DRIVEN: SUZUKI VITARA 1.4 TURBO — White Knuckle Adventures

‘’Budget busting’’ has been a buzz term used in business ever since the rollout of lockdown measures in order to curb the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. It’s forced businesses to cut costs in every way possible, doing without anything that does not warrant an ‘essential’ item. And if you’re like me, you’re taking those lessons to heart, deploying them into your personal life, scrutinizing every rand and cent on household expenditure. Phrases like:” Did we really spend THAT last month? Or ‘’I can’t believe we’ve been coughing out so much?’’ being muttered more frequently. The list goes on, accompanied with raised eyebrows and finger wagging. This level of self-scrutiny has left no line item without intense investigation, including the car we drive, where associated maintenance costs, fuel bills and monthly repayments often add up to one third of your disposable income. So now more than ever it’s vital for that money to be put to good use.

The Vitara with it’s latest 1.4 litre turbo unit then, at a pricing point which includes a healthy service and warranty plan in addition to claimed competition busting fuel efficiency figures including a heap of functionality and comfort features, plays into this narrative of ‘’spending wisely’’ with firm intention. We recently got to find out for ourselves with the latest Vitara in range topping GLX guise…

Performance and life on the big ‘ol open road

Whilst the Vitara certainly isn’t hot hatch performance it does lend itself to that life and I believe, as motorists, we should demand a certain level of urgency relative to the type of vehicle we’re buying. In those tight pressure moments where a quick escape is necessary, you want some “GO”. Be it the middle of an intersection or a quick dash to clear an amber light or, of lesser importance, that sprint to grab a parking bay, quick feet are needed. This laid out, the Vitara is certainly no slouch and possesses a readiness to be quick on its feet when called upon. An impressive attribute from the 103kW/220Nm 1.4-litre turbocharged engine, which is shared with the Suzuki Swift Sport. Braking performance is sublime in that if you’re in a sticky position and need to stop in a hurry, stand on the middle pedal hard enough and you may have flash memories from the past or even go back in time.

Cruising on the open road is a pleasure. The kilometres are stacked up with ease and I’m particularly impressed with the gear ratios of the six speed manual and how the engine can cruise at 120km/h not surpassing the 2800 rpm mark. This is a reassuring sign as less stress stands good for the useful life of drive train components as much as it being a supplement for maintaining that impressive fuel efficiency.

Whilst I wasn’t able to fill the remaining seats in the Vitara with extra passengers, I do have some doubt over the ability to pass other cars on the open road when under full load. On the flip side of this, perhaps it’s best just to take it easy then and enjoy the journey? Fuel capacity is 47 litres and with an average consumption of claimed 5.8 litres/100km (we managed 6.2 and in the city we were closer to the 7.0) one could easily make the 641km East Coast trip from Cape Town to Jeffreys Bay for that ‘all-important’ surfing trip.

Comfort and Handling

Navigating a series of twisty tight bends in less than favourable road conditions on Kloof road at the foot of Lions Head, the Vitara traverses bumps and absorbs depressions with ease, thanks to the 17-inch alloy wheels and higher profile tyres(215/55 R17) fitted as standard on the GLX. Handling feels rooted, giving you the feeling that not only does this Vitara have the engine of the Swift Sport but it also may aspire to live up to the hatches handling capabilities (Cute). Seven airbags are included as standard as well as keyless entry.

What’s it like inside?

With the GLX being the range-topping offering from Suzuki, this model has a plentitude of features on hand and is anything but a bland affair. I’m told by my textile designer girlfriend that the interior styling is well thought out. The blend of suede inserts, hard and soft-touch surfaces are done rather tastefully and I’m not going to argue there. In fact, I like it and I have a feeling you will too. One drawback is, however, the size constraints if you’re on the taller side of life like myself (I’m 1.92 meters tall) with the seat all the way back, I still feel slightly cramped with little room for a passenger, behind me, to enjoy the drive without adopting a human origami position throughout the journey. If my biological composition was 8% smaller, this wouldn’t be an issue.

You get the ability to adjust the steering column forward/back and up/down, a quirk I always find annoying when not there (Points on the board, Suzuki). The infotainment system could do with a refresh as it feels dated for a new car but besides that, it does what it’s meant to do, connecting to Apple Car Play and Android Auto including the Spotify link for that long journey filled with road trip music. Perhaps I’m a bit demanding but having the zoom application projecting footage on the display would be a plus for those on-the-run meetings. One irk however is the lack of follow through on the leather trim from the steering wheel to gear shifter and the handbrake lever (not a deal buster though). The controls to access vehicle data should be on the steering wheel too and not hidden away on the instrument cluster. A strange user interface quirk that leaves me scratching my lockdown haircut. There’s a built in reverse view camera and adding to the experience is ample space to store bits and pieces with spacious storage wells surrounding all occupants.

Even though the Vitara is a 5 seater compact family crossover, it’s more suited for a four person family. Boot space is at 375 litres. Fold the seats and you get 710 litres.

Final Verdict

With the move to this more efficient motor, it has rounded off the Vitara offering rather well, turning it into a formidable all-rounder, offering economy with an invitation to some degree of performance in one tightly wrapped package. I’m at a stretch to find any deal breakers and I have a feeling that it’s one of those vehicles that will quickly grow on you with your budget busting decisions, in terms of spend, hard at work with little compromise from your side in terms of comfort, functionality and performance. Some may argue that pricing is on the upper end of the scale when pitched up against its competition but there is a lot on offer that’s been built into that price, bolstering up the Vitara’s value proposition. Whether that’s sufficient justification for the price is something to ponder about in your decision making process. I’ll leave that up to you.

Summary

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