Suzuki Vitara (2015-2026)

Love my Vitara - even better than I imagined! – I was eyeing off the Suzuki Vitara Turbo for a few years but was put off by the gaudy red interior details on the Turbo models, which thankfully, Suzuki removed in the 2019/20 versions of the Turbo model. It looks a whole lot better inside now - the leather seats and soft touch plastics are miles above the older versions. So I bought a Dealer… Read more

Demo to save some $$ and am extremely happy with my purchase. Let me tell you why..

I adore how zippy this car is. It really has some go in it, which is reassuring for merging and getting out of tight spots quickly. It's actually hard to believe it's an SUV, it handles just as well as my Mazda 3 SP25. The Vitara provides a smooth ride and has all the safety features you'd expect from a new car, but not over the top with bells and whistles - I find the alerts are not annoying, more like polite nudges. I love the blind spot monitoring lights on the side mirrors for easy merging and lane changes.

It's comfortable, classy inside AND - a totaly unexpected bonus, very fuel efficient. I sometimes have to do a double take at the fuel gauge to make sure it's right. I haven't used the adaptive cruise control much as I just can't get used to it but it's a very cool feature nonetheless. It's true that the entertainment system does look dated, but if you plug your phone in, it doesn't matter as you won't see the interface. It can be slow to respond as well. The satnav is pretty poor but who uses in-car sat nav these days anyway? The stereo is great, very nice sound turned up on the highway for some fun cruising.

In my opinion, this is the perfect (small) family car for long drives AND for zipping around the city. It feels safe, modern and fun to drive. And it looks classy as a Landrover without the insane price tag. If you buy new you'll get free roadside assist and 5 year capped servicing. This is not an ad - I just love my car and even though I bought with a bit of hesitancy, after driving it for six months, I have zero regrets. I wanted to share my opinion for anyone considering investing in this awesome car.

The perfect combo of looks, performance and price – Was looking for a small SUV that didn't look or feel like a small SUV. After watching hours and hours of video reviews I landed my heart on the Vitara with its modest price, off-roading heritage and rugged good looks. Many call it a mini Range Rover and they're not wrong because the shape and external styling is very similar. It just so happened… Read more

that the following week I saw an S Turbo in just the right colour (the safari with a black roof) and it was love at first sight. Forget what they say about cheap interior because once you are inside and up close, it is the last thing you will notice. One thing that is a common thread amongst reviews is that it is fun to drive and boy does this car put a smile on your face everytime you hop on the driver's seat. With its miniature weight and powerful turbo engine it handles like a hot hatch. What not a lot of reviewers talk about is that the Vitara is actually classified as a semi-automatic which means you can put it into manual mode and use the paddle shifters to change gears. This is where the performance of the Turbo engine really shines. A funny thing that happened was I actually thought the car stalled because the engine was so quiet when I came to a stop! The USB port though was a little glitchy but it might be due to the constant pulling and tugging causing the connection to come loose, but that's an easy fix. Overall extreme pleased with my purchase.

Love the fuel efficiency – Bought the car second hand and I love it more than I thought I would. For long distance trips I'm getting 5.5 litres per 100km. Very easy to drive, and everything is practical and easy. Show details

Great car for going to the shops – Bought this car in 2016. Didn’t think I would ever go to a smaller cc than the 2ltr Mazda 3 I had before. So I was quite surprised about how much go this little car has. The only time it may have been a bit sluggish was carrying 4 people and towing a trailer with camping gear down the south coast. There is a rattle in the front passenger’s seat… Read more

and the gears are a bit choppy when traveling at low kms , so that’s what the manual gear is for. Used on a daily basis for work and going to the shops and where ever. It’s approaching 165000 kms and still going strong and serviced every 10000km.

Great fun car – It's drive is smooth and has turbo power when needed .... I for one do like the interior and I do prefer the hard plastic that others don't , the soft dash can split in time so I'm happy the way it is ..... Mileage is great bought in 2017 , no problem at all .... would buy again ......

poor experience with Suzuki – the car has had electrical problems from day one it was rejected as per consumers act they have totally ignored the act as its to costly to take to court we still are waiting for repairs to be undertaken wouldn't touch a Suzuki with a barge poll because the company knows there's problems and are not fixing them after three years of complaints Show details

After sales disappointment – The car is ok, i've had rattle noises from the dash and around the front seatbelt areas since i purchased the car. I've complained at every service, brakes have been squealing for the past 3 and no one seems to care. The rattles are that bad i don't want the car anymore. Show details

Great car but known Android Auto fault not made public – I use my vitara daily and it is a great, compact car that is easy to drive, park and manoeuvre in heavy traffic and out in the country. Being a music freak, the main selling point was the Android Auto/ Apple iPhone functionality but when I purchased the car there was no mention of the known fault that prevents some iPhones and Androids from… Read more

connecting/ working. I have escalated this through the dealership to Suzuki QLD and have been advised by them that this is a know issue and I just have to wait until their tech people come up with an update to fix the problem. Would have thought Suzuki would have some duty of care to disclose this but other than this issue I love my vitara and hope that they have this fault fixed ASAP.

the thing is with Suzuki models they rearly brake down 5 year warranty on new models parts are not expensive cheap to run .they are comfortable to drive is a good car for the wife to drive or the familly to travel in. Show details

Under-rated great little car – I am a motoring enthusiast, but I'm not a snob. This is my daily drive and I love it. Great fuel economy. Easy to drive. Bullet-proof reliability. Had mine for 5 years and have only changed the fluids. Compared to most things on the road these days, this is a simple car that is surprisingly well built. Typical Japanese quality (okay, it is made in… Read more

Hungary, but still Japanese designed). I know that Toyota and Honda are renown for their reliability, but they are both increasingly making their cars too complex and lowering quality standards. Whereas Suzuki keep it nice and simple --- less to go wrong, but yet everything that is needed. It might not be perfect, but it is perfect for my needs. Yes, I still love my two classic Australian V8 muscle cars and my 40-series Cruiser for the weekend, but for trips around the city, my Vitara is the car I take out. You aren't going to win any drag races, but for a cheap and reliable car, this thing is terrific.

Not worth for money, with comparing the other small suv’s – It’s not worth for money, out dated interior. Especially connection problems with mobile. Too noisy engine. Very easyly will Move to gear 1. Too expensive too run premium fuel.

Funtastic – Bought new in 2018 from Peter Davey Suzuki Ray the salesman was very helpful and easy to deal with Dealer services fixed price and always have had great service from dealer Battery overcharging issue after 2 years and dealer advised and replaced battery no hassles car performs well and is very reliable and great value for money have just replaced… Read more

the original tyres with Michelin Primacy 4 and they are much quieter than the original Continental tyres about the same replacement cost also Apple car play works well and waze is great on the screen with traffic updates and detours I prefer the 2018 model grille to the later types may fit a towbar at some stage drive mostly city and have lots of weekend country drives (when not in lockdown) love getting well over 700 klm per tank every time

Great car! – I have had this car for 6 months and I love it! It runs so well and is such a nice car to drive but I do have some cons: it doesn’t have the option to automatically lock the doors when you start driving. The radio screen has restarted itself a few times and it doesn’t have a lot of power when taking off all minor issues though. Overall I would definitely recommend this car to small families.  Show details

Perfect car for all adventures! – Reliable car - never had any problems with it since the day I bought it brand née 5 years ago. Car is used daily and for the entire family including the dogs. Car is serviced regularly every 3-6months as required. Had to change tyres once in its time and only ever had to replace battery once as well. Only down side is the boot isn’t the… Read more

biggest. So I do struggling to put two dogs there, with the kids in the car too. Usually the dogs can’t come when the kids are too. :(

Best car we’ve owned – We have the 2018 turbo model and we’re not at 50,000km and haven’t spent a cent on it other than serving and tyres. It’s light, well equiped and punchy with the turbo. We tow a trailer with it and you can’t even tell it’s there even on hills. Love this car, we will drive it till it dies and then buy another one. Show details

Great small tow vehicle – Bought as main car for city driving, towing small boat (350kg) and odd long hauls. Lightly loaded on open road it has plenty of power for overtaking, a bit to much sometimes. With boat in tow and weeks dive gear for two it is effortless towing on open road, rarely goes above 3000rpm even on big hills. Still plenty of power for sensible overtaking… Read more

with boat in tow. Active cruise control makes for relaxed driving. Sports modes is ideal for windy hilly roads, holds gears between corners and tends to stay in power band. Far better handling on tight roads than you'd think for SUV.

Driven 1.6 a little for work, lot less relaxing to drive motor as motor is working lot harder. OK if lightly loaded but it wouldn't be my first choice for long haul towing even light trailer. They also miss out on all new active safety equipment.

Unless towing the 1.0 Turbo with active safety gear would ideal for most people. Its a pity Suzuki doesn'tv offer it in Australia and NZ markets.

Edit. 24000kms later. No problems with car. Just started towing 1100kg caravan, handling wise car definitely knows it is there. I keep it at 80-90kmhr which also helps consumption 10.5-11L/100kms. Handling may improve with time once I play around loading caravan. Power isn't issue on hills, seems to spend more time in 5th than 6th on flat based on revs in Auto mode. Never felt need to use it in manual mode as Auto is perfect match for this motor's low end torque.

Had to one steep gravel driveway to tackle for a camping ground which was no problem with AWD, doubt FWD version would've made it.

With bikes on back open road economy is 6.5-7L/100km at 100km. Rarely travel without bikes but guess 6-6.6L is realistic. FWD should do slighly better. Around town running is 7.5L but that involves lot of hills should be considerably better for flatter city.

Amazing car, with a serve of faults – This car is my everyday driver. I use it for work (aged care community care worker) and personal. I get this car serviced whenever its required and is always checked regularly up kept, and my machanic is not mentioned any issues in the car, as yet. Show details

Love this car – I drive my suzi in a variety of places daily; up and down a lot of hills, on open roads, on freeways and in the city and im in awe of how it handles it all comfortably and effortlessly. The turbo is punchy, responsive and immediate and she handles corners and inclines like a sports car, i love the feeling of space in the cabin, not lots of moulded… Read more

plastic taking up airspace. The height of the car is perfect, easy to get in and out of and the seats are very comfy, even on long drives.The phone speaker is great quality and people are often surprised when i tell them I'm in the car as there is very little vibration and back noise, ive had it now for 1 1/2 years and as silly as it sounds still get excited when i see the bright dual colour in the carpark , jump into the driver seat and zoom off

Great small car – The Suzuli Turbo is our city commuter and gets used for some quick trips interstate. The motor is a gem - always punchy and very economical but needs 95 octane. Overtaking is easy - put your foot down and it flies. The 6 speed auto and paddles are good. Limited storage space but space enough to replace the spacesaver with a full size spare. No issues in 2 years. Show details

Nice car but Suzuki can do better – I am satisfied with overall performance but it makes a weird noise when I release the brakes after putting it into D, got it checked with dealer but he says everything is fine, also I don't like the fact that Car's service was done at ford service centre (apparently Suzuki has given the service contract to ford or something). Overall I like the car and features and car is a keeper but still I think Suzuki could do better. Show details

Great car – This is our second Suzuki Vitara turbo, we traded a 2015 Vitara Turbo for a new 2019 Vitara Turbo front wheel drive to get the latest safety tech. Both cars are easy to drive and have had no issues. Good on fuel around town, services are 2 a year. If you are looking for a city SUV the Vitara is a great choice Show details

suzuki vitara – best car i have ever owned, love it, easy to get in and out of, smooth ride, love the two tone colour, key less was not necessary i feel, but its there so ok, mechanical is runs quietly and has the power , also have taken on 4wd track, went wonderfully, no complaints, Show details

Perfect Car – I love this car and you cant ask for anything more for the amazing price. Its easy to park and has plenty of boot space, being a music freak the only disappointment in that area is there is no CD player. Although I love this car the fuel economy is really bad, it does not cope with inclines of any type and its the worst automatic I have ever… Read more

driven, it revs out and hates to change gears. All in all the look and features of the car are second to none, but don't get an auto, it will let you down.

Packed with excitement! – I use this car everday for work and also for looking after the grandchildren. I like Suzukis in general just for the internal space they provide for strollers, luggage etc. I absolutely love the turbo boost on this vehicle it really gets you up those hills and in and out of traffic. It has also pulled our trailer for camping without any worries.… Read more

There is a wide range of colours but I couldn't go past the turquoise pearl metallic. This vehicle is serviced regularly with no unusual findings and continues to breeze along with its rear parking camera, usb connection and other perks.

Love my Vitara - everything you need – Bought brand new in Aug 2018 as our new family every day car. I am so happy with it mechanically, tech wise and looks. The Vitara has everything you need and at a very reasonable/affordable price. Drives well long distances and is easy to get up step inclines without too much lag. Fuel consumption has been amazing as well. It offers great cabin… Read more

and boot space with comfy seats. Absolutley would buy again and will be recommending the dealership again and again!

I love my car – I love my car it’s my everything but I must say it doesn’t pick up spend well if you are trying to pick up speed on the smallest of inclines the car cannot cope and revs high!! And the fuel economy has not been great after the first 12 months.  Show details

Very good car - simple and you cannot beat it for value – This car is by no means a performance SUV the 1.6L Is just adequate for city driving and it will not complain if you push it. You need to get past 4,000RPM to get any meaningful performance out of it such as overtaking and for uphill driving it is better you get into 'manual mode' and down shift on your own as the transmission has been tuned for… Read more

economy and it will always select the highest gear available.

If you need any more performance than that you need to be looking at the 1.4L Turbo. The price for what you get is hands down the best value small SUV on the market. The closest in price (at the time) was the Mitsubishi ASX but it was thirsty, ancient, heavy and that horrible CVT auto is subpar (although a much larger car inside).

Pros:

Very fuel efficient the 1.6L engine clocks below 7L/100kms and this is urban driving with a lot of stop and go traffic.

One thing that the Vitara excels at and a lot of people complain about in modern cars is visibility, is that it has excellent visibility all around with big windows! It is so easy to park and drive around the city!

The Vitara has one of the best conventional 6 speed auto transmission I have driven. Its gear changes are smooth and it is very responsive from the get-go. (This is coming from the 6 speed Mazda Skyactiv which I Had problems with from day 1 rough shifts and jolts!)

It drives and handles really well for what it is, the steering is very very sharp (albeit a little sensitive for some) the braking is very powerful (albeit a little sudden for some) the overall handling is great and believe it or not that 1.6L engine is so punchy due to the car being so light! (not sure how the car will fare on the highway but I don't think it will fare well).

It has inclusions that feel ''premium" and most other brands will not give you in their entry level variants; such as LED running lights, a great GPS system, top quality reverse camera, paddle shifters (for the auto), nice looking alloy wheels, darker privacy rear windows and even LED welcome illumination on the front driver's and passenger's foot wells (Mazda charges over $200 just for the welcome illumination!)

The infotainment is excellent, the touch screen is very responsive (albeit a little small) and it comes with standard android auto/apple car play. I am comparing this to the horrible MAZDA MZD Infotainment system which is laggy, outdated and the touch screen cannot be used once the car is moving! Oh and they will charge you $500 for Android auto/Apple carplay (Shame on you Mazda)

The interior is very simplistic but very well thought out with ample space for what it is and excellent rear leg and headroom for its class which is better than a Mazda CX-3and on par with a Hyundai Kona (And those cars are more expensive).

Boot space is also one of the largest of its class (375L vs Kona 361L) which is a plus for a small family and it has the added dual floor for extra storage underneath!

Suzuki has accessories galore and even though a lot are very expensive at least you get the option to customize your vehicle and if you can bargain at time of purchase you can get some accessories thrown in for free!

Cons:

The speakers are below average but for the audiophiles there is an premium upgrade speaker option! (not sure how much that would cost but I assume it will be an expensive upgrade from the dealer so if you are in the market and like your music try to get that thrown in for free from the dealer when you buy!).

Service intervals are very short 10,000 or 6 months (if you purchased before Nov '19) - for those who do not do many Kms like myself it means I will have to visit the dealership more often and they are not cheap averaging $250 per service which is over $500 per year.

The warranty is 5 years which is a plus but there is a catch - you need to have all the services done by a Suzuki dealer otherwise it reverts to a standard 3 yr (as of November 2019 Suzuki have reverted to 5years with yearly services and no obligation to service at the dealership, 15k for the non-turbo and 10k for the turbo models).

Do not expect any advance safety tech (I think this is where a lot of reviews are taking away points here from the Vitara), there is no blind spot monitoring, no lane assist no forward collision etc However to be honest a lot of these are more of a distraction than anything and if something goes wrong they are just another problem to fix. Personally I do not see that as a con.

Of course interior plastics are hard so do not expect a premium feel at this price or category but I find this a plus if you have young children who love to touch everything - the hard plastic is easy to clean!

The front seats feel a little flat and lack lumbar support in my opinion this car is not suited for long trips, after 45min to an hour i begin to have back pain. It is more suited for small/slim people.

Expensive accessories, to give you an example front+rear mudflaps will cost you over $250 dollars. This is ridiculous someone like kia will charge $150 or so.

Cabin noise level is below average but again this is expected, you can see where they have cut costs, there is no sound proofing at all (or at least it seems that way). Something like a Kia cerato is way quieter.

The interior space especially on the rear is still small for things like baby seats - remember this is a SMALL SUV and the wheel base measures 2.5metres which is the equivalent of cars like a kia RIO! This car is not recommended for long trips or families with want to fit more than 2 baby car seats. (You will never get 3 baby seats fitted across the vehicle just isn't wide enough).

All in all this vehicle should be selling way more than it currently is however I believe a lot of people do not make informed decisions and get caught up in the hype buying what is ''trendy'' without thinking of practicality. Also a lot of ''expert" review I see online are very unfair on the Vitara as a lot of scores are very low, I used to own a Mazda CX5 and I can honestly say this is a better product, less gimmicks, no istop or other electric crap you don't need and way more practical and easy to drive around the city but the CX5 of course is a much larger vehicle and on a different category (proper comparison would be a CX-3).

great car but auto transmission rough changing from first to second – 2015 rts 1.6 lt have been happy so far car runs a lot better with 95 octane fuel . Only issue i have had is a rough gear change from first to second when driving hard. Wonder if this normal would love to know if anyone else has this issue.  Show details ·  1

complete city sub compact SUV – bought after having grand vitara for six years. only issue with grand vitara was fuel efficiency and my vitara is the answer for that. not a 4 wheel drive but fun to drive and easy to park. and good with goodies like reverse parking and sat nav. its fun to move around city. i manage to get 15 km / liter on my way to work and back and 13-15… Read more

km/liter on busy sydney roads and 17-19km/liter on highways. negative point is its not a car for over take or speedy moving but its worth the cost. and very soft on wallet by seldom trips to fuel station

The car quality is very poor and Oakleigh customer service is worst – Wrongly decided to buy this car as the quality of material is very poor. Some of the parts broken as soon as i bought it. Went to the service center to get replaced and they were not happy and raised the issue with Suzuki Australia. Then the service center agreed to replace but after few weeks the same part broken again. I am fed up making complaint again.  Show details