Suzuki's current Vitara has been with us since 2015 and came in for a cosmetic freshen up and equipment boost late 2018.
Available in three variants, Suzuki's small SUV offers front or all-wheel drive with a choice of two engine and two transmissions. So let us get up close and personal with it to find the one that suits you.
Opening the batting is the entry-level Suzuki Vitara model, which you can specify with front-wheel drive and a five-speed manual for $23,990 drive away. For that you get:
• 17-inch alloy wheels
• Seven-inch colour touchscreen infotainment display
• Satellite navigation
• Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
• Cruise control
• Reversing camera
Eight colours make up the Vitara palette – with metallic finishes setting you back $500 – complemented by the sharper two-tone paintwork for $1250.
All Suzuki Vitara models are equipped with seven airbags and anti-lock brakes, plus other electronic safety aids including stability control, brake assist and electronic brakeforce distribution. Parking is easier thanks to a reversing camera and – on the auto transmission models – hill-hold control.
Moving up to the Vitara Turbo adds a bundle of extra safety features such as autonomous emergency braking, which warns of a potential collision and brakes the car automatically if there is no reaction from the driver, plus blind spot monitoring, rear cross traffic and weaving alerts, lane departure warning and adaptive cruise control, the last making long-distance driving easier.
While all models get a reversing camera, only the Turbo or AllGrip variants have parking sensors front and rear to take the hassle out of parking in a tight spot.
The Suzuki Vitara Turbo AllGrip is the only model in the range offering all-wheel drive and it comes with four switchable drive modes, a mode indicator in the instrument cluster and hill-descent control.
A seven-inch colour touchscreen is the operating hub for the infotainment system, displaying satellite navigation, the reversing camera view, and Bluetooth phone pairing and music streaming via Apple CarPlay or Android Auto.
Audio in all variants is heard through four speakers, and if you want a pair of tweeters to enhance your favourite tunes, opt for the Vitara Turbo.
An upmarket ambience awaits you in the turbo twins with their leather and suede seat upholstery, while the basic Vitara makes do with fabric trim.
The richer look extends to the outside of the Vitara Turbo and AllGrip with polished 17-inch alloy wheels, and all models make do with a space-saver spare.
If dusk-sensing auto headlights and rain-detecting wipers are a must, then shimmy over to the Vitara Turbo or AllGrip, Although all models have front fog lights, only the turbo twins feature LED high beam lights for superior visibility.
Are heated, electronically folding exterior mirrors with turn signals important to you? Then you must choose either the Vitara Turbo or AllGrip.
The Vitara range offers two engines.
Powering the two-wheel drive entry model is a 1.6-litre, 86kW four-cylinder that runs on 91 RON fuel. It is bolted to a five-speed manual gearbox or optional six-speed automatic transmission.
The two-wheel drive Vitara Turbo and all-wheel drive Vitara AllGrip have a more powerful 1.4-litre turbo four-cylinder engine that drinks 95RON fuel and produces 103kW. Both offer a six-speed automatic transmission as standard.
Vitara 2WD five-speed manual – $23,990
Vitara 2WD six-speed automatic – $25,990
Vitara Turbo 2WD six-speed automatic – $30,990
Vitara AllGrip AWD six-speed automatic – $35,990
There's no denying the excellent value built into the entry level Vitara and the naturally-aspirated engine bolted to the five-speed manual is far livelier than the output figures suggest. So whether I was buying to a price or not worrying too much about the finances, this is the one I'd choose.
Of course, if you intend to do a good deal of off-roading the choice is academic. It's the Vitara AllGrip for sure.