My wife has had a 2016 Vitara for the last 4 years. On the test drive I wasn’t impressed and tried to talk her out of it, now I regularly borrow it and actually really enjoy driving it. Reliable, economical and good fun. Can’t recommend highly enough.
I have held a driving licence since 1967 and over those years have driven and owned many makes and types of car. My last choice was to have a vehicle which may see out my final years of driving the criteria was to find an aspirated petrol engined vehicle, auto gearbox, SUV type design (easy access for tired old bones) light and simple to drive with lots of 'boys toys fitted" and a good carrying capacity. Good MPH was also important and limited four wheel drive a bonus. Above all else reliability was top of the list being a Suzuki ticked that box straight away. When you put that into a car search there is only one choice! I've had it about 4 years now Ok my annual mileage is quite conservative but my Suzuki Vitara is always there and willing no matter what, fit all season tyres and she seems unstoppable. I have one negative gripe and this is down to Suzuki designers, why oh why did they fit such tiny sun visors? they were obviously never tested on a sunny day, apart from that this is the only car I have ever owned that I would exchange for a newer model, but there again do I really what change it?...........no, not really.
Simple answer yes. I have the 1.4 boosterjet it is a real gem and has been very reliable too. Suzuki dealers are usually family run businesses too and and the service is a lot better that some faceless national.
We've bought a 2015 1.6 manual last year, honestly not missed a beat. Looks good, perfect for the family and dog. Test drove qashqai and Duke before buying it they were nowhere near as nice. Mpg is good.... honestly can't fault it. Thanks for the tip to wax oil it Matt 👍
Bought a 1.6 2016 model 3 years ago and it's been great. Economical, easy to enter exit, more capacious than figures suggest, good size around town. Only downside is road noise on coarse surfaces.
Matt you seem to be the only commentator who gives credit to Suzuki and other Japanese cars. Here at the other end of the world ( Australia and New Zealand )they are very popular across the range from the little ignis , swift, swift sports ,vitara and S cross. They are certainly not luxurious inside but very economical and reliable. They cost much less than in the UK for the same models so I presume some sort of tariffs are in place. Still the best car review channel on RUclips
Matt, you do the motor industry and the car buying public a great service by reviewing normal cars, the kind of cars that ordinary people need and buy. Who needs to see a Bugatti or Ferrari review? admittedly they are fun but most people can only aspire to owning one of them. Keep up the good work, it is much appreciated. The Car Vertical discount is the icing on the cake.
Hi Matt. I have mentioned before I have a DDIS Allgrip SZ5 and love it. There is sat nav, I think someone took the SD card out of yours. Boot space is ok, and with a flat load area easy for big loads (I’ve carried washing machines in the back of mine). Just driven from Southampton to Bishop Auckland in one go (ex rest stops) and it was fine. 66+mpg. The four wheel drive gives extra peace of mind for our uncertain climate. The space in the car is surprising especially in the back. I use apple car play for nav and entertainment and it goes split screen so not much need to touch the buttons on the screen. Volume etc dealt with by buttons on the steering wheel. For the money and likely longevity I cant see myself changing soon.
I bought a brand new 1.4 mild hybrid in September, it is an amazing car for the money. And the 1.4 turbo witt the electric motor have serious amount of torque, it goes!
We have a 1.4 Boosterjet Allgrip . It’s a 66 plate and it hasn’t missed a beat . The engine is great a responsive and pulls well especially when you switch it to sport mode. We get an average 34 mpg which although not the best is acceptable for a four wheel drive mainly around town driving.
I bought one of these new in 2019 when I wanted a low cost practical car. It was ace, I went for the 1.0 turbo which really went well, even on the motorway on trips to Scotland with 3 mountain bikes on the roof, 3 passengers and luggage, did 40 to 50 mpg too., really good cars.
Great video Matt and I am glad you have good words for the Suzuki. I have had Suzukis for the last 25 years including 3 Grand Vitaras and currently run a 2015 S-Cross with the same 1600cc engine, if you want reliability and decent fuel economy the you won't go wrong with this car. ( The S-Cross is slightly bigger ?).
Yeah, the armrest on a lot of newer Suzukis is a dealer fit option. You can buy one, either from Suzuki or aftermarket, and you screw it into the cubby behind the handbrake.
I've had Suzuki motorbikes in the past but never a Suzuki car. The bikes never let me down once so Suzuki are definitely on my car radar. I got the speed thing out of my system years ago so 0-60 times and top speed don't mean much to me at all. I'd much rather have the qualities the Vitara has. I might consider a Vitara as my next car.
Ditto...ex Honda bike mechanic. ( When goldwings had only four pots.). Always had Toyota's land cruisers / surfs. had one of these for a year now 1.4 booster jet. All Grip manual. Brilliant bit of kit and excellent value. Some cheap bits IE crappy sat nav. Cheap switches seems to take forever to demist in the mornings ( but we do have two dogs that swim in the sea!!) Drive in sports mode most of the time and still get close to 50mpg!! Great fun on the A roads of East Yorkshire. The four wheel drive actually works! without the weight penalty. Surprisingly big for a small car. Put it on your short list.👍
Stellar review Matt. Would opt for 1.0 or 1.4 boosterjet engine though, Suzuki underplay the bhp in them by a good 15-20% and seem very reliable with much more usable gusto. I test drove a 1.4 boosterjet Vitara S and found it great fun for such a practical, reliable offering.
I drove a 1.4 Hybrid for 2 years and have nothing but praise to speak about it. The driving dynamics are nothing much to write home about but it's really more than sufficient both in town and on the motorways and the comfort/practicality is really good. Yes, at the end of the day it's just "a car" but if you need just "a" good, solid, reliable "car" then it's a really good choice.
I have a 2018 Suzuki Vitara with the 1.4 boosterjet, it's a fantastic car. It's pretty quick, around 8,5 sec to 100km/h. The rust-proofing isn't bad on the newer Suzuki, the old ones had problems, but the newer models don't. I still wax the undercarriage though, but as I do all mechanical work myself, I've yet needed to fix anything on it, and zero rust underneath. I live in Finland, so pretty harsh winters with lots of snow and of course salt on the roads. Great AWD-system, seems a bit better than my L200 even, but I believe it helps with the Vitara being so light and lots of power.
@Jim Bird I can say I work as a mechanic part-time at my uncle whenever he needs extra hands, and I've noticed almost all newer cars have about the same rust-proofing. I've noticed that newer Volvos have had slightly worse compared and pretty much all newer (2012->) Japanese cars have been pretty good so far, probably because they had more rust problems in the past, so they put more money into fixing these issues. If you plan to keep your car 10+ years and you live in a place they salt the roads, waxing your undercarriage is a must, because all brands will be a rust bucket sooner or later if not. Of course, there are a few exceptions when the structural parts are all made of aluminum etc.
Skoda does have pretty good rust protection, but they can rust pretty badly as well without any rust-proofing during its life. Mostly sills, frame, and sub-frame rust on Skoda, but wheel well usually can rust pretty badly too if you drive on gravel a lot as stone-chips remove paint, leading to rust appearing. It all depends really on how much you drive on salted roads and how much salt they use, and if you wash your car regularly to remove it, many factor comes into play if your car will rust quicker or not.
Seems a decent car. I do like how you call out Qashqai/Juke for what they are, not particularly reliable & very dull. I mean a Grey Qashqai say, the most boring thing you could ever buy. So many about. Sad times
I do not believe it. Only today I've been shopping for one of these as a boring, mildly off-road capable company car. Thanks Matt, this one almost feels bespoke for me 🤣
I have a 2019 1.0 Booster manual. I took 4-5 small SUVs for test drives, so it was between Hyundai Kona and the Vitara , the Kona was the one I wanted but the Vitara was just better in every way. I was due to replace the Vitara after the PCP ended but after test driving 4 car’s including a Ford Puma , when I got in my Vitara it was a better drive. So I’ve paid off my PCP and I’m keeping my Vitara. On a side note I had to reject after 3 weeks the first Vitara I collected cause the car didn’t start a few times and the engine cut out 5 times whilst driving, a damaged wire was found under the carpet. It’s replacement has been great.
Great vid Matt, I've got a 2017 Vitara Turbo which I recently inherited from the wife. It's a fantastic run around for the city and I've found the 1.4 turbo to be a great performer against others in the same sector. Only downside is the quality of the finishes inside lots of hard plastics that tend to wear with kids and dogs and I've had a few issues with the "leather" seats shrinking in the sun (that's the Australian summer affect) apart from that nothing compares to the performance and inclusions with this set up. Highly recommend looking at it if you want a fun, quick city runaround. Ps loving the channel mate keep up the good work!
Great review and I've had my 2017 Vitara sz5 1.6 petrol manual for 2years and it's been an excellent car averaging about 35 mpg around town but on a recent run to Kent from Shropshire it averaged 51mpg
I'm a big fan of Suzuki's, sadly they are not sold in America anymore, I feel the quality of these is close to Toyota, so they are great buys, I love the look of this Vitara even the color, the car ticks a lot of boxes for me as I'm in my 60's, easy entry is so important as we age, I was thrilled you like it and gave it a great review, price wise Id consider it when looking at Crvs and Rav 4s, thanks a lot Matt, I do enjoy your channel, Id buy a car from you, no doubt about it.
I have a 2019 Vitara SZ5 Allgrip and I love it. The manual gearbox is great, the 1.4 turbo engine is decent and it’s surprisingly fun to drive, almost like an old school hot hatch. There is plenty space for a small package and enough luxuries like the sunroof and Apple car play. Oh and mine has an armrest! I honestly think it’s one of the best value cars around.
Brilliant video Matt! Here they are a bit less common, but the Croatian Police use them alot and they are all auto, my dad drives on offroad at the Croatian border and that Vitaras been through alot, has 300,000km and is very reliable :D
Great review Matt I have just purchased one of the same year and spec and fully agree with all of your comments. Thoroughly enjoy all of your videos fella, and this review helped confirm our decision on the Vitara.
Totally agree. I’ve got this car (2017 plate) but in red with black roof. 1.6 petrol but manual. And it’s never missed a beat. Way more reliable than my prior QQ and Juke. Sure it’s not the most exciting thing on the road. But it does what it’s meant to very well. Bought it with only 22000 miles. And I’ve only reached 43000 in two year. So had it a while and I’d say it’s a good all-rounder. Can’t really fault it. Great reviews! Love to watch them. Honest and to the point. 👍🏼
Depends on the manufacturer. Honda still has major issues with its rustproofing, but it seems to be somewhat improved with the latest generation of Civic, Jazz and HR-V. From unacceptable to underperforming. It’s a shame because those models are really among the best choices in their respective classes right now.
Looks a sweet little motor and for someone like me with Mobility issues the ground clearance seems good another great review matt keep em coming you do a great job of these videos 👍
Great video as always, been hoping for a modern vitara to show up on your channel. I have had a 1.4 Boosterjet Vitara S allgrip for getting on for 2 years. Its been one of the best cars i have ever owned. Yes its a bit plasticky inside, but when you get past this and realise how good it drives and the levels of equipment, you appreciate just what a good car they are. Myself, wife and 2 teenage kids had no issue getting all of our luggage in the boot for a two week holiday to cyprus last year. If i need additional storage i will use a roof box. Keep the great videos coming. My only complain is that a black car doesn't stay clean very long in the uk lol.
Have a 2021 1.4 Booster Jet Hybrid , Bought it with Wife in mind. I never liked Japanese other than Lexus GS previously until this brilliant car arrived. Engine is excellent, 1.4 Booster Jet with Hybrid is a superb combo. I will recommend it to anyone ,super reliable, great fun..SUZUKI NEVER BUILD BAD CARS..
Intriguing so few near you, but down here in South West Devon it's definitely the AWD vehicle of choice. I have a 21 plate Allgrip, and much is good, much is a bit tinny, and while the standard equipment of the SZ5 is impressive - adaptive cruise control, proximity sensors etc (actually more than on my Lexus RX450h) they do rather feel like Halfords special. Engine in mine is the 1.4 boosterjet Allgrip and in sport it really gets a move on as well as being really sweet. Mine is going as the Defender Td5 is way more characterful, but it is a really cracking little car.
We have the 1.0 ltr boosterjet and it's one of the best cars we've owned. The turbo makes it a laugh and a fun car when you want it to be, yet we are getting 41mpg for the usual family use.
I bought one to replace my 20yr old Rav4 which I only used as a runabout, exactly the same colour, auto, but the allgrip model, the 4WD selector has a sport function, sharpens the throttle and engages 4WD, the gutless engine comes alive! I added a centre armrest (option from Suzuki) a boot mat protector, a Suzuki spare wheel, it already had the rugged pack and rear spoiler. For local use it’s great, I average 47mpg and it’s comfortable. Long distances are hard work, a slight hill and you need to kick it down or use the flappy paddles unless you’re using the adaptive cruise control, in which case it goes berserk and does it for you… interior is tough but cheap - but my other car is an Audi. Good review, thanks. ps. Someone’s nicked the SD card, satnav was standard on these.
As a owner of that year and engine and model variant, I can say….. 1. Road tax is £165 a year ( just paid mine 28/02/23 ) 2. You had a false floor fitted like mine. I stored three suits 3 pairs of shoes and 3 meal deals under it dropped the floor and luggage on top. If removed it goes deeper, remove the carpet and space saver you have an incredible amount of space believe me. And that false floor does a little trick too 🤐. 3. Paddle shift on the auto will get used as it is quite a revvy engine if you floor it or need to over take on the m-way. Then knocks back to auto after 5 sec or revs are held for to long. It does have a manual select on the centre shifter 4. The SZ-5 satnav is excellent, I was very sceptical about it but it does the job perfect. If you launch the maps with no destination then close it and have the radio or media playing you still receive road closures, traffic jams, accident info via RDS 👍🏻. Ohh by the way for £19.99 you can pick up the latest official maps on a SD card, very old fashioned …but…. How far will your main dealer pull your pants down for a nav software update on your car🤭. It certainly won’t cost you £19.99. 5. The pan roof when opened leaves a huge hole in the roof 👍🏻 for summer ( just make sure you drop all your windows when going more than 30mph) inside that cabin is a pretty good place to be. It’s not rich it’s not poor it’s working class😁
There’s a channel on here from Australia and they are mechanics. They all say the 1.6 is the most reliable but not the fastest. I have driven both manuals and yes 1.4 turbo is faster but not needed
picked one of these up a few weeks ago for the missus wanting a higher riding position. So far seems great, one trim level down from the one in the vid, 1.6 manual, got this model as no real expensive bits to worry about after the last car really was falling apart. Perfectly adequate car that does the job nicely, no blandmobile either.
I've got the 1.4 boosterjet Allgrip. Brilliant car, powerful engine and the diveline has tons of grip in the snow but also on wet tarmac. Long distance fuel consumption is pretty good.
My parents narrowed their new old person city car choice down to two options: the Peugeot 2008 and this. They chose the former, and it’s already falling to bits.
They are literally everywhere here where I live. It's probably the best selling car here. I've driven the 1.4 DCT and I have to say I was pleased with it. The big downside for me is a small trunk, it's not much bigger than one in BMW 1 series.
Great review matt, i did ask a short while ago if you could do a review on these. So pleased you did and even more pleased after hearing what you thought of them, thanks so much for doing this review
Interesting review and a contrast to how some Americans view Suzuki. I’ve had an SX4 for 13 years (135,000 miles) from new. Been pretty reliable until recently; 5th gear has been a problem, and now the gearbox is leaking slightly. Oil and filter changes, sparks, air filters, coolant and brake discs and pads are all easy to do and ‘cheap as chips’. Just be careful with the locking wheel nut key - it’s weak and can break with the supplied tool. As it’s aged, most bolts open to the weather experience bad corrosion, but the body itself has been fairly free of rust. Not needed an alternator yet or drive belts yet, so on borrowed time. Was toying with the idea of the Vitara as the SX4’s replacement, and your review suggests it’s worth considering. Cheers.
Hi Matt. I usually drive a L322 TDV8 Westminster, but had a 1.4 Boosterjet auto Vitara from Enterprise Car Club for the day and was really impressed with it. It is different and remarkably it is fun to drive. As you say it is surprisingly spacious. There has been some time on autotrader looking at them since….
This is one of a number of cars that don't cross people's radar (myself included) but your review and the comments below have you wondering if Suzuki's marketing department needs a shake up. I'm a Honda loyalist but these look really good.
I love the 3rd generation (since 2005) and I regret for not buying it when it’s still around. If I did, I could’ve maintained it until today. Because it’s relatively cheap to maintain.. Everytime I see one of these gen-3 on the road in my eye the styling looks timeless. And it was available in 2.4L as well as far as I can remember. The next generation was not sold in my country. But the looks I still prefer the previous one. In 2013 I ended up getting new 2nd gen Suzuki Swift that I love and have it until today. But that’s another story. Suzuki when you choose the right model you can have a gem. Not all of them though especially the ones with AMT transmission (I think they call it that) that even without trying I already think it’s a garbage.
One benefit of paddle shifters is that as you hit the top of the rev range (typically while overtaking) and the acceleration "stalls", you can upshift with a paddle shifter and get more acceleration out of the higher gear...hope I am making sense....this is especially true with "weaker" horsepower engines...
Underrated cars in my opinion. I just got given a 2001 gv1600 convertible auto, great little car, unrefined but very capable off road and easy to drive on road. The only reason you don't see more of these is the British obsession with badge snobbery
Take that Suzuki badge off the front and replace it with the Land Rover emblem and you would more than double sales of these vehicles in the UK and improve Land Rover's reliability reputation. I also miss a central armrest, it just makes getting in and out of a car so much easier.
0:34 ~ Former co-worker had that version. Very sensible, indeed. (She was training to be an Undertaker.) This was a handful of years before the brand pulled out of the North American market, unfortunately.
I have a 2012 GV. The engine block gave way on the motorway when my son was driving to school. I looked it up and there was a casting failure recall up to 2011 models. Given this is a 2012, I have to think that I got one of the duff blocks. As Suzuki pulled out from the USA, I have absolutely no one to hold to accountability. I've been paying $300 a month for a motor that has spent it's last 18 months sitting dormant.As soon as I get the title, I'm selling it for parts. I have $300 worth of new headlamps and bulbs sitting in boxes. Worst purchase I've ever made
I lucked out I bought a late 2018 auto from a main dealer during lockdown for £12k I've used it for 2 years added 16k to the mileage and now been offered £12500 Park ex free motoring at its best plus 42mpg
When this generation first came out they weren't selling too well, then the company I then worked for got the contract from Suzuki to paint a load of the roofs a different colour in a bid to help sell them better.
@SI not sure how sales worked out but must of helped abit, it was on going for a year or so, then we stopped doing them, from that point I believe they were getting painted from factory.
My 2018 vitara was a 1.6 petrol terribly underpowered uphill was 2 or 3 at a pinch to keep above 30. +points utterly reliable never any issues would have kept but needed bigger car.
True but I'd take an under powered engine as opposed to a turboed engine, a turbo stresses the valve train and the extra heat degrades the plastics. The turbo also needs to be replaced down the track.
I have a 2016 sz-t 1.6. It is underpowered on hills but you just need to shift down and give her some revs. Very economical I'm on about 45mpg doing 20 miles a day on country lanes..
Wondered when you’d get round to covering the Vitara Matt, I have been driving the 1.6 petrol SZ5 Allgrip for over four years now, never had to spend a penny on it other than tyres and servicing, both inexpensive. It averages 53 to the gallon in summer and 48 in winter. The boot is bigger than the Landrover Freelander it replaces, I know this because the boot liner from the Rover fits the Suzuki except that the Suzuki boot is four inches deeper!. The Allgrip comes with all the bells and whistles, including satnav. You need to remember that some manufacturers can charge a grand for satnav, do you really need it when you have CarPlay on your phone?. No heated seats in mine, which I miss, no armrest either, but the good news is that you can get one that matches the seat trim down to the colour of the stitching for £45 on EBay. I drove company cars for over 40 years, Ford,VW,Audi,Volvo,Nissan,Hillman, then my own Subaru Foresters, E Class, Mercedes and Landrover, the Foresters and the Suzuki leave the rest behind. For economy and practicality, reliability, even comfort, Suzuki has been the best. The 1.6 engine IS the one to go for, sadly they have dropped it for these turbo three pot things which are less economical and are sure to prove less reliable, don’t understand the rationale. I think the 1.6 is a Fiat product. Viva Vitara!.
I would love to have one of these. I had a 2011 Suzuki Kizashi. It was such a special and unique car. But sadly Suzuki exited the US market before these came out. This model probably could have saved Suzuki in the US.
Can't agree more regarding keeping it simple. My wife insisted on her having a Hyundai Tucson and I insisted it had the completely unremarkable 1.6 N/A engine and a manual gearbox. So far so good. (Because I don't have to drive it...) Enjoyed the video 👍
Add fuel additives. All direct injection engines carbonise with age. Look at some vlogs on here all marques as they get older with valves being vulnerable
They can make cars for sectors that actually don't really exist, eg the X90 and Kizashi. The Balenos were a bit mundane but there again they make weird cars in Japan that we don't see, eg the Lapin.
We had a 2018 sport. Never had a car go through tyres like it did. Told the wife to stop racing in it. 1.4 turbo was quick. Would I have another one. No bit to firm on ride plus you feel every bump. You said not to many around. Come to North Yorkshire there everywhere. Great video Matt love the channel 👍
Hi Matt, I am looking at this for my new car - replacing my Toyota Avensis 2005 version on 165,000 miles. I was thinking the 1.0l Boosterjet S-zt (I think it is). 2018 plus age because I like the facelift. Super impressed by another honest review from you. I have to agree, although the Qashqai looks okay, it's French nonsense underpinnings and atrocious electrics put me straight off....and don't even mention the Nissan Joke. So, yes, I am suitably impressed. Thank you
Great review Matt! We are moving to Portugal and live down 2 miles of rocky track so need the ground clearance. I'd personally rather a Golf or Focus, but need the ground clearance... these seem like a better quality product than a Duster at around the same price used.
Thanks for that Matt....as a 'Grand Vitara' serial owner I thought the new model might be a bit of a let down....The looks are growing on me and I'd be looking for the Auto allgrip 1.6 as you rightly say less to go wrong! I don't need performance as this would be my second car and my present Grand vitara does it all, only heavier on fuel, and road tax... Think that's a good honest review mate thanks and will be the first place I look when I look to trade my car in! 👍👍
There was a time a few years ago where I used to see these everywhere. Guessing they were on a very cheap lease deal at the time. Always liked the bolder colours.
We did look at the hybrid version of this last year but the plastic interior was poor. The automatic version was some horrible double clutch version developed for the third world in other words cheap so we passed. Had we been looking for a second hand car we might have made a different decision. 🤔🤔 We are 1500 miles in on our Nissan Qashqai ePower and have to say that we love the car. Very nice to drive and no range anxiety 😁 and ideal for us and our 2 dogs. Any qualms about fit and finish can be disregarded as Nissan seems to have got that sorted. The local Suzuki dealer did seem desperate though they were very nice and I wonder whether Suzuki are in some financial bother. Perhaps you might have some insight on that. Another good honest review. 👍👍
Hi matt. Always wondered how a review would go on here for the suzukis. Good job.I have an sx4 s cross z5 auto all grip. That has the 1.4 turbo engine with 145bhp? That can shift, probably cause it weighs the same as a shed. My old man has the face lift vitara also. Great cars. Pleasantly surprised. Not as refined as a kia but then again, they are significantly cheaper. The interior quality is definitely not as high end, but its functional and durable. Small fuel tank (45lt), we both are getting about 350 miles to a tank.
I was loving the Vitara right up until we got to the small boot. But I do like it, it's a very sensible but slightly quirky car. Would prefer a 2.0L engine in it, though.
Your Video on the Lexus 430, "My Lexus LS430 is Finally Fixed! Here's What it Cost... ". Posted Jan 14 2023 I think. It is a Great video with a lot of information given out. Thanks. In that video you mention that, you took the car to a specialist who you use quite frequently and they've have never failed to sort something. My 2005 LS 430 is coming up for MOT and Service. Can I ask you for the contact info on the specialist that you use quite frequently.
The Vitara used to be a very good, fun car, especially in 3 door form with a soft top. What made them even better was that, should the occasion permit, they had a low range box for some off road fun and yes, they were surprisingly capable! This seems to have changed sadly and also disappointingly. Now granted, most, if not the majority won’t do this BUT I’d argue that it’s detracts from what the Vitara was. Whether it was a Fatboy or had pumped up suspension, it was great fun and that’s whats, I’m my opinion, is now majorly lacking in the “new” Vitara
An honest, down to earth, simple, rugged and reliable, practical car. So much more appealing than most of the high tech that infest our roads today.
My wife has had a 2016 Vitara for the last 4 years.
On the test drive I wasn’t impressed and tried to talk her out of it, now I regularly borrow it and actually really enjoy driving it. Reliable, economical and good fun. Can’t recommend highly enough.
I have held a driving licence since 1967 and over those years have driven and owned many makes and types of car. My last choice was to have a vehicle which may see out my final years of driving the criteria was to find an aspirated petrol engined vehicle, auto gearbox, SUV type design (easy access for tired old bones) light and simple to drive with lots of 'boys toys fitted" and a good carrying capacity. Good MPH was also important and limited four wheel drive a bonus. Above all else reliability was top of the list being a Suzuki ticked that box straight away. When you put that into a car search there is only one choice! I've had it about 4 years now Ok my annual mileage is quite conservative but my Suzuki Vitara is always there and willing no matter what, fit all season tyres and she seems unstoppable.
I have one negative gripe and this is down to Suzuki designers, why oh why did they fit such tiny sun visors? they were obviously never tested on a sunny day, apart from that this is the only car I have ever owned that I would exchange for a newer model, but there again do I really what change it?...........no, not really.
Simple answer yes. I have the 1.4 boosterjet it is a real gem and has been very reliable too. Suzuki dealers are usually family run businesses too and and the service is a lot better that some faceless national.
Yes that’s a good point actually
Whats the petrol/diesel like on the 1.4? I'm looking to get, but just not sure how a 1.4 will cope with the weight of the vehicle
@@Swan_Whisperer I’m running the 1.0 boosterjet and no complaints. 1.4 petrol will be fine!
@@lrob1234 Thank you. Got a test drive on Monday so looking forward to it 😊
Just gone and bought a 1.4 Boosterjet. Did the test drive and I agree with everything you both say
We've bought a 2015 1.6 manual last year, honestly not missed a beat. Looks good, perfect for the family and dog. Test drove qashqai and Duke before buying it they were nowhere near as nice. Mpg is good.... honestly can't fault it. Thanks for the tip to wax oil it Matt 👍
I have one too. The 1.6 is a bit lacking. Have to give her plenty of revs.
Bought a 1.6 2016 model 3 years ago and it's been great. Economical, easy to enter exit, more capacious than figures suggest, good size around town. Only downside is road noise on coarse surfaces.
Matt you seem to be the only commentator who gives credit to Suzuki and other Japanese cars. Here at the other end of the world ( Australia and New Zealand )they are very popular across the range from the little ignis , swift, swift sports ,vitara and S cross. They are certainly not luxurious inside but very economical and reliable. They cost much less than in the UK for the same models so I presume some sort of tariffs are in place.
Still the best car review channel on RUclips
Yes people don't know a good car.
As an owner of 8yo vitara allgrip (1.6 AT) I can confirm it is a lovely allrounder. Looking forward for next 8 years together.
Matt, you do the motor industry and the car buying public a great service by reviewing normal cars, the kind of cars that ordinary people need and buy. Who needs to see a Bugatti or Ferrari review? admittedly they are fun but most people can only aspire to owning one of them. Keep up the good work, it is much appreciated. The Car Vertical discount is the icing on the cake.
Great review Matt 👌💯,,,, always happy when you review cars that most people can afford,,,,,
Hi Matt. I have mentioned before I have a DDIS Allgrip SZ5 and love it. There is sat nav, I think someone took the SD card out of yours. Boot space is ok, and with a flat load area easy for big loads (I’ve carried washing machines in the back of mine). Just driven from Southampton to Bishop Auckland in one go (ex rest stops) and it was fine. 66+mpg. The four wheel drive gives extra peace of mind for our uncertain climate. The space in the car is surprising especially in the back. I use apple car play for nav and entertainment and it goes split screen so not much need to touch the buttons on the screen. Volume etc dealt with by buttons on the steering wheel. For the money and likely longevity I cant see myself changing soon.
You're right! Mine is an SZ-5, one level below Matt's, and mine has sat nav. They are excellent cars, we've had ours 3 months and love it.
I bought a brand new 1.4 mild hybrid in September, it is an amazing car for the money. And the 1.4 turbo witt the electric motor have serious amount of torque, it goes!
We have a 1.4 Boosterjet Allgrip . It’s a 66 plate and it hasn’t missed a beat . The engine is great a responsive and pulls well especially when you switch it to sport mode. We get an average 34 mpg which although not the best is acceptable for a four wheel drive mainly around town driving.
I bought one of these new in 2019 when I wanted a low cost practical car. It was ace, I went for the 1.0 turbo which really went well, even on the motorway on trips to Scotland with 3 mountain bikes on the roof, 3 passengers and luggage, did 40 to 50 mpg too., really good cars.
Absolutely love Suzuki…. Just got a 2014 Swift sport and how durable everything feels is one of my favourite parts of it
Great video Matt and I am glad you have good words for the Suzuki. I have had Suzukis for the last 25 years including 3 Grand Vitaras and currently run a 2015 S-Cross with the same 1600cc engine, if you want reliability and decent fuel economy the you won't go wrong with this car. ( The S-Cross is slightly bigger ?).
Nothing sweeter than when someone does wacky overtake, and then you pull up behind them a few minutes later.
Yeah, the armrest on a lot of newer Suzukis is a dealer fit option. You can buy one, either from Suzuki or aftermarket, and you screw it into the cubby behind the handbrake.
two suzuki household here, wife has a 2022 Ignis SZ5, its her second one, i have a Vitara S Allgrip.
I've had Suzuki motorbikes in the past but never a Suzuki car. The bikes never let me down once so Suzuki are definitely on my car radar. I got the speed thing out of my system years ago so 0-60 times and top speed don't mean much to me at all. I'd much rather have the qualities the Vitara has. I might consider a Vitara as my next car.
Ditto...ex Honda bike mechanic. ( When goldwings had only four pots.). Always had Toyota's land cruisers / surfs. had one of these for a year now 1.4 booster jet. All Grip manual. Brilliant bit of kit and excellent value. Some cheap bits IE crappy sat nav. Cheap switches seems to take forever to demist in the mornings ( but we do have two dogs that swim in the sea!!) Drive in sports mode most of the time and still get close to 50mpg!! Great fun on the A roads of East Yorkshire. The four wheel drive actually works! without the weight penalty. Surprisingly big for a small car. Put it on your short list.👍
My boss [ the wife ] has a Swift Sport with the 1.4 Booster Jet engine. Goes really well and it has been ultra reliable. Keep up the great video work.
I’ve had a few Vitaras. Capable, beautifully built 4wd.
Love your work 👍
Bought a 2019 Vitara 1.0 Boosterjet 9 months ago. Absolutely brilliant vehicle.
Stellar review Matt. Would opt for 1.0 or 1.4 boosterjet engine though, Suzuki underplay the bhp in them by a good 15-20% and seem very reliable with much more usable gusto. I test drove a 1.4 boosterjet Vitara S and found it great fun for such a practical, reliable offering.
I drove a 1.4 Hybrid for 2 years and have nothing but praise to speak about it. The driving dynamics are nothing much to write home about but it's really more than sufficient both in town and on the motorways and the comfort/practicality is really good. Yes, at the end of the day it's just "a car" but if you need just "a" good, solid, reliable "car" then it's a really good choice.
It doesn’t fill you fully of Confidence for the quality of the Rust proofing if you need to have it Waxed oiled every two years
I have a 2018 Suzuki Vitara with the 1.4 boosterjet, it's a fantastic car. It's pretty quick, around 8,5 sec to 100km/h. The rust-proofing isn't bad on the newer Suzuki, the old ones had problems, but the newer models don't. I still wax the undercarriage though, but as I do all mechanical work myself, I've yet needed to fix anything on it, and zero rust underneath. I live in Finland, so pretty harsh winters with lots of snow and of course salt on the roads. Great AWD-system, seems a bit better than my L200 even, but I believe it helps with the Vitara being so light and lots of power.
@Jim Bird I can say I work as a mechanic part-time at my uncle whenever he needs extra hands, and I've noticed almost all newer cars have about the same rust-proofing. I've noticed that newer Volvos have had slightly worse compared and pretty much all newer (2012->) Japanese cars have been pretty good so far, probably because they had more rust problems in the past, so they put more money into fixing these issues.
If you plan to keep your car 10+ years and you live in a place they salt the roads, waxing your undercarriage is a must, because all brands will be a rust bucket sooner or later if not. Of course, there are a few exceptions when the structural parts are all made of aluminum etc.
Skoda does have pretty good rust protection, but they can rust pretty badly as well without any rust-proofing during its life. Mostly sills, frame, and sub-frame rust on Skoda, but wheel well usually can rust pretty badly too if you drive on gravel a lot as stone-chips remove paint, leading to rust appearing.
It all depends really on how much you drive on salted roads and how much salt they use, and if you wash your car regularly to remove it, many factor comes into play if your car will rust quicker or not.
Seems a decent car. I do like how you call out Qashqai/Juke for what they are, not particularly reliable & very dull. I mean a Grey Qashqai say, the most boring thing you could ever buy. So many about. Sad times
I do not believe it. Only today I've been shopping for one of these as a boring, mildly off-road capable company car. Thanks Matt, this one almost feels bespoke for me 🤣
Haha thats a coincidence
Make an offer....
@@columcreaven8860 I'd love to buy a car from high peak one day but A) sadly by company stipulates that all cars must be
Looks very nice
I read your first sentence as the man from 'One foot in the grave' 😂
I have a 2019 1.0 Booster manual. I took 4-5 small SUVs for test drives, so it was between Hyundai Kona and the Vitara , the Kona was the one I wanted but the Vitara was just better in every way. I was due to replace the Vitara after the PCP ended but after test driving 4 car’s including a Ford Puma , when I got in my Vitara it was a better drive. So I’ve paid off my PCP and I’m keeping my Vitara. On a side note I had to reject after 3 weeks the first Vitara I collected cause the car didn’t start a few times and the engine cut out 5 times whilst driving, a damaged wire was found under the carpet. It’s replacement has been great.
Great vid Matt, I've got a 2017 Vitara Turbo which I recently inherited from the wife. It's a fantastic run around for the city and I've found the 1.4 turbo to be a great performer against others in the same sector. Only downside is the quality of the finishes inside lots of hard plastics that tend to wear with kids and dogs and I've had a few issues with the "leather" seats shrinking in the sun (that's the Australian summer affect) apart from that nothing compares to the performance and inclusions with this set up. Highly recommend looking at it if you want a fun, quick city runaround.
Ps loving the channel mate keep up the good work!
Great review and I've had my 2017 Vitara sz5 1.6 petrol manual for 2years and it's been an excellent car averaging about 35 mpg around town but on a recent run to Kent from Shropshire it averaged 51mpg
I'm a big fan of Suzuki's, sadly they are not sold in America anymore, I feel the quality of these is close to Toyota, so they are great buys, I love the look of this Vitara even the color, the car ticks a lot of boxes for me as I'm in my 60's, easy entry is so important as we age, I was thrilled you like it and gave it a great review, price wise Id consider it when looking at Crvs and Rav 4s, thanks a lot Matt, I do enjoy your channel, Id buy a car from you, no doubt about it.
They are much more enjoyable than Toyota
I have a 2019 Vitara SZ5 Allgrip and I love it. The manual gearbox is great, the 1.4 turbo engine is decent and it’s surprisingly fun to drive, almost like an old school hot hatch. There is plenty space for a small package and enough luxuries like the sunroof and Apple car play. Oh and mine has an armrest! I honestly think it’s one of the best value cars around.
Brilliant video Matt!
Here they are a bit less common, but the Croatian Police use them alot and they are all auto, my dad drives on offroad at the Croatian border and that Vitaras been through alot, has 300,000km and is very reliable :D
Ah very good
Was looking for a car for her indoors…..watches Matt’s latest video……
Goes straight on Autotrader!
Thank you Matt 😊
Great review Matt
I have just purchased one of the same year and spec and fully agree with all of your comments.
Thoroughly enjoy all of your videos fella, and this review helped confirm our decision on the Vitara.
Totally agree. I’ve got this car (2017 plate) but in red with black roof. 1.6 petrol but manual. And it’s never missed a beat. Way more reliable than my prior QQ and Juke. Sure it’s not the most exciting thing on the road. But it does what it’s meant to very well. Bought it with only 22000 miles. And I’ve only reached 43000 in two year. So had it a while and I’d say it’s a good all-rounder. Can’t really fault it. Great reviews! Love to watch them. Honest and to the point. 👍🏼
I think the 90's Japanese cars had a serious issue with rust. I don't really think that's been an issue for a long time now.
Depends on the manufacturer. Honda still has major issues with its rustproofing, but it seems to be somewhat improved with the latest generation of Civic, Jazz and HR-V. From unacceptable to underperforming. It’s a shame because those models are really among the best choices in their respective classes right now.
I have to say yes because I bought one two weeks ago-a 2021 model. I love it! My father has a 2015 model, and I’ve always liked it.
Looks a sweet little motor and for someone like me with Mobility issues the ground clearance seems good another great review matt keep em coming you do a great job of these videos 👍
Great video as always, been hoping for a modern vitara to show up on your channel. I have had a 1.4 Boosterjet Vitara S allgrip for getting on for 2 years. Its been one of the best cars i have ever owned. Yes its a bit plasticky inside, but when you get past this and realise how good it drives and the levels of equipment, you appreciate just what a good car they are. Myself, wife and 2 teenage kids had no issue getting all of our luggage in the boot for a two week holiday to cyprus last year. If i need additional storage i will use a roof box. Keep the great videos coming. My only complain is that a black car doesn't stay clean very long in the uk lol.
Hi, what kind of mpg are you returning?
I have looked at these. I am impressed with what it has and it looks better than a lot of similar cars. Another one on the list
Have a 2021 1.4 Booster Jet Hybrid , Bought it with Wife in mind. I never liked Japanese other than Lexus GS previously until this brilliant car arrived. Engine is excellent, 1.4 Booster Jet with Hybrid is a superb combo. I will recommend it to anyone ,super reliable, great fun..SUZUKI NEVER BUILD BAD CARS..
Intriguing so few near you, but down here in South West Devon it's definitely the AWD vehicle of choice. I have a 21 plate Allgrip, and much is good, much is a bit tinny, and while the standard equipment of the SZ5 is impressive - adaptive cruise control, proximity sensors etc (actually more than on my Lexus RX450h) they do rather feel like Halfords special. Engine in mine is the 1.4 boosterjet Allgrip and in sport it really gets a move on as well as being really sweet. Mine is going as the Defender Td5 is way more characterful, but it is a really cracking little car.
We have the 1.0 ltr boosterjet and it's one of the best cars we've owned. The turbo makes it a laugh and a fun car when you want it to be, yet we are getting 41mpg for the usual family use.
I liked the first gen models, very simple and capable. This newer one looks good too.
I'm actually quite impressed with that vehicle, it's something I wouldn't have even considered looking at in the past. Food for thought!
I bought one to replace my 20yr old Rav4 which I only used as a runabout, exactly the same colour, auto, but the allgrip model, the 4WD selector has a sport function, sharpens the throttle and engages 4WD, the gutless engine comes alive! I added a centre armrest (option from Suzuki) a boot mat protector, a Suzuki spare wheel, it already had the rugged pack and rear spoiler. For local use it’s great, I average 47mpg and it’s comfortable. Long distances are hard work, a slight hill and you need to kick it down or use the flappy paddles unless you’re using the adaptive cruise control, in which case it goes berserk and does it for you… interior is tough but cheap - but my other car is an Audi. Good review, thanks.
ps. Someone’s nicked the SD card, satnav was standard on these.
As a owner of that year and engine and model variant, I can say…..
1. Road tax is £165 a year ( just paid mine 28/02/23 )
2. You had a false floor fitted like mine. I stored three suits 3 pairs of shoes and 3 meal deals under it dropped the floor and luggage on top. If removed it goes deeper, remove the carpet and space saver you have an incredible amount of space believe me. And that false floor does a little trick too 🤐.
3. Paddle shift on the auto will get used as it is quite a revvy engine if you floor it or need to over take on the m-way. Then knocks back to auto after 5 sec or revs are held for to long. It does have a manual select on the centre shifter
4. The SZ-5 satnav is excellent, I was very sceptical about it but it does the job perfect. If you launch the maps with no destination then close it and have the radio or media playing you still receive road closures, traffic jams, accident info via RDS 👍🏻. Ohh by the way for £19.99 you can pick up the latest official maps on a SD card, very old fashioned …but…. How far will your main dealer pull your pants down for a nav software update on your car🤭. It certainly won’t cost you £19.99.
5. The pan roof when opened leaves a huge hole in the roof 👍🏻 for summer ( just make sure you drop all your windows when going more than 30mph) inside that cabin is a pretty good place to be.
It’s not rich it’s not poor it’s working class😁
There’s a channel on here from Australia and they are mechanics. They all say the 1.6 is the most reliable but not the fastest. I have driven both manuals and yes 1.4 turbo is faster but not needed
picked one of these up a few weeks ago for the missus wanting a higher riding position. So far seems great, one trim level down from the one in the vid, 1.6 manual, got this model as no real expensive bits to worry about after the last car really was falling apart. Perfectly adequate car that does the job nicely, no blandmobile either.
I've got the 1.4 boosterjet Allgrip. Brilliant car, powerful engine and the diveline has tons of grip in the snow but also on wet tarmac.
Long distance fuel consumption is pretty good.
Loving the mix of cars on here everything from £300 sheds to luxury barges & everything in between
Thanks! I try
Great car totally non descript and average. I ran an Allgrip one for three years and sold it a year ago for more than I paid for it. Excellent car!
My parents narrowed their new old person city car choice down to two options: the Peugeot 2008 and this. They chose the former, and it’s already falling to bits.
They are literally everywhere here where I live. It's probably the best selling car here.
I've driven the 1.4 DCT and I have to say I was pleased with it. The big downside for me is a small trunk, it's not much bigger than one in BMW 1 series.
You know what, I’ve seen loads today. Maybe I’ve just never noticed before
Is that in Hungary ?
Great review matt, i did ask a short while ago if you could do a review on these. So pleased you did and even more pleased after hearing what you thought of them, thanks so much for doing this review
Glad I could help!
Interesting review and a contrast to how some Americans view Suzuki. I’ve had an SX4 for 13 years (135,000 miles) from new. Been pretty reliable until recently; 5th gear has been a problem, and now the gearbox is leaking slightly. Oil and filter changes, sparks, air filters, coolant and brake discs and pads are all easy to do and ‘cheap as chips’. Just be careful with the locking wheel nut key - it’s weak and can break with the supplied tool.
As it’s aged, most bolts open to the weather experience bad corrosion, but the body itself has been fairly free of rust.
Not needed an alternator yet or drive belts yet, so on borrowed time.
Was toying with the idea of the Vitara as the SX4’s replacement, and your review suggests it’s worth considering. Cheers.
Something to be said for a car that just does what it needs to do everyday. Similar to range anxiety, reliability assurance is a real thing!
Yeah that’s true
Hi Matt. I usually drive a L322 TDV8 Westminster, but had a 1.4 Boosterjet auto Vitara from Enterprise Car Club for the day and was really impressed with it. It is different and remarkably it is fun to drive. As you say it is surprisingly spacious. There has been some time on autotrader looking at them since….
Nice car Matt would like to drive one nor had a Suzuki before
This is one of a number of cars that don't cross people's radar (myself included) but your review and the comments below have you wondering if Suzuki's marketing department needs a shake up. I'm a Honda loyalist but these look really good.
I got one of these as a rental in Iceland! Great car and fun to drive around!
Wow that heart came fast! Thanks Matt, i really like your content and style of presenting cars and the way you talk! Good on ya!
I used to like the old 2 door ones! They sold them in convertible too.. they were funky and quite good on rocky mountains where I lived!
Best motor I've ever owned, hands down - built in Hungary Matt
Excellent review. It has helped with the choice I have to make. It fits the budget, lifestyle and ongoing economy. Many thanks.
I love the 3rd generation (since 2005) and I regret for not buying it when it’s still around. If I did, I could’ve maintained it until today. Because it’s relatively cheap to maintain.. Everytime I see one of these gen-3 on the road in my eye the styling looks timeless. And it was available in 2.4L as well as far as I can remember.
The next generation was not sold in my country. But the looks I still prefer the previous one.
In 2013 I ended up getting new 2nd gen Suzuki Swift that I love and have it until today. But that’s another story.
Suzuki when you choose the right model you can have a gem.
Not all of them though especially the ones with AMT transmission (I think they call it that) that even without trying I already think it’s a garbage.
My wife had a 1.6 like yours but manual. She wrote it off in an accident. They are pretty safe!
One benefit of paddle shifters is that as you hit the top of the rev range (typically while overtaking) and the acceleration "stalls", you can upshift with a paddle shifter and get more acceleration out of the higher gear...hope I am making sense....this is especially true with "weaker" horsepower engines...
I would have said it’s also better for holding gears when you’re on a hill etc.
Underrated cars in my opinion. I just got given a 2001 gv1600 convertible auto, great little car, unrefined but very capable off road and easy to drive on road. The only reason you don't see more of these is the British obsession with badge snobbery
Take that Suzuki badge off the front and replace it with the Land Rover emblem and you would more than double sales of these vehicles in the UK and improve Land Rover's reliability reputation. I also miss a central armrest, it just makes getting in and out of a car so much easier.
I got one from eBay works and fits fine!
They're pretty popular up in the Highlands, you do see a good few
Still waiting for Honda Jazz,best car ever.
0:34 ~ Former co-worker had that version. Very sensible, indeed. (She was training to be an Undertaker.) This was a handful of years before the brand pulled out of the North American market, unfortunately.
I have a 2012 GV. The engine block gave way on the motorway when my son was driving to school. I looked it up and there was a casting failure recall up to 2011 models. Given this is a 2012, I have to think that I got one of the duff blocks.
As Suzuki pulled out from the USA, I have absolutely no one to hold to accountability. I've been paying $300 a month for a motor that has spent it's last 18 months sitting dormant.As soon as I get the title, I'm selling it for parts. I have $300 worth of new headlamps and bulbs sitting in boxes.
Worst purchase I've ever made
On a steady run, 60mph for 100 miles with AC off, I got 64mpg. This was in a 1.6 petrol SZ5 too.
What is the 1.6 manual engine like - is it breathless?
@@graemelightbody1144 Depends what you're used to really. 0-60 is around 11.5 seconds so it's no sports car.
I lucked out I bought a late 2018 auto from a main dealer during lockdown for £12k I've used it for 2 years added 16k to the mileage and now been offered £12500 Park ex free motoring at its best plus 42mpg
When this generation first came out they weren't selling too well, then the company I then worked for got the contract from Suzuki to paint a load of the roofs a different colour in a bid to help sell them better.
Hmm 🤔 interesting did it work out in the end
@SI not sure how sales worked out but must of helped abit, it was on going for a year or so, then we stopped doing them, from that point I believe they were getting painted from factory.
My 2018 vitara was a 1.6 petrol terribly underpowered uphill was 2 or 3 at a pinch to keep above 30. +points utterly reliable never any issues would have kept but needed bigger car.
True but I'd take an under powered engine as opposed to a turboed engine, a turbo stresses the valve train and the extra heat degrades the plastics. The turbo also needs to be replaced down the track.
I have a 2016 sz-t 1.6. It is underpowered on hills but you just need to shift down and give her some revs. Very economical I'm on about 45mpg doing 20 miles a day on country lanes..
Wondered when you’d get round to covering the Vitara Matt, I have been driving the 1.6 petrol SZ5 Allgrip for over four years now, never had to spend a penny on it other than tyres and servicing, both inexpensive. It averages 53 to the gallon in summer and 48 in winter. The boot is bigger than the Landrover Freelander it replaces, I know this because the boot liner from the Rover fits the Suzuki except that the Suzuki boot is four inches deeper!. The Allgrip comes with all the bells and whistles, including satnav. You need to remember that some manufacturers can charge a grand for satnav, do you really need it when you have CarPlay on your phone?. No heated seats in mine, which I miss, no armrest either, but the good news is that you can get one that matches the seat trim down to the colour of the stitching for £45 on EBay.
I drove company cars for over 40 years, Ford,VW,Audi,Volvo,Nissan,Hillman, then my own Subaru Foresters, E Class, Mercedes and Landrover, the Foresters and the Suzuki leave the rest behind. For economy and practicality, reliability, even comfort, Suzuki has been the best. The 1.6 engine IS the one to go for, sadly they have dropped it for these turbo three pot things which are less economical and are sure to prove less reliable, don’t understand the rationale. I think the 1.6 is a Fiat product. Viva Vitara!.
U mean the diesel??? That's what i have a s love it
I would love to have one of these. I had a 2011 Suzuki Kizashi. It was such a special and unique car. But sadly Suzuki exited the US market before these came out. This model probably could have saved Suzuki in the US.
Definitely a good work horse with bullet proof mechanics
Great video as always,really informative 👍,makes a change that a suv is slightly smaller it gets harder and harder to find one that fits in a garage 😳
Can't agree more regarding keeping it simple. My wife insisted on her having a Hyundai Tucson and I insisted it had the completely unremarkable 1.6 N/A engine and a manual gearbox. So far so good. (Because I don't have to drive it...) Enjoyed the video 👍
Haha good choice. It’s definitely the way to go to give you a better chance at it being reliable
Add fuel additives. All direct injection engines carbonise with age. Look at some vlogs on here all marques as they get older with valves being vulnerable
Have Suzuki always been a car maker who make unexpectedly fun cars? Every single one has always surprised me
They can make cars for sectors that actually don't really exist, eg the X90 and Kizashi. The Balenos were a bit mundane but there again they make weird cars in Japan that we don't see, eg the Lapin.
They're usually light which helps
We had a 2018 sport. Never had a car go through tyres like it did. Told the wife to stop racing in it. 1.4 turbo was quick. Would I have another one. No bit to firm on ride plus you feel every bump. You said not to many around. Come to North Yorkshire there everywhere. Great video Matt love the channel 👍
Shame on youtube that it showed me your video just now, after 9 days from posting it.
I've bought one at the beginning of the month. Very good car :)
Hi Matt, I am looking at this for my new car - replacing my Toyota Avensis 2005 version on 165,000 miles. I was thinking the 1.0l Boosterjet S-zt (I think it is). 2018 plus age because I like the facelift. Super impressed by another honest review from you. I have to agree, although the Qashqai looks okay, it's French nonsense underpinnings and atrocious electrics put me straight off....and don't even mention the Nissan Joke. So, yes, I am suitably impressed. Thank you
Yeah that’s the thing. I’d go with a Vitara
The 1.0 and 1.6 are perfectly adequate
OMG i was just talking to my wife literally 5 hrs ago about getting a used Vitara!! You definitely read my mind, thanks mate!!!
Hope you enjoy it!
I always think of our old family friend Colin Appleyard when I see a Suzuki. He was such a character 🙂
Cheers Matt. Good straightforward video. Looking at one of these to move on from my 07' Freelander 2.
Great review Matt! We are moving to Portugal and live down 2 miles of rocky track so need the ground clearance. I'd personally rather a Golf or Focus, but need the ground clearance... these seem like a better quality product than a Duster at around the same price used.
Thanks for that Matt....as a 'Grand Vitara' serial owner I thought the new model might be a bit of a let down....The looks are growing on me and I'd be looking for the Auto allgrip 1.6 as you rightly say less to go wrong!
I don't need performance as this would be my second car and my present Grand vitara does it all, only heavier on fuel, and road tax...
Think that's a good honest review mate thanks and will be the first place I look when I look to trade my car in! 👍👍
There was a time a few years ago where I used to see these everywhere. Guessing they were on a very cheap lease deal at the time. Always liked the bolder colours.
We did look at the hybrid version of this last year but the plastic interior was poor. The automatic version was some horrible double clutch version developed for the third world in other words cheap so we passed. Had we been looking for a second hand car we might have made a different decision. 🤔🤔 We are 1500 miles in on our Nissan Qashqai ePower and have to say that we love the car. Very nice to drive and no range anxiety 😁 and ideal for us and our 2 dogs. Any qualms about fit and finish can be disregarded as Nissan seems to have got that sorted. The local Suzuki dealer did seem desperate though they were very nice and I wonder whether Suzuki are in some financial bother. Perhaps you might have some insight on that. Another good honest review. 👍👍
Nice car matt, very underrated brand in my opinion.
Hi matt. Always wondered how a review would go on here for the suzukis. Good job.I have an sx4 s cross z5 auto all grip. That has the 1.4 turbo engine with 145bhp? That can shift, probably cause it weighs the same as a shed. My old man has the face lift vitara also. Great cars. Pleasantly surprised. Not as refined as a kia but then again, they are significantly cheaper. The interior quality is definitely not as high end, but its functional and durable. Small fuel tank (45lt), we both are getting about 350 miles to a tank.
Great review everything we need to know and no waffle what a great all round car that dosn't look ugly and has not got all black interior
I was loving the Vitara right up until we got to the small boot. But I do like it, it's a very sensible but slightly quirky car. Would prefer a 2.0L engine in it, though.
Your Video on the Lexus 430, "My Lexus LS430 is Finally Fixed! Here's What it Cost... ". Posted Jan 14 2023 I think. It is a Great video with a lot of information given out. Thanks.
In that video you mention that, you took the car to a specialist who you use quite frequently and they've have never failed to sort something.
My 2005 LS 430 is coming up for MOT and Service.
Can I ask you for the contact info on the specialist that you use quite frequently.
The Vitara used to be a very good, fun car, especially in 3 door form with a soft top. What made them even better was that, should the occasion permit, they had a low range box for some off road fun and yes, they were surprisingly capable! This seems to have changed sadly and also disappointingly. Now granted, most, if not the majority won’t do this BUT I’d argue that it’s detracts from what the Vitara was. Whether it was a Fatboy or had pumped up suspension, it was great fun and that’s whats, I’m my opinion, is now majorly lacking in the “new” Vitara
I do like these but would probably go for the 1.4 turbo version. Looks like the previous owner has gone to town with the dealer fit accessories.
Hi Matt, could you do a seat Toledo review, one of the later models? Curious to see your thoughts on this. Cheers!