Suzuki upgrades Jimny and Grand Vitara

Suzuki Australia has released upgraded versions of its pint-size Jimny Sierra and mid-size Grand Vitara SUVs, bringing more standard features and lower prices for both models.

As we forecast in July, the long-running Jimny is finally available with potentially life-saving electronic stability control, allowing it to be sold in Victoria.

Other new features include 15-inch alloy wheels, a new instrument meter cluster, new steering wheel and fresh seat trim, while the two-door Jimny retains its genuine off-road capability with a ladder frame, live axles, switchable 4x4, low-range ratios and good ground clearance.

Despite the extra standard kit, pricing for the five-speed manual reduces to just $20,990 drive-away (previously $20,490 plus on-road costs), with four-speed automatic versions costing $22,990 drive-away.

Chery's Chinese-made front-drive J11 crossover, at $19,990 drive-away, is the only small SUV that's cheaper in Australia.

Meantime, Suzuki has also released upgraded Grand Vitara Urban Navigator 2WD and Sport 4WD models, the former now available for $27,990 drive-away with a (four-speed) automatic transmission – down from $29,490 plus ORCs previously.

However, the entry-level Grand Vitara three-door (previously $24,990) has been axed, the range now opening at $25,990 for the GV3 Navigator, while the $38,990 Prestige five-door is also discontinued, reducing the range from seven to five models, now topped by the Grand Vitara DDiS diesel five-door ($34,990).

New features for both the Urban Navigator 2WD and Sport 4WD include 18-inch dark-silver alloy wheels, a dark-chrome front grille, chromed roof rails, chromed side bonnet fins, exclusive suede and fabric seat upholstery, and champagne-silver accents on the centre console, door trim, shift knob, meter rings, steering wheel and door trims.

Both Grand Vitara models continue to come with a 122kW/225Nm 2.4-litre petrol engine, six airbags, ESC, ABS, EBD, BA, reversing camera, a leather-clad steering wheel, cruise control, climate-control, in-dash satellite-navigation, Bluetooth connectivity and roof rails.

Sport models continue to add 4WD and front fog lights.

The additions to the Jimny, which turns 45 years old next year, and Grand Vitara, which will be a decade old next September, are expected to carry both SUV models through for another few years.

Suzuki's SUV stalwarts will be joined by the Alto-replacing Celerio micro-car early next year, followed by the born-again Vitara in the second quarter.

Based on the same monocoque platform as the S-Cross (and also expected to come from Hungary with the same 1.6-litre engines and a similar $23,000 starting price), the new Vitara will revive a nameplate sold in Australia between 1988 and 2000, when the short-wheelbase Grand Vitara three-door effectively replaced it, two years after the five-door GV's launch in 1998.