new Japanese 4×4 recipe changes dramatically, crossing the style of a small SUV with off-road capabilities, ending almost in the crossover segment. Labyrinth-like categories apart, the new Vitara is really new and wants to take the brand by hand and make it grow toward a future where it can be able to embrace more and more customers who do not necessarily need or want a vehicle ready for war.
The tested model is a 1.4cc petrol, driven by an in-line 4-cylinder that outputs 140 hp and with a weight that does not exceed 1,300kg. I like the color choice, which is logically the first thing that jumps to the eye – I find that the contrast of the Red Marrakech body with the black of the pillars, the roof and the wheels is a great way to make it clear that even the eye wants its part now. Mirror covers are silver, just like the bars on the roof and the massive front grille (chrome) overlapping the plastic part that protects the lower area of the small but brilliant engine. Entering into the cabin, I’m greeted by an orderly dashboard where there’s everything you would expect, including storage compartments, heated seats, and the now-inevitable cursor from which to control the infotainment system – which we have unfortunately not been able to test since the sat-nav was locating us in the heart of Germany. Anyway, the 6-speed manual transmission feels accurate and the steering is even better, while fuel consumption has been regular to the situation and the use of the throttle, without however regretting that we hadn’t the diesel version, which would have been certainly noisier.
The Vitara is a mature car, it is not equipped with reduced gears, but it is still able to handle a dirt track due to the right wheelbase and a good ground clearance. It drives exactly like what it wants to appear, a small SUV – it is dynamic, responsive and precise and you park it easily because it is a little over 4 meters long and less than 1 meter and 80cm wide. Five adult people can fit inside, plus their respective luggage and the feel at the wheel is to be on a far superior car, although some plastics are not extremely exciting to the eye. Original the detail of the analog clock located in the middle of the dashboard, with Japanese ideograms in place of the classic numbers (it’s an optional) and with the profiles of the dashboard air vents in the same color of the exterior. The front is definitely the best episode here, modern and vigorous, while the back lacks of a bit of personality, but being among the first attempts to enter a new world, Suzuki has done a great job, bringing home a great result and doing no mistake. From wherever you look at it, you understand that you are dealing with a car result of today’s needs, young and that does not want to turn to a too narrow customers slice, but aims to meet the needs of a standard family as well as those looking for a reliable car. I liked the new Vitara and I have great expectations for the future, because I’m firmly convinced that one day or another they will come out with a hot hatch that will make us lose our mind – any reference to the legendary Escudo Pikes Peak is purely random, or maybe not …
SUZUKI VITARA (2017-)
Layout – front-engined, all-wheel-drive
Engine – 4 cylinder 1.373cc – turbo
Transmission – 6-speed manual gearbox
Power – 140 hp @ 5.500 rpm
220 Nm @ 1.500 rpm
Weight – 1.285 kg
Acceleration – 10,5 sec.
Top Speed – 200 kph
Price – from € 27.900
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