Small SUV Shootout
For years Suzuki had the small SUV sector to itself. Not any more, if the latest Toyota C-HR and Holden Trax are anything to go by, reckons NZSUV editor Ross Mackay.
These days, SUVS come in all shapes and sizes. You only have to look at the three we corralled for this year’s three-way comparo.
To anchor our comparison we chose Suzuki’s top-selling Vitara Turbo, an absolute peach of a small-to-medium size all-rounder with a lively 1.4 litre turbo engine sending drive to all four wheels via a six-speed automatic transmission and Suzuki’s four-mode (Auto, Sport, Snow & Lock) Allgrip AWD system.
With single colour finish our slick-looking black-on-black test car had an RRP of $37,990 plus ORC.
These days, of course, you have to be very quick on your feet to even maintain, let alone gain market share and Suzuki is no exception.
Case in point, Toyota’s all-new C-HR and Holden’s recently revised Trax. When we made a short list the C-HR was on it, albeit at first in AWD. As it turned out only a 2WD was available and it was then that we decided to see if we could add a (2WD) Holden Trax to the mix.
Built for Holden in Korea the Trax earned a spot thanks to the recent mid-life model upgrade which saw – amongst other things – new, edgier lines and a move from a normallyaspirated 1.8 litre four-cylinder engine and five-speed auto to a new-gen 1.4 litre turbo four and six-speed auto.
Our top-of-the-line LTZ model tester had 18 in. dia. alloy wheels, heated front seats, Apple Carplay and Android Auto connectivity and an RRP of $36,990,
Then there was the Toyota C-HR which has a local RRP in 2WD form of $37,990.
As interesting as the radical ‘curved edge ‘ styling is, the C-HR also breaks new ground with the smallest capacity engine, a turbocharged 1.2 litre four cylinder, and the only CVT transmission in the sample.
THE DRIVE While one wag suggested that the best way to test our three Small SUVS was to sit in rush-hour traffic on Auckland’s Southern Motorway for five (weekday) mornings in a row, I decided a mix of city and country driving was a better idea. So we headed for Muriwai via Auckland’s western wine growing regions of Kumeu, Huapai and Waimauku.
THE TESTERS Joining me (Ross Mackay) on the testing roster were colleague Mark Baker and old MX and current MTB riding mate Steve Cardno.