Suzuki Vitara Turbo 2020 Review

Suzuki Vitara is one of the original small SUVs. Perhaps THE original – because arguably, it competes with the Toyota RAV4 as the nameplate that started the fad.

Its star has faded in recent years but it’s still worth a look. Here we’re reviewing the two top-rung Vitaras: the $30,490 (before on-roads) front-drive Turbo; and the Turbo AllGrip AWD model which extracts a considerable price penalty (another $4000) for its expanded off-tarmac abilities.

Recently updated, the turbo-engined Suzuki Vitaras are unarguably well-equipped, practical and competent.

Sat-nav, climate-control, Apple CarPlay/Android Auto connectivity, auto-on LED headlights and up-spec, fake leather/suede seat trim are all there, explaining away the near-$8000 price gap between the Turbo and the base Vitara.

At $22,990, the entry-level Suzuki Vitara variant makes do with an 86kW/156Nm naturally-aspirated 1.6-litre petrol engine and a five-speed manual transmission (auto is optional). Even if it does come standard with sat-nav and 17-inch alloy wheels wearing the same 215/55R17 tyres as the Turbos, it misses out on most of the safety technology that’s standard further up the ladder including autonomous emergency braking (AEB).

As far as Turbo-badged, premium Vitara variants are concerned, the equipment is basically shared --except the much more expensive Turbo AllGrip AWD is crowned by a panoramic sunroof and picks up a sunglasses holder above the rear-view mirror.

Warranty and servicing are entirely competitive across the Vitara range. There’s five years of unlimited-kilometre warranty – including full-term roadside assistance – plus a five year, capped-price servicing plan.

Autonomous emergency braking, adaptive cruise control (which holds speed uncommonly well on descents), lane-departure warning, blind-spot monitoring and driver attention detection are standard on both the Turbo and Turbo AllGrip Vitaras, suggesting the current five-star ANCAP rating may continue to apply if they were tested against today’s more stringent standards. The base model, minus pretty much all the upmarket versions’ safety tech and given its five-star rating was awarded in 2015, wouldn’t.

The turbocharged four-cylinder 1.4-litre 103kW/220Nm petrol engine is consistent with current down-sizing trends. While the output figures are nothing sensational, the Vitara’s low mass mean the combination delivers a worthwhile power-to-weight ratio.

The good thing about the long-stroke turbo engine’s torque is that it comes in at a low 1500rpm, so it doesn’t take much for the urge to become evident. If there’s any turbo lag, it’s barely noticeable.

With its transverse engine layout, the Vitara is thoroughly conventional: there’s nothing to be apprehensive about, even in the Turbo AllGrip version which applies the typical on-demand AWD formula to distribute power between front and rear wheels according to circumstances.

As far as most urban consumers are concerned, the AWD systems adds weight, and considerable cost, without huge benefit. More of that a bit later.

The turbo engine is well mated to the 2020 Suzuki Vitara Turbo’s conventional six-speed paddle-shift auto transmission and the combination is torquey, pretty smooth and quiet.

There’s enough punch to induce some wheelspin and torque steer in the front-drive Turbo -- and, initially, in the Turbo AllGrip AWD as well. Overall, it’s nothing intrusive, however, and there’s plenty of urge for overtaking. The heavier AllGrip (1235kg against the Turbo’s 1160kg) is marginally slower.

Though not as frugal as the specs suggest, both top-end Vitaras are reasonably economical; moreso than the normally-aspirated base models.

Against the claimed figure of 5.9L/100km, we noted a best of 6.9L/100km in the Turbo and, not unexpectedly, a nudge upwards in the heavier AllGrip which averaged 7.1L/100km over a week behind the wheel.

The caveat is that Suzuki asks you to fill your Vitara Turbo, front-drive or AWD, with 95 RON fuel – although the handbook says E10 is acceptable.

The Suzuki Vitara is clearly no sports SUV. The all-coil system uses MacPherson struts at the front and what Suzuki describes as a torsion-beam arrangement at the rear.

The Vitara acquits itself competently when under way and, though it’s somewhat light-handed, it doesn’t lack for grip while the ride quality (even if it tends towards firm), copes well with most road-surface aberrations – though if you throw in a few sharp edges they can be clearly felt and heard.

You are, however, always conscious this is a tallish, short-wheelbase SUV.

The steering, geared to require three turns to go from lock to lock yet communicative and responsive enough, errs towards over-assistance. The payoff is that it’s light around town and in carparks, where the Vitara is also helped by a tight 10.4-metre turning circle and the excellent all-round visibility that comes from a generous supply of glassware.

The Suzuki Vitara Turbo AllGrip’s viscous-coupled three-mode all-wheel-drive system offers auto, snow and lock settings, and is straightforward to use.

In the default auto setting, it switches between front and all-wheel drive via a propeller shaft and an extra, rear differential, at the onset of front wheel spin.

For extra grip off-road, the lock setting on the rotating, centre console-located dial feeds power evenly between the front and rear ends, while the snow setting gives the rear wheels more authority than in the auto on-road mode.

The Vitara Turbo AllGrip’s hill-descent control also adds a little extra surety off-road but, with an only-average 185mm ground clearance and regular road tyres, there’s still plenty of reason for caution.

As small SUVs go, the boxy, space-efficient Suzuki Vitara Turbo edges towards utilitarian.

Well below most of its competitors in terms of overall size (it’s even smaller than a Mazda CX-3, the Vitara nevertheless punches above its weight in usability. There’s a reasonably-spacious load area that will take a competitive 1120 litres of luggage and the cabin doesn’t ask too many compromises of reasonably lanky adult passengers.

A six-foot rear-seat passenger can sit, with acceptable comfort, behind a six-foot driver provided the Vitara is not the Turbo AllGrip model with its intrusive sunroof. There’s no air venting to the back of the cabin though.

The boot is made more useful via a bit of design thoughtfulness that has created a handy space beneath the upper floor to stash away those things you’d rather not have on display. Remove this for even more space.

There’s also the usual 60-40 split-fold backrest for versatile passenger-load configurations. The space-saver spare sits underneath the boot floor.

Cabin quality, although improved in the latest version, is not class leading. Some items feel a little flimsy in terms of material selection and there’s a preponderance of cheap-looking plastic trim (though the adoption of a softish-touch upper-dash is welcome).

In both of our test Vitara Turbos, a rattling buzz from somewhere in the right-hand side of the dash was annoying.

The Suzuki Vitara has been around since 1988. A simple, compact SUV in two-door soft and hardtop form, with four seats and an AWD drivetrain, it comfortably beat the Toyota RAV4 into the local marketplace as a lightweight AWD that was markedly more road-friendly than the tiny but off-road-capable Sierra/Jimny.

The bottom line though is that the current-generation Vitara, which came to market in 2015, is being overwhelmed by a string of high-tech newcomers. And they’re proving a tempting alternative for even the most welded-on Suzuki fans.

For sure, the Suzuki Vitara Turbo and Vitara Turbo Allgrip AWD elicit plenty of affection across the SUV spectrum, but it’s time now for something more than just a cosmetic update.

How much does the 2020 Suzuki Vitara Turbo cost?
Price: $30,490 (plus on-road costs)
Available: Now
Engine: 1.4-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol
Output: 103kW/220Nm
Transmission: Six-speed automatic
Fuel: 5.9L/100km (ADR Combined)
CO2: 138g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety rating: Five-star (2015 ANCAP year)

How much does the 2020 Suzuki Vitara Turbo AllGrip cost?
Price: $34,490 (plus on-road costs)
Available: Now
Engine: 1.4-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol
Output: 103kW/220Nm
Transmission: Six-speed automatic
Fuel: 6.2L/100km (ADR Combined)
CO2: 145g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety rating: Five-star (2015 ANCAP year)