Olympian saving for new Vitara

Ian Donaldson finds Suzuki modest about economy efficiencies

FULL marks to the person at Suzuki who managed to wangle the size of an Olympic swimmingpoolintoadescription of the latest Vitara model, now made more eco friendly withamodestelectricalboost.

You see, this latest upgrade means your chunky Vitara SUV, with all-wheel drive available on demand, now emits less carbon dioxide fromits tailpipe - thereby saving the equivalent volume of 76 Olympic swimming pools.

Vitara man doesn’t say how many miles are involved for this saving, or how compressedtheCO2wouldhaveto be, but well doneall the same!

For the non-Olympians among us, the savings are down to a revised 1.4 litre petrol engine and a 48 volt battery hidden under the front seats that powers an integrated starter generator, which adds a little power under the bonnet.

It also fills in the power gaps as you change gear and lets the engine start quickly and quietly after it has been paused, saving fuel, in traffic queues and the like.

The result, over a week of typically mixed motoring and several hundred miles, was a dash readout of 47.4mpg.

Not only is that a pretty decent return in a car clearly built for a rough and tumble life, it comfortably betters the average Suzuki has to set by rule under a recently toughened official test regime.

So, job done on the economy front. It drives pretty well too, picking up its skirts and running when provoked and standing ready at the whirl of a rotary control to become a four-wheel driver if the going turns snowy or inches thick in mud.

This topSZ5ALLGRIPalso hashilldescentcontrol, which brakesforyouontrickydownhill terrain - asign that Suzuki is serious about off-roading.

Suzukis have always come with a no-nonsense air and the Vitara is no different. Building on a reputation for reliability, you’ll find a cabin that’s moreknucklerappingly firm that softly plush, but obviouslysolidandmeanttolast.

Suzuki gets the basics right, with comfy seats and enough room front and rear foragrowingfamilyandaboot that’s big enough for a supermarket dash. All the bits and bobs expected in a range topper are present too, from a huge glass sunroof, climate control, adaptive cruise control, rear parking camera and satellite navigation, with a modestlysizedscreentoshow where you’re heading.

Safety is well catered for too, warning if you reverse into the path of an approaching vehicle in a car park or beeping if you’re not braking as the car in front slows in a hurry.

Bizarrely, for acarthatmajors on sense and practicality, there are four (!) displays of the time on the dash in different positions but nodigital speedreadout, relyinginstead on a small conventional dial.

Odderstill, youcanaskthe dash to display the amount of g-force your Vitara is generating in a corner.

Bet you’ve always wanted to know that..