Review of used Suzuki Vitara (Mk4, 2015-date)
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As Suzuki’s best-selling vehicle, purchasing the right Vitara was crucial to the company’s success and, to be fair, it has been achieved. We ran the Vitara 1.6 DDSiS for 10 months and over 11,000 miles in 2016 and we love it, even if the diesel engine is a bit agricultural. But the space, comfort and abundance of standard equipment soon conquered us. When we pitted Vitara S against Mazda CX-3Suzuki won, and it also defeated SsangYong Tivoli. But SEAT Arona and Dacia Duster both won the respective twin test with Vitara. So while there’s a lot to like about the Vitara, it doesn’t have a class president. Lots of owners love them, but we recommend checking out some of the alternatives before committing.
The Toyota RAV4 usually recorded as launched Compact SUV part. But that car didn’t appear until 1994, which is six years later Suzuki introduced Escudo in its home market of Japan.
Within months of its launch, Escudo arrived in the UK as the Vitara, the first road-biased mini-4×4 sold here. Although it has become a fashion icon, its tough separate chassis makes it a ‘real deal’ on the off-road.
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An all-new Vitara arrived after a decade, then a third generation followed in 2005, using a new single platform for the first time, in an effort to improve fine-tuning.
By the time the Mk4 Vitara was launched in 2015, Suzuki had caught up with its best-selling compact SUV, and although the model was more competitive at the time, it became desirable and desirable. more capable than ever.
History
Fourth generation Suzuki Vitara sold in the UK in April 2015, with a 1.6-litre petrol or diesel engine, the latter being marketed as the DDiS. Both are rated at 119bhp, but the diesel has much more torque (235lb ft vs 115lb ft) and better economy.
In January 2016, the Vitara S went on sale with a 138-horsepower turbocharged 1.4-liter petrol engine (called the Boosterjet) and a six-speed manual or automatic transmission, with a choice of front- or rear-drive transmissions. four wheels.
The 110 hp 1.0 liter Boosterjet engine debuted in September 2019 and the 1.6 liter petrol unit has been discontinued. Vitara’s nose and dash have also been redesigned. By spring 2022, the only engine on offer is the 1.4 Boosterjet mild hybrid. This was replaced in 2022 with a full 138 hp 1.5-litre hybrid powertrain.
Which one should I buy?
We only choose Suzuki Vitara with a turbocharged engine, whether it is a petrol or a diesel engine. The latter is great for towing and highway driving, but this hybrid is impressive with 50mpg in daily use. The non-turbocharged 1.6-liter engine is fine if you’re not in a hurry, but it lacks the power of turbocharged units.
No Vitara is a luxury, even with the entry-level SZ4 featuring 16-inch alloy wheels, climate control, cruise control, Bluetooth, and a multifunction steering wheel. The mid-range SZ-T adds privacy goggles, navigation, a rear parking camera, 17-inch wheels, and a DAB radio.
The top SZ5 also comes with LED headlights, panoramic glass doors, keyless entry, front and rear parking sensors, automatic headlights and wipers, plus adaptive cruise control. .
Alternatives to Suzuki Vitara
There are plenty of compact SUVs to choose from, but if you want one with hybrid power, the choices are much more limited. The front runner is Toyota‘S C-HR, looks sharp and is very reliable, but its hybrid powertrain can be noisy. The SEAT Arona looks good and has a user-friendly cabin, plus it’s well made and comes with some impressive engines; it involves Volkswagen T-Cross and Skoda Kamiqboth have similar characteristics.
Also closely related are Kia Stonic and Hyundai Konagood value, like Ford Puma, this is also great for driving. Other candidates to consider include Renault Captur and Peugeot 2008with Mazda CX-3the Nissan Juke and Dacia Duster.
What are you looking for
4WD
Suzuki offers smart all-wheel drive with every engine, but never with the SZ4 trim. It is marketed as Allgrip.
Safety kit
The SZ5 comes with a host of safety systems, including blind spot warning, lane departure warning and rear cross traffic alert.
Additional
A full-size spare wheel fits under the trunk floor. Continental tires come standard, but some owners have switched to Michelin Cross Climate.
Drag
Maximum towing capacity is 1,200kg for most Vitara models. The only exception is the 1.6 DDiS manual version, which weighs 1,500kg.
Common errors
In the years 2022 Driver source According to the new car survey, 12.8% of Vitara owners reported having some description faulty. About 20% of these are related to exterior paint and trim issues, while 80% are related to other items.
inland
You shouldn’t struggle to get comfortable in the Vitara, whether you’re sitting in the first row or the second row. There’s plenty of room, but less impressive is the quality of some of the cabin materials used. Avoid the entry-level SZ4, and there’s contrast stitching for the seat trim that lifts things up, while the dash is clearly laid out on all models.
Boot space is okay, at 375 liters with the rear seats (1,160 when they’re down), but the hybrid’s full 298-litre capacity is disappointing. The SZ4 has a DAB, CD player and Bluetooth. The SZ-T and SZ5 models add touchscreen navigation and infotainment. The SZ5 also has better quality stereo sound.
Operating costs
All Vitara are subject to servicing every 12 months or 12,500 miles, whichever comes first, with the first three checks costing £185, £245 and £215. After that, the schedule settles in. into the Minor, Temporary and Major maintenance process, costing £129, £199 and £279 respectively.
Brake fluid needs to be replaced every two years or 25,000 miles, whichever comes first, but this cost is included in the standard maintenance schedule. The use of long-life coolant in the Vitara means that the first replacement will not be due after 100,000 miles or eight years, whichever comes first and then every 50,000 miles or four years thereafter.
Thanks to the timing chain on all Vitara engines, there are no pins to replace at any point.
Recall
The Vitara Mk4 has been recalled only twice to date, with the first campaign being launched in August 2015. This affected the Vitaras being built between January and May 2015, leaving the factory disabled. software error. As a result, adaptive cruise control can brake unnecessarily, potentially leading to a collision. The solution was to reprogram the cruise control ECU.
The second recall took place in March 2016 and affects Vitaras, Swifts, and S-Crosses built between October and December 2015. The problem is that sub-standard bolts are used in the rear axle. . These can operate loosely or become damaged, resulting in line locking.
In March 2017 and March 2020, Suzuki made two other recalls for the Vitara, but these were for the previous third-generation model.
Driver Power Owners Satisfaction
Mk4 Vitara launched the new Driver Power car in 2019, placing 46th out of 75. It’s 54th in 2020, 47th in 2021 and 52nd in the 2022 poll. Suzuki didn’t shine in any field; Its only top 20 scores are braking, acceleration and all-round visibility. Its lowest points are in terms of connectivity, infotainment screen, number of standard safety kits, trunk size, interior design and lack of seating flexibility.
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