Suzuki / Vitara 1.4T GLX 6MT

It has good proportions, and the wide wheel arches give it the impression of being well-grounded.

THIS COMPACT SUV surprised me in several ways, the biggest among them being the upholstery-denting power delivery, and utter drivability of the car. Really, it’s a riot – settle in behind the steering wheel and you won’t want to stop driving.

Throttle response is sharp – the 1.4-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine punches well above its weight, delivering stats of 104 kW and 220 Nm. It’s a manual transmission, too, so you can work the revs, if that’s what’s needed. Loaded up with four adults and our luggage, the little-Vitarathat-could summited steep hills with ease – and I say ‘little’, because, for an SUV, that’s really what it is. Boot space is only 375 litres, but that morphs up to 1 120 litres with the rear seats folded flat. That being said, we fitted just fine – legroom is acceptable.

It’s subjective I know, but aesthetically speaking, Suzuki has a winner with the Vitara’s front end, while the rear is a little drab, like it was a designengineer’s afterthought.

But while the bum isn’t too noteworthy, the car has good proportions, and the wide wheel arches and high door line give it the impression of being well-grounded.

Shod with 215/55/R16 tyres on 17-inch alloy wheels, this front-wheel drive hugs the road competently, and particularly enjoys navigating tight corners – quite pleasantly unexpected for an SUV.

Inside, it appears relatively basic, but everything you need is there, and the clear dash, console and instrument panel makes for a fresh change. A 4.2” touchscreen is the interface for the infotainment system, which has Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, as well as MirrorLink.

Occupant safety is a priority, with the Vitara boasting seven airbags (front, side and curtain), ABS with EBD, brake assist with electronic stability control, and sideimpact beams in the doors.

The automaker claims a fuel consumption figure of 5.8 L/100 km, and we returned a figure a hair over six litres, which is pretty frugal in anyone’s language.

When all’s said and done, it’s really hard to fault this frill-free yet solid little SUV.

– Mark Samuel