2015 SUZUKI VITARA


The Vitara has lost some of the off-road character of its predecessor, but that’s no bad thing, because it’s fun to drive on the road and still hugely practical. Some of the cabin trim feels a bit cheap, but that goes with the territory when you buy a great-value crossover like this.


Unlike 25 years ago, the Vitara now finds itself among a raft of similarly small SUVs – the Nissan Juke, Renault Captur and Vauxhall Mokka to name a few – so for the  all new 2015 Vitara Suzuki focused on improved performance, comfort, refinement and fuel economy rather than making it an incongruously effective mud-plugger.


Style-wise, the car has taken some serious design cues from the Range Rover Evoque. The wraparound headlamps and chrome grille bear a passing resemblance to the British crossover, while its straight edges and smart alloys give it a chunky, purposeful look. However, the back isn’t as successful, with its raised rear and ungainly lights.


The Vitara’s off-road roots mean you get a high driving position, which provides an excellent view of the road ahead. It’s also really comfortable in the front and rear, as there’s plenty of space and the leather and suede-trimmed seats are supportive.
Still, in everyday use, the SUV is a well thought out and family-friendly car. It’s easy to load items into the boot, and there are no awkward lips or arches to catch bags on, while there’s a hidden area under the floor, too.


Suzuki offer the Vitara with a choice of two 1.6-litre engines, one its own chain cam petrol and the other a FIAT sourced diesel. Both the petrol and diesel engine produce 120 PS, however the torque outputs are different. The petrol produces 156 Nm at 4400rpm, while the diesel produces a more useful 320 Nm from 1750 Rpm. The petrol comes with a five-speed manual as standard and is offered with the option of a six-speed torque converter auto, while the diesel comes with a six-speed manual only, though a robotised 6-speed 'semi-auto' becomes optional after the first year.


The 2015 Vitara gets up-to-date safety equipment including active systems like adaptive cruise control and automatic braking, as well as a high level of passive safety specification thanks to lightweight but strong bodywork.


Will it come to Indonesia ? We hope so.