Suzuki Vitara Owner Reviews: MPG, Problems & Reliability

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As with my previous Suzuki Grand Vitara ddis 1.9 Diesel (Renault Engine), totally reliable, comfortable and easy to drive, however this 'New Vitara ddis 1.6 Diesel (Fiat Engine) has much more low down pull than the 'old' Grand Vitara , and has literally cut fuel costs in half !!! - Brilliant, Cheap, Comfortable, Reliable and better styling than other cheap SUVs, more than enough room for 4 when needed, what more do I want?

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Yes Green thumbs up

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My excellent 4x4. Go anywhere car. Italian Dolomite. No chains in snow. Good tyres that's all. Perfect for conditions. Autobahn driving is a delight. Solid at high speed. Cruising regularly at over 100 mph. 63000 miles later and regular synthetic oil changes, this car has no oil consumption. It's the best car for me and my disabilities.

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

Yes Green thumbs up

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We've not had our Suzuki Vitara long but in the few weeks we have owned it, we have been really impressed. Nothing that we have had before or tried comes close to the value for money that this Vitara represents. The ownership experience has been great - and although its still relatively new I don't think anything else comes close for the money that gives the same level of driving experience, build quality and basic spec of that this car does. It even looks very stylish! Great work Suzuki.

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

Yes Green thumbs up

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I love the look of the Vitara, I love driving the car, but have found the electrics a nightmare. Two weeks after purchase the radar braking sensor started going off for no reason. The car went back to the dealership four times and was recalibrated three times. I was told it was a feature and to manually turn it off? Not a good safety feature. The indicators won't cancel at times, causing drivers to flash at me on dual carriageways when I change lanes, rather dangerous I feel. I have had the car 9 months and now it is overriding the auto start/stop feature. I switch the system it off as we live in a hilly area and I don't trust the car to restart on a hill. We have had 3 Jimny's and the Vitara but would not buy another Suzuki now.

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

No Red thumbs down

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I think that I am on a different planet. The last car I owned was a Saab 1.9 linear sport, and I have driven most makes on the market, now the Suzuki Vitara. Very impressed with this vehicle easy drive position, parking is a breeze if you don't use mirrors, instead using the camera for the perfect parking position. The 6 speed box has customary gear reminders, 1.6 engine exceeds speed limits easier than the Saab did, the comfort rating is approved by my elderly mother and this is the only vehicle I have fallen asleep in whilst waiting for the wife. Design and layout are great (my mates say it's a poor mans Range Rover with attitude.) and I could go on. No minor / major defects or niggles. A great fun drive.

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

Yes Green thumbs up

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I am very pleased with the Vitara, mpg is very good, plus when driving the diesel the engine is not noisy and the stop/start works well. Being tall I do not have any backache after a long journey.

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

Yes Green thumbs up

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We bought the car new two and a half months back. First off, I’d like to correct a couple of misconceptions from other reviews listed here, “The auto stop-start has a mind of its own”, this is exactly how it’s designed to work. If the engine has not warmed up sufficiently and/or you’ve cranked the heat up on a cold day or vice verse on a hot day, the stop-start will correctly not operate. Secondly “the doors are flimsy”. If you do your homework you will find that Suzuki have made use of high tensile light weight steel to save weight. It still has a 5 star Euro NCAP safety rating. That said, the tailgate does need a firm push to close. I was mindful of the often-reported overly sensitive brake radar system. I have not found this to be a issue. I’m getting 38mpg round town, 46-50mpg on the motorway driving in the low 70’s mph and a recent half hour gentle run between 30 and 60mph got 55mpg and then I caned it for the return journey in sport mode and got 35mpg. It’s an excellent motorway cruiser when the adaptive cruise control is turned on which works a treat, it’s a capable town-cum-shopping car and is good fun on the twisties. The steering could do with more feel but day-to day its fine. The sat-nav works very well although the display is a little narrow top to bottom. The gear box is a bit clunky from 1st to 2nd but this will probably improve as we’ve only covered 2300 miles so far. I also have Seat Leon 180hp 2.0 diesel company car but always prefer to take the Vitara as it’s so much more fun. The seats are comfortable and we've had heated seats fitted by the dealer as it's not an optional extra in the UK. After a recent 6 hour motorway trip O can honestly say I had never felt less tired and frayed at the end of a long journey. The 1.4 engine’s power and performance belies its size, it puts out more bhp AND torque than Mazda’s 2.0 petrol SUV and comparing this engine to something from the 80/90s, a Ford XR4 2.8 litre petrol produced 150ps and 216nm torque, the boosterjet 1.4 140ps and 220NM - that's MORE torque for an engine half the size, that’s what a turbo charger can do. I would say the petrol engine has met its zenith before hybrids become more the norm and cars get heavier and more boring to drive. I looked at all the other compact SUV’s on the market, nothing gets close for money. Suzuki basically invented the SUV before it was so-named and unlike the other brands has a long history of making 4WD/AWD vehicles if you’re looking for the AWD option. This is the second Suzuki we’ve owned and do feel as a brand Suzuki are possibly the least pretentious brand out there. So far I have had no problems whatsoever. One final top tip, if you do certain jobs in the public sector, Suzuki will do you a hefty discount. For us it was £4500 of RRP and is refereed as “Tier 1 discount” at the dealerships. Don’t miss out.

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

Yes Green thumbs up

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The good - 1.4 Boosterjet engine is a peach. The bad - Fuel economy is nowhere near the advertised figure. The ugly -Electrics, the radar brake warning sensor operates when it feels like (but not in snow or rain). Automatic lights are hit and miss. I don't like the active cruise control that slows the car as I approach another to overtake.

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

No Red thumbs down

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I wanted a smaller, lighter, petrol SUV after owning an Hyundai ix35 diesel for the last 3 years. The Vitara S fits the bill nicely; it has good specification and a good camera makes parking easier and satnav seems ok. Driving height and visibility are good. The ride and seating are slightly hard but suits my back problem and is comfortable for a long journey.

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

Yes Green thumbs up

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As the time goes buy, I'm loving my Vitara more and more. Deciding to buy it instead of a family wagon (Kia Ceed being the first choice) was an excellent decision in my case. I'm very fond of the design, and it seems to be very attractive to other people as well - received compliments on the car (and especially the color) numerous times from strangers, and people do notice it regularly on the street. Given that it is a small and very cheap crossover, it certainly delivers excellent practicality and bang for buck - it feels like a more expensive car, equipment is ample, and is a joy to drive and use more than I would have expected. If you keep in mind the price and forgive cheap materials here and there, and don't expect exhilarating performance, you'll find yourself loving how much you got and being proud of your car, which you don't usually expect in this segment. I can recommend Vitara as a more exciting choice to a small family car and especially compared to rivals such as Nissan Juke and Renault Capture. It is close to being compared to Qashqai and Sportage, for ~30% smaller price.

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Yes Green thumbs up

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Though I've only had the car a few weeks I have to say that I'm very impressed! Some of the plastics are not up to the same standards as Audi or Lexus but then I haven't paid their prices either. Negatives: Steering wheel audio controls on the same side as the radio. Why? Reach an extra three inches and touch the screen! Lights don't go off when the ignition key is removed. Positives: Large interactive media screen Sat nav Bluetooth DAB radio Rear parking camera Great boot space Good ride Great fuel economy I could go on but it would take ages! If you're looking for an SUV that's cheaper than a Qashqai or a Mokka but with more toys and a great ride... get a Vitara!

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

Yes Green thumbs up

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Having done 2000 miles, I like the car overall. I am impressed by the fuel economy and the responsive engine. I like the adaptive cruise control and it generally drives well – especially on the motorway. Drawbacks include the restricted rear door entry and the infotainment system – it's very basic.

What's the one thing you like most about your car?

Adaptive cruise control

If you could improve one thing, what would it be?

Infotainment system

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

Yes Green thumbs up

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Really pleased I chose the Vitara and each day I look forward to driving it. It looks really good externally and so much better than many of its rivals. The glass area from the driving position is huge and I love the forward view. However, I long for the day when such cars have a more upright driving position with lower dash and massive screen area, but none of the manufacturers have yet taken such a step. A significant plus from me is the front seats where the cushion area is almost level. Most of the competition SUV's seats dip down 3 or 4 inches to the rear of the seat cushion which isn't compatible with how the spine is shaped. All the controls are nicely at hand and I find the entertainment system easy to use. Driving the Vitara is an absolute joy. The 1.0 turbo engine is surprisingly quick for such a small unit and the response is smooth with good low rev pulling power. The gearshift is okay, but has a long shift rather that the slick short shift of some of the competitors. The car holds the road well with little lean on corners. Brakes, suspension and steering are what you expect from a modern small SUV. Loads of room for 3 in the back and the boot has a low flat floor level. While the dash area has been greatly improved in this latest model, it is let down by hard plastic finishes to the inside of the doors. Seat matching cloth finish to the top section of the front doors would be a great upgrade and would improve the interior feel significantly. The only problem to date is one that has been reported by other Vitara owners and that is the passenger seat belt rattles against the hard plastic door frame when the front passenger seat is not in use. In summary, it is a truly fine car that has exceeded all my expectations to date.

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

Yes Green thumbs up

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This is our third Suzuki Grand Vitara. It's a very disappointing purchase and in no way compares with the other one I own which is a 1.9 DDIS with 225000 Kilometers on the clock. This new car is very basic and does not reflect the price paid for it € 25,000.00 a few months ago. There are quality issues everywhere so too numerous to detail here. The short of it all is I would not recommend a purchase.

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

No Red thumbs down

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The Suzuki Vitara has lots of positives. For an SUV that can really hack it off-road, this is a very good car on the road as well. The 1.4-litre BoosterJet is a peach of an engine and never seems short of power; put it in Sport mode and it is fun to drive on a twisty road. The ride and handling are fine and it's roomy for a small SUV. Fuel consumption is good for this category. It's a very well packaged car. The negatives. Yes, the steering could be better but it won't bother you in most circumstances. The gearbox has gone a bit notchy and the electronics are not the best. The sat nav is awful and we get an intermittent false alarm from the emergency braking system. The stop-start has a mind of its own but again these are niggles. What does bother me is that I find the trim ‘tatty’ and the doors feel as though they are made of paper! Having said that it is all actually well put together, even if it doesn't always seem like it. We are changing the car for the 2019 model where we hope some of these niggles will have been put right! Certainly the trim and finish in the new SZ5 seems much better but time will tell. This is a good car and with the right improvements could be even better.

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Yes Green thumbs up

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Having owned this car for only 4 months I can't comment on its long term reliability. Purchased as a second car for holidays, dog transport and caravan towing, it hasn't disappointed. In fact it has become our preferred car for any occasion because it is so pleasant and nippy to drive. When I say nippy, it does bring out the hooligan side of me, due to its light weight, oodles of low down grunt that when sport mode is selected it will leave my wife's Audi Allroad 170 for dead from lower speeds. It's that responsive. It's Really comfortable and brilliant at high speed cruising whilst averaging 55mpg and not driving like a saint. All its systems work superbly, the lights are awesome, the air-con is very effective and easy to use, adaptive cruise makes using the cruise control a pleasure. It's just a shame that so much of the interior is built down to a price. Otherwise it's super little car so far.

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Yes Green thumbs up

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I bought this as a dealer ex demonstrator car. I tried the 1.6 petrol engine first but the 1.4 turbo engine is miles better to drive. In fact it is a joy to drive, but, like many other owners there are issues. The automatic stop only works when it wants to and some of the warnings and alerts seem to have a mind of their own. I have had two Grand Vitaras and a Jimny in the past and I like this car but I am unsure about the electrics and its longevity.

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

No Red thumbs down

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The Vitara has been a dream to own and drive. Only issue was a drive shaft oil seal leak in the first week which was dealt with immediately by the dealer, and Suzuki gave me £300 worth of accessories as a compensation for the fault. We have two dogs and by folding the rear seats and removing the rear headrests we have obtained a completely flat floor to put our dog crate on, helped by the false floor cover. The Vitara is one of the few cars that we looked at that this was achievable that was in our price range and fitted our lifestyle. The SZ4 is the only model with a CD player which is great for our large collection of CD music. This specification does not include the rear camera so we had rear sensors fitted which are very useful. In fact the only fault that we can find in the car is that where we listen to BBC local Radio Solent a lot, when the nearby stations have traffic announcements in changes to Sussex, Berkshire or Wiltshire BBC local radio!

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Yes Green thumbs up

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My wife brought the new Vitara S 2016 model. The car has a high spec of equipment and looks but the car has basic flaws that the dealer has a problem rectifying or even denies the car has. First off the front windows do not stop when going up, so much so the whole door panel judders as the window thumps on the door frame. The dealer has tried to rectify this with grease but to me this is a motor or stop adjustment problem. The worst issue though is the gear selection in the lower gears in the six speed box. The first and second gears clunk and grind into gear or do not go in at all, from second to third you end up in fifth. As the car is mainly driven around town this is annoying and dangerous if you can not get in to gear. This problem is also noted on the Swift S six speed gearbox models by owners and like their Suzuki dealers our dealer denies there is an issue as quote "they are all like that". The Suzuki dealer is treating us like idiots, will not tell us what they have done and has advised us Suzuki has also said the same. It is sad as the car is well speced, good value and no other problems but due to the extremely poor dealerships I would not recommend anybody buy this car, or any other Suzuki.

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

No Red thumbs down

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Had this car for six months now lovely to drive did Home to Aberdeen 385 miles and still had fuel left and that's all motorway driving 90% of the way ,just set the active cruise control and let the car do the rest. Comfortable ride good on country lanes when in sports mode a good all round car well impressed.

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Yes Green thumbs up

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The Vitara seemed to tick all the boxes for equipment, spec and price, but I regret my purchase. The car is nice to drive, but the electronics ruin the experience. The SatNav is the worst I have come across.... Maps out of date, line guidance is often totally wrong, voice sometimes says left when you should go right etc. Also intermittent fault when display is in miles and the voice guidance is in km. Auto Headlights come on in bright sunlight, and sensitivity cannot be adjusted by dealer (the Manual is wrong apparently !)... solution is to use lights manually! Various warnings come up for no apparent reason, and the collision warning (which is very loud for obvious reasons) goes off with no hazards apparent (perhaps an ant crossing the road ?). And to make it worse the dealer and Suzuki contradict each other. My first and last Suzuki

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No Red thumbs down

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I bought this a car 3 months ago and I have had nothing but hassle since the day I got it. The front parking sensors were erratic and went off continuously first 5 minutes of starting the car up . The dealer said it's alright we can fix those next week .following week I noticed the clocks were vibrating on the dashboard making a whirring sound. Also found another noise when parking and braking to stop. They said the noise is your brakes they need bedding in . They changed the sensors and fixed the clocks replaced with a new set and refitted them to My new Vitara. So I drove the car after they fixed the clocks and the parking sensor at the front the sensor at the front is still a bit erratic. When I got the car back it was filthy so I washed it and then I found a chip in the paintwork on the bumper near the sensor had to go back for a repair to the paintwork (I'm very patient). After driving it for another 300 miles the noise from parking and braking still there. So they said bring it back in we will check for brake dust and also clean the anti corrosion stuff off the pads, they said a week after having it it's fixed no more noise. Drove home noticed the noise was still there after getting caught in traffic then had to brake slowly in the traffic jams groaning creaking noise was heard when I got home parking the Vitara I got more groaning creaking noises. They took it back in again and changed the disc pads said its sorted but when you park with tight steering between cars you may hear a slight noise. In the end I went to reject the car but Suzuki finance wanted to have the dealer do an independent inspection. The inspectors checked my car with another one that was identical automatic that also made the same groaning noises like mine so they said this is a characteristic of this vehicle what a cop out, funny thing is no other automatic I have ever driven does this . The brakes were working fine. I put the vehicle in neutral on a hill and rolled down it the brakes made no noise after being depressed and also did the same rolling it down in reverse . I have still got this car at the dealers and I've still paid the finance company the monthly payments I have not had this car for the last 6 weeks. So be warned do not buy the Vitara -the automatic has issues with groaning noises and it's not a joy to drive If I could give it a minus star rating that's what it would get . If you go to a suzuki dealer do not put all your eggs in one basket 'car insurance 'finance from suzuki You have been warned steer clear from the automatic .

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No Red thumbs down

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Well my Vitara is auto and traveling at 70mph it will just change down into 4th gear for apparent reason, dealer says nothing is wrong with the cars gearbox it must be me that's changing it.

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No Red thumbs down

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I bought my Vitara as an ex-demo model at 6 months old, with 1,900 miles on the clock, for £15K. It has all the ST extras plus stop/start, privacy glass at the back and some fancy body upgrades. I'm 70 and have been driving for 50 years and wanted a more upright driving position and a bit more boot space than my usual hatchbacks. Also decided to change from Diesel to Petrol for environmental reasons. I've had the car for 4 months now, have done 5000+ miles and have to say I love driving it. It looks great, is very economical for an SUV (I average 47 mpg) and it puts a smile on my face every time I get into it. The driving position is comfortable and it's great fun to drive. Sure, the infotainment system is a bit fiddly and there's a fair bit of road noise on some surfaces. It's also not the quickest and struggles a bit on hills (my previous car was a decently quick turbo-diesel so a normally aspirated petrol has taken a bit of getting used to). I've had no reliability problems so far. All in all, I think I've got a whole lot of car for a very decent price and would highly recommend the Vitara to anyone in the market for a medium-sized SUV. However, if you're considering one, I'd go for the ST or higher spec, as the satnav, rear parking camera and 17 inch wheels make the driving experience that much more pleasurable.

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

Yes Green thumbs up

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Brilliant car! I have owned the last three generations of Grand Vitaras and Vitaras and they have all been enjoyable in different ways. But the lastest Vitara combines 4x4 ability in muddy fields etc with sporty performance and handling on the road and modern tech such as Sat Nav, Bluetooth and Reversing Camera. And, adaptive cruise control. I've seen economy of 46 mpg overall over three years. It has a good balance of overall size and interior space, with a versatile boot. With the Allgrip, put it in Sport on a fast winding road to put a smile on your face. Bad points - to show I'm not unduly biased – the interior trim feels inferior in places and is prone to damage, for example, the boot cover. My my main complaint is that I would love to change it after three years, but the same spec is no longer available - I would have to buy an automatic! Come on Suzuki of Europe! Let us continue to have the SZ5 Allgrip Manual!

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Yes Green thumbs up

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Amazing car, easily the best car I've ever owned or driven and as I drive for a living that's a lot. Everything works perfectly, I have seen gripes that the stop/start doesn't work, in mine that's only the case if the battery isn't fully charged or the engine still cold and that's the same with my Honda. It is comfortable, economical, cheap to insure and fully loaded with kit, if I had to find a niggle it's that because I like a high seating position there isn't a lot of headroom with the panoramic roof but in my daughter's similar car without the panoramic roof it's fine. The hill assist works better than some other makes of vehicle I have driven and the satnav is excellent, as is the camera and adaptive cruise control. Occasionally the car does detect an object on a bend if I'm approaching too fast and the collision warning goes off but that's partly why it's there, it is possible to turn it off if you find it too annoying. Infotainment system is brilliant. I love this car.

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

Yes Green thumbs up

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Brilliant all round. I can't fault anything. Other owners who find faults are either must be doing something wrong. I have the 1.6 engine, and it's very quiet, and very punchy. I used to have a Mokka, but the Vitara beats it hands down, on equipment, and quality. The Mokka's heating system is awkward to get right, set it at 22c, and it still blows cold air. On the other hand the Vitara will blow warm air even after only a 1.5 mile journey, it's very impressive.

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

Yes Green thumbs up

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I chose the high specification petrol turbo version with auto box for my wife. She loves it, which didn't really surprise me as it had all the extras and convenience she was looking for. The biggest surprise is that I love driving it too. The 1.4-litre turbo is a real hoot, and the car drives like a hot hatch. This plus the adaptive cruise control and radar braking has seen me often taking the Suzuki in preference to one of my own 2 cars which are supposedly more 'premium' brands.

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Yes Green thumbs up

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I've experienced problems engaging 2nd gear and the hill assist rarely works. My stop-start does not work if the air conditioning is on and it's temperamental as to when it will work. I was told by my dealer that cars with modern technology are now too complicated and it often does not work. The car is not the pleasure to drive it should be due to problems. I bitterly regret buying this car. If you are unlucky and purchase a car with problems do not rely on the to resolve them.

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No Red thumbs down

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Amazing car- stylish and infotainment system is nice.

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

Yes Green thumbs up

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Looking for a crossover to replace a long line of VW Tourans. Negotiated a deal with a main dealer for just over 13k in metallic grey. You get a lot of car for the money and for a base model its very well equipped. Easy to get comfortable with adjustable seat height and wheel height. Seats support lower back well but a little short in length. All the controls are very light, and nice and simple to operate. Engine almost inaudible at idle and generally quiet below 3,000 rpm. Car cruises well at 70 but there is a little wind noise. Keeps up with traffic well and does like to rev. The handling can best be described as firm. The car handles well with very little roll but you do hear and feel a lot of bumps on our poorly maintained roads. Personally I would trade in a bit of handling for a softer ride. Biggest drawback is the amount of road noise especially on rough roads. The car is fitted with continental ecocontact 5 tyres that have come in for some stick regarding noise. On smooth roads its a nice and reasonably refined ride but on poor roads the tyre din is very evident. Overall very pleased with the car which is brilliant for short journeys and around town. Not so sure it makes a long distance cruiser but for the price it a good honest car. Time will tell if Suzuki reliability makes it a great car.

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Yes Green thumbs up

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I bought this car as a replacement for my beautiful Mercedes C-Class which had repetitive NOx issues. To be honest I was very sceptical about the reviews I've read, but owning this little gem I have to say I'm really impressed by the engineering and usability. I have averaged 56.5 mpg with mixed driving and I have to say the engine is remarkable in its power delivery for a 1.0-ltr automatic. It's smooth and quiet and even on the motorway it's not compromised. Yes, the ride can be a little jiggly but you're in a high driving position on high-profile tyres, so it's really comfortable on long journeys. The touchscreen is okay to use once you've studied the manual and the sat nav is 100% better than Mercedes. Also, I have to mention the headlights they're unbelievably good on dark country lanes on full beam it's like daylight. In short, getting out of a Mercedes to the Suzuki I thought I may be disappointed, but suprisingly I'm not.

What's the one thing you like most about your car?

Suprising performance

If you could improve one thing, what would it be?

Less jiggly ride

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

Yes Green thumbs up

Tell us what you think about your car?

Very pleasant drive, quick engine with great torque from low rpm (1700-2000), comfortable suspension, roomy for its size, economical (6,5-6,8 lt/100km at fast speed, can go down to 5,8 lt/100 km at 100-110km/h which is close to diesel consumption), nice view from high driver's seat positioning, apple carplay, great value for money (costs 17000 euro in Greece the middle version ), steering a bit light but you get used to it.

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Yes Green thumbs up

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I picked the Vitara up new on a Friday afternoon. Next day the doors wouldn’t open and the car didn’t start (I had to use the key in the door lock to open the door). First full day of ownership and I had to call the AA, the patrolman got the car going by locking and opening the door using the buttons on the door, this got the engine going. I had it for 25 days, 12 times the door didn’t open using the remote and the engine didn’t start. Three times the engine cut out while I was driving it. It went back to the garage four times and they and Suzuki UK didn’t find the fault. I had to reject it in the end. First time to Suzuki and probably the last time!

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No Red thumbs down

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First, I will say that after having a Toyota Corolla delivered with a lot of dangerous errors - brake failures, sudden acceleration (great combination!), cruise control, alarm etc. I've never been afraid of buying any other car brand. Which leads me to mention a fantastic Suzuki dealer in Vänerborg! I can recommend buying any Suzuki from them. Negatives: The errors on the car so far is as others have mentioned. Rattling caused by vibrations, occurring mostly about 2,000rpm. Rear wheel bearings replaced on warranty at 20,000km. Loose usb socket, which the dealer themselves found and corrected both of the latter errors, during routine inspection. The stupidity of the warning/crash alert system is annoying at best. The navigation is basically useless. The car in Sweden is, in my view, delivered without any corrosion protection, this I knew and it has been corrected at an extra cost - this is specific to Sweden, might be ok in the UK! Some part are expensive. It's tyre sensitive, wiggling with some and quite good with other tyres. Positives: The comfort gets better after about 15k as I found the shock absorbers to be a bit too stiff at first. It's surprising to read it has a large amount of body roll, as my experience is the opposite. Ok seats. It's possible to have surprisingly good mpg figures on country roads if driving carefully at hours with less traffic. Easy to get in and out. For a modern car, excellent visibility. Very easy to drive. Even with no steering feel, the car is surprisingly good on curvy roads. Relatively small wheels 16- or 17-inch. If you have a 20+ diameter fetishism, you probably don't look at this car anyway... Very affordable service prices, provided milage is within the servicing limits, 15,000km annually. Even if the mileage would be twice that, it's still cost less to run than any Volvo or Audi (from experience). Nice space/legroom in the back seats. Summary: Some annoying features. Some repairs done. Nice handling. Ease of driving. Low price, both to buy and maintain (relative of course). Good value for money over time (residual quite ok). Great cabin space. If I would recommend it? I've stated yes, however, that's dealer dependent, as with all cars. With a responsible dealer, it's a clear yes!

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

Yes Green thumbs up

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Does not like poor road surfaces, suspension makes sure you feel everything.

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

Yes Green thumbs up

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So far this has been a fabulous car. I am so glad that I bought it, although I might change my mind in 6 months time! I think it has a lovely, if slightly notchy 6 forward speed box, and you soon get used to the feel and adapt to the driving style. I have a SZT, so equipment levels are very good and one of the reasons I purchased the car. The seating is very comfortable and adaptable. Driver information on cockpit displays and infotainment system are excellent. A reviewer earlier criticized the interruption of traffic information on Radio/ DAB. This can be turned off on the Radio/DAB menu system. My only disappointment is lack of a spare wheel.

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

Yes Green thumbs up

Tell us what you think about your car?

I'm seriously impressed by this car. It's nippy and well equipped, with decent handling and pretty comfy over Essex's awful roads. The level of standard equipment is very good, and the sat nav is intuitive with a decent sized screen. Being tall I'm glad there's no sunroof, as it means there's a decent amount of headroom. I'm very impressed by the radar adaptive cruise control, too. My only concern is whether the petrol turbo can deliver fuel economy to match the diesel I used to have, or will I enjoy using the performance too much? Time will tell.

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

Yes Green thumbs up

Tell us what you think about your car?

I took delivery of this car a week before Christmas and in the 5 weeks I had it I have very few concerns. It is a delight to drive with nice responsive yet light steering. The spec includes a full length sun roof which gives the car a nice airy feel. The seats are very comfortable especially with the suede and leather spec. As many reviewers have noted, the interior plastics are tatty and not tactile. Everything feels hard and just a little naff. The ride height is perfect for giving a full view of the road ahead yet no too tall so as to present a problem getting in and out. It's more a kind of walk-out rather than step down or up which is excellent for me. The 1.6 engine is quite nippy and in 'sport' mode, hairy if a little raucous on high revs. The four wheel drive seems to work well because during recent heavy snow it took hills easily that had caused other drivers to slither about. I am less impressed with the infotainment system. The radio comes on whether you want it to or not when you start the engine. The radio tuner is no intuitive and as usual, the manual is useless. The satnav is pretty dire that again has no rhyme or reason to it, I have used it once and I'll not be bothering again. I was looking forward to using Android Auto which enables you to use your phone's access to Google Maps and other good features but despite the brochure claiming that the car comes with it, it doesn't and considering the poor quality satnav, I am not best pleased about it. The little rubber buttons for locking and unlocking the doors and tailgate are very hit and miss and I have given up on them and just use the key fob. The front passenger seat belt when not in use rattles against the plastic pillar and makes a very irritating noise that took me a long time to discover. The switches to the right of the steering wheel are placed too low and difficult to find without taking your eyes off the road. The front and rear fog lamps are located far apart from each other. The start-stop thing is annoying and a waste of time. The niggles are small things but annoying nonetheless and show a lack of careful attention to detail. That said, the car is enjoyable to drive, comfortable and imparts a feeling of safety. Despite the brickbats above, I would definitely recommend the car for value and driveability.

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

Yes Green thumbs up

Tell us what you think about your car?

Brilliant car. I've had it nearly 2 years now and it still impresses me with its versatility, performance and spec. The build quality is generally good, fuel consumption around 50mpg, it has good handling and ride quality. It looks good as well, in white with privacy glass and silver wheels. The only issue I have had is with the infotainment system, for some reason it randomly resets itself to FM radio regardless of what I was last listening to, especially if it was the USB drive, bit annoying but forgivable. I had a new Qashqai before the Vitara and have no regret in changing. If you are in the market for a good quality family car with a high level of equipment, good fuel economy and reasonable space give one a test drive. I will be surprised if you are disappointed.

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

Yes Green thumbs up

Tell us what you think about your car?

I brought a brand new Vitara for my wife after she had an accident and wanted something with more height and grip. We shopped around and came across the Vitara S all grip in RED. A very smart looking vehicle, fully loaded with al thel extras. I was dubious at first about a car of this size (with 4x4 capability) not having a nice big diesel power unit but I was hugely impressed with the powerful and lively 1.4 petrol Boosterjet engine. We loved the ride, the looks and the height and it was great value, we had a smile on our faces as we picked it up. This was in Feb 2016 and the last time we have smiled about this car. Very soon it developed a dangerous problem where it would lose all power, without warning and at any speed, no warning lights, no noise, just complete loss of power. On a dual carriageway/motorway, or any major road, this is just dangerous and I was not prepared to use it let alone leave my wife to drive around the M25 and London! I took it back to our local Suzuki dealer who were very nice, but could not find a fault, told us nothing wrong and it will probably go away. It didn't! It got worse. So after more trips to the dealer, we were left without a car and then told after they had it a few days it would not do it for them we reluctantly took it back. Sometime later it did it again with my wife at the wheel so I advised (if she could) to get the thing to the dealer straight away. She did and although it ran ok the dealer found an error and fault code they could not identify. They then passed to Suzuki UK who spent some time (or so they say) looking into this but nothing ever came of it. Since then we continue to use the car and thankfully no recent episodes of losing complete power, but regular lumpy driving and a feeling it's not right. Second gear is also getting crunchy. We have lost trust in the car which is never a nice feeling. I would also like to point out having read other people's comments that the electrics are mad and sensors go off when your driving at speed, lights come on and off and generally there is something very wrong with this vehicle. Don't get us started on the Sat Nav! Makes me think that the ECU is not operating correctly and the systems have bugs, lots of bugs! But whatever it is it's annoying and sometimes dangerous and not what you expect of BRAND NEW flagship car like this. We are as you would imagine disappointed as its such as great looking car with such potential, and I am sure there are people out there with a great versatile car and I wish you happy motoring. Ours is all a bit of nightmare and we thought we should share. I am now at the point of looking at our leasing/finance agreements and taking advice *legal* to see if we have any options to hand the vehicle back early. I wish anyone well with their Vitara as I know it can be a great car and sure this is maybe a one off bad car. I just think they forgot a few bits when they made it. Would not buy another one sadly.

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

No Red thumbs down

Tell us what you think about your car?

Purchased in 2019 with 18k on clock. Just completed 75k service. Dealer informs me that the car is still 100% with not a single thing wrong with it. Only had to have regular servicing and replacement tyres on the front. Very comfortable, nippy enough, fun to drive and will cruise at motorway speeds all day. Averages 49mpg easily. Just Brilliant.

What's the one thing you like most about your car?

I cannot pick one thing; it is simply a fantastic, economical, comfortable, roomy and 100% reliable car.

If you could improve one thing, what would it be?

During motorway driving I feel the 1.6 petrol engine could easily take a 6th gear or overdrive.

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

Yes Green thumbs up