2024 Suzuki Vitara Review

While it’s getting a bit long in the tooth, Suzuki has maintained super competitive pricing for the Vitara lineup, making for a great value option in the small SUV segment.

Just how well does the Suzuki Vitara hold up against its more contemporary peers? Let’s take a closer look at the Vitara’s price, features, safety equipment and practicality to find out.

Suzuki Vitara Competition

Starting Price: $29,990

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How Much Does It Cost?

The Suzuki Vitara range is priced from $29,990 for the entry-level Vitara Manual FWD, while the Vitara Automatic FWD is priced at $31,990.

Stepping up to the Suzuki Vitara Shadow FWD brings the price to $35,990, while the Vitara Turbo FWD is priced at $36,490.

Finally, the range-topping Suzuki Vitara Turbo AWD is priced at $40,490.

Keep in mind that these prices are subject to change and do not include on-road costs.

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You could save money by getting one of OnlineAuto’s car buying agents to assist you in finding the greatest value model for you.

Suzuki Vitara (1.6L) Specifications

What Features & Specs Does the Suzuki Vitara Have?

Suzuki’s entry-level Vitara range comes riding on a set of 17-inch alloys and receives halogen headlights and fog lights, cruise control, cloth upholstery with a leather-wrapped steering wheel, roof rails, climate control, keyless entry & start, a rear-view camera and a 4.2-inch instrument cluster.

Stepping up to the Vitara Shadow adds a heap of black touches, including black 17-inch alloys, bumpers, a black grille, spoiler and some special decals.

The Vitara Turbo receives a bespoke set of 17-inch alloys, automatic LED headlights, leather upholstery with suede inserts, adaptive cruise control, power-folding side mirrors, front & rear parking sensors and an upgraded six-speaker sound system, as well as some much-needed safety equipment upgrades. 

Finally, the range-topping Vitara Turbo AWD picks up a panoramic sunroof, sunglasses holder and a hill-descent control system.

Connectivity/Infotainment Features

On the tech front, the Suzuki Vitara range receives a 7.0-inch infotainment display that is paired with a four-speaker sound system in most variants, while the Vitara Turbo picks up a six-speaker sound system. 

Does the Suzuki Vitara have Wireless Apple CarPlay & Android Auto?

Suzuki’s infotainment display offers wired Apple CarPlay & Android Auto connectivity, rather than a wireless connection. This means you’ll need to connect your phone via the USB ports to operate your phone via Apple CarPlay and/or Android Auto.

Is the Suzuki Vitara Comfortable to Drive?

The driving experience on offer in the Suzuki Vitara is incredibly user-friendly and impressively comfortable on a mix of Aussie roads.

As a pint-sized crossover SUV, it feels very much at home in the urban jungle, while AWD variants add some much-needed versatility to the mix.

Power for the base models comes supplied by a 1.6-litre four-cylinder petrol engine that produces a very modest 86kW of power and 156Nm of torque that offers very leisurely acceleration off the line, but it gets the job done.

The engine pick of the bunch is without a doubt Suzuki’s 1.4-litre turbocharged four-cylinder that produces 103kW of power and 220Nm of torque to either the front or all four wheels via a six-speed automatic.

This turbocharged engine gives the Vitara some much-needed perk off the line, while all variants pick up a featherweight steering rack that makes parking and low-speed turns a simple task.

Combine that with the Vitara’s short wheelbase platform and the Vitara is a great daily driver around town, with its suspension package offering enough support for small and moderate-sized bumps on the road.

Better yet, the suspension offers enough play to deal with rougher Australian B-roads, making it one of the most adaptable vehicles in the small SUV segment.

The range-topping Vitara Turbo AWD picks up a hill-descent control system if you’re keen to head off-road, with the Vitara’s 210mm of ground clearance beating out most of its rivals when sealed roads stop. 

All up, the Vitara is a super impressive compact crossover SUV that is equally as comfortable around town as it is driving on country roads and even getting its toes (slightly) dirty on the weekend.

Is it Fuel Efficient?

The Suzuki Vitara range is impressively fuel-efficient in both turbocharged and naturally aspirated variants, with the range-topping Vitara Turbo returning super-efficient figures for an AWD drivetrain.

The base model is rated at between 5.8 and 6.0L/100km on a combined cycle for manual and automatic variants, respectively, while turbocharged variants at rated at 5.8L and 6.2L/100km, respectively for FWD and AWD variants.

• Vitara Manual FWD Combined Cycle Fuel Economy: 5.8L/100km

• Vitara Automatic FWD Combined Cycle Fuel Economy: 6.0L/100km

• Vitara Turbo FWD Combined Cycle Fuel Economy: 5.9L/100km

• Vitara Turbo AWD Combined Cycle Fuel Economy: 6.2L/100km

How Much Fuel Does the Suzuki Vitara Use Around Town?

• Vitara Manual FWD: 7.1L/100km

• Vitara Automatic FWD: 7.9L/100km

• Vitara Turbo FWD: 7.6L/100km

• Vitara Turbo AWD: 7.9L/100km

How Much Fuel Does the Suzuki Vitara Use on the Highway?

• Vitara Manual FWD: 5.1L/100km

• Vitara Automatic FWD: 5.2L/100km

• Vitara Turbo FWD: 4.9L/100km

• Vitara Turbo AWD: 5.2L/100km

Is it Practical and Spacious?

The Suzuki Vitara’s interior struggles to hide its ageing platform, though the cabin itself offers a heap more space than your typical compact SUV.

Up front, the driver and front passenger pick up a heap of headroom and excellent visibility from the tall windows and the lofty driving position.

The layout is familiar, if not a little bland, though all the switchgear is exactly where you’d expect it to be in an ergonomic fashion.

In terms of storage, the Vitara’s centre console offers a pair of cup holders, a small storage tray behind the gear lever, added storage inside the folding armrest and some bottle holders on either side of the cabin.

Move to the rear and things are pretty impressive for the small SUV segment, with a decent amount of legroom on offer for taller rear occupants, though headroom can prove tight for tall passengers.

The Vitara’s second row offers a pair of ISOFIX anchors and top tether mounts, though there are no air vents, pockets or a folding armrest on offer for those in the back seats.

How big is the Suzuki Vitara’s Boot?

In terms of cargo space, the Suzuki Vitara has a boot measuring 375L in total, which is pretty much on par for the segment.

Fold down the rear seats and the Vitara’s cargo space expands to 710L to help accommodate bulky cargo, sports equipment and a Bunnings run.

Is it Safe?

Safety is one area that the entry-level Vitara variants simply can’t compete with their modern peers.

As standard, the base Vitara picks up a bare bones list of safety equipment list a rear-view camera, traction & stability control system, anti-lock brakes and curtain airbags.

The majority of active safety tech is reserved for the Vitara Turbo range, which receives autonomous emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, lane-departure alerts, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alerts and both front & rear parking sensors.

Does the Suzuki Vitara have an ANCAP Safety Rating?

The MY24 Suzuki Vitara range remains untested by ANCAP after its previous five-star ANCAP safety rating expired.

For reference, in its 2015 tests, the Vitara scored 35.79 out of a total of 37, reporting good whiplash and pedestrian protection scores.

What Warranty Does the Suzuki Vitara Come With?

Suzuki offers the Vitara range with a five-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty which is bundled with five years of roadside assistance.

The company caps the price of the Vitara’s first five services, with service intervals standing at 12 months/15,000km for the regular four-cylinder range, while the Vitara Turbo has service intervals of 12 months/10,000km.

Our Verdict: Is the Suzuki Vitara Worth it?

While there’s no shortage of options in the world of compact SUVs, the Suzuki Vitara remains an attractive option for those looking for a versatile and remarkably fuel-efficient little crossover with an affordable price tag.

There’s a noticeable lack of active safety equipment in the base model, meaning the Vitara Turbo is likely your best option when it comes to modern safety equipment, though entry-level variants are extremely competitive on price.

If you’re looking to upgrade to a new car, be sure to reach out to one of our car-buying experts who can help find you the best possible price on your next purchase.

Five Suzuki Vitara Specs You Need to Know

1. Five-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty

2. Two engines available (four-cylinder & turbocharged four-cylinder petrol)

3. 5.8 - 6.2L/100km fuel economy figures

4. 375L boot expands to 710L with rear seats folded

5. Expired five-star ANCAP safety rating