Test Suzuki Vitara 1.6 VVT 120 CV, interesting against all odds

Last week there were several protagonists in the test section of ActualidadMotor. We face the SsangYong Tivoli and Suzuki in a comparison of gasoline SUVs. Now it's time to turn the spotlight on these two cars individually, and this week it's time to get an in-depth look at the Suzuki Vitara 1.6 VVT 120 hp, the gasoline alternative of the Japanese SUV associated with a five-speed manual gearbox and 4×2 front-wheel drive.

We have already spoken on several occasions about the change of direction of Suzuki Vitara in this new generation. Suzuki has chosen let go of off road dna of the model, to bet on a B-segment SUV, which is what the market demands and strategically speaking, a better option than a pure SUV, models that are in decline. Thus, part of the essence of Suzuki in general and of the Vitara in particular is lost, but it must be renewed or die and the truth is that with the new Suzuki Vitara, the Japanese have done a good job.

handsome face

The bodywork of the Suzuki Vitara has dimensions of 4,18 meters in length, 1,78 wide and 1,61 high. The Suzuki S-Cross is above, with a body 12 centimeters longer and greater equipment possibilities. The wheelbase of the Suzuki Vitara is 2,5 meters.

At the front, the Japanese have wanted to provide their new SUV with a sportier look, different from the rest of the models in the range. Our unit is the top trim, GLX, equipped with LED dipped headlights with a lens surrounded by a striking electric blue trim. The LED daytime running lights are located at the lower end of the bumper, next to the fog lights.

The truth is that despite being a fairly compact model, the Suzuki Vitara transmits a feeling of robustness and it appears to be larger than it is. The rear custody window and the square shapes of the side view help a lot to that feeling. It is quite simple in this plane, with a rib that runs along the side from the headlights to the pilots and another rib that starts at the driver's door and rises back, until it marks small hips on the wheel arches.

The rear is always the least attractive part of the car, its back. This Suzuki Vitara is no exception. Although the rest of the set is attractive, it is in this part that the most lack of personality, with a fairly simple design. We will be grateful that the designers have not chosen to place absurd appendages on the pilots, something very fashionable lately.

For the exterior, Suzuki offers some customization elements, such as moldings of different types for the bumpers and the sides. The two highest finishes can also opt for eight two-tone combinations for the bodywork, with the roof and the mirrors in contrast.

Japanese inside

If they blindfolded us and put us inside the Suzuki Vitara with the anagrams covered, when we regained our vision we would have no doubt: we are in a Japanese car. The Dashboard design of the Suzuki Vitara is very classic, but that is a virtue when we see that everything is at hand and it is intuitive to use. The air conditioner is monozone and does not have a complex reading of all the options. To switch between the two partial odometers and the on-board computer screens, you have to press some lugs located on the frame, an impractical and very Japanese solution.

La 7″ central touch screen It is standard in the two highest finishes and shows an intuitive handling, showing the radio, telephone, navigation and connectivity options with the telephone via MirrorLink in the menu. The tactile response is good on the screen, but not so much on the buttons located on the frame. The volume is raised and lowered by touch, but a rotary dial would be much easier. Sometimes, reflections or high luminosity can prevent us from seeing clearly what the screen shows. The navigator (HERE mapping) works very well and recalculates quickly.

The Japanese sobriety of the interior can be camouflaged with some of the customization options. The moldings surrounding the air vents, as well as the horizontal panel of the dashboard and the area around the gear lever can be black, blue, orange, silver or white. Our unit sported the color black, with a more serious look and quite a sneak for dirt.

As is typical for Suzuki and models in its segment, all plastics used in the interior are hard, although they have good quality and settings that do not allow noise. It's fair to say that the plastic part that surrounds the clock box on the inside of your porch in our unit and on a few occasions had a small cricket. The touch quality of the buttons in the cabin is satisfactory.

The top-of-the-range GLX finish of our unit is accompanied by some leather and suede upholstered seats, with a pleasant touch. The lateral support in the front seats is scarce. The doors are also made of hard plastic, but the area where we rest our elbows is padded and part of the panel is upholstered in suede. The central armrest has a chest inside and is extendable.

A spacious cabin

In this section, we gave the victory to the SsangYong Tivoli in our comparison. That is irrefutable. But, neither does it imply that the Vitara, looked at individually, has little space. In the front seats there are no problems of any kind, while in the rear we find enough room for legs and head. If three adults try to fit in the rear, the width is limited and those at the two ends could touch the roof, approaching the sides of the vehicle. The center tunnel is somewhat intrusive and the third seat lacks shape and is harder. There is no center armrest.

Al trunk 375 liters Suzuki Vitara is accessed through a generously sized gate. Their shapes are cubic and usable and it has a double bottom and with this placed in its highest position, the floor is flush with the loading mouth, which is very wide. There are some items to hold the load and under the floor we find a puncture repair kit. On the sides there are two small compartments divided by detachable plastic plates that, when removed, can be attached to the bottom of the luggage compartment cover.

an amazing engine

We come to the point of talking about the Suzuki Vitara's 1.6-horsepower 120 VVT gasoline engine. It's a very simple engine in its approach, with four cylinders, 16 valves, double overhead camshafts with variable intake and multipoint injection. It almost sounds old-fashioned at the times of three cylinders and supercharging. In addition, a five-speed gearbox!

In the GLX trim, the engine starts at the touch of a button. Come to life smoothly and does not transmit vibrations to the passenger compartment, in addition to being too quiet at idle The speed with which the engine reaches operating temperature is remarkable. Everything is very smooth when starting the march, the clutch is soft and the gear lever has good travel, with a precise touch.

As we walk, the smoothness of the whole is remarkable. In town the engine is not noisy and moves very quickly. Although naturally aspirated gasoline engines may suffer from a lack of torque on the road or in demanding conditions, the truth is that their response from low revs is better in the city. Facing the slope of the garage is easier with this 1.6 engine than with the Volkswagen Passat 2.0 TDI from a few weeks ago.

At the time of leaving the highway, the engine rotates at 120 km / h nailed at 3.000 revolutions. The Suzuki Vitara shows a firm footing, although in some curved expansion joints, not so much. It is a very comfortable car, with a suspension that filters irregularities very well. The engine is heard very slightly from the passenger compartment, it is not annoying. The main noise is aerodynamic. With the fifth gear engaged (the manual gearbox is five-speed for the gasoline and six for the diesel) there is no problem maintaining speed on steep slopes like Somosierra in both directions, even using cruise control (adaptive and with very good performance).

At the time of going out on the road, the Suzuki Vitara is shown with more than enough agility. his bass weight about 1150 kilos make the 1.6-horsepower 120 engine adequate. Be careful, we must not forget that we are dealing with a naturally aspirated engine and that we will have to speed up the revolutions if we want the best answer. In these conditions we won't have any major problems negotiating overtaking or going up mountain passes, unless we're heavily loaded, where the lack of torque could come to the fore. The five-speed gearbox has a good staggering of relations and is one of the keys to the good behavior of the Vitara. One in six could penalize him.

On the most sinuous roads we will notice that the suspension has a soft setting that allows the body to balance, although it supports firm and the car is very neutral even when driving fast. The traction control acts little and when it does, we don't even notice it if it weren't for the orange light on the frame. The set-up is very adequate, although steering could use some more weightdespite being quite direct.

contained consumption

But if I liked the Suzuki Vitara 1.6 VVT with 120 horsepower for pleasure and performance, for consumption it has done even more. The Suzuki Vitara has been maintained during practically the entire test around 6,4 liters, whether on highways, roads or in a mixed cycle with a lot of urban travel. If we demand more on twisty roads, we may reach 7,0 liters, while if we drive calmly and the terrain helps, going below 6,0 liters is a piece of cake. The 47 liters of deposit abound.

El Stop & Start It is of great help to reduce consumption in the urban cycle. It acts quickly and when stopping the engine it maintains the power steering, although when stopping we noticed a small shake.

Our veredicto

We have lived a week with this gasoline Suzuki Vitara and the truth is that we have been pleasantly surprised, especially for response and consumption. In the mechanical section it is successful, although it may not seem so with its naturally aspirated gasoline engine and five-speed gearbox. It is presented as an interesting alternative in the B-SUV segment, with a good value for money.

We have tested the most complete finish, GLX, with a very extensive endowment. The Vitara GLX equip unusual items in the segmentsuch as keyless entry and start, LED headlights, adaptive cruise control, heated front seats, front and rear parking sensors, and parking camera. The basic finish GL is too simple, while the GLE adds quite a few interesting elements. Deciding on the GLX is not a bad option to have a well-equipped car. The differences between finishes are about 2.000 euros.

The petrol Suzuki Vitara can also be equipped with six-speed automatic transmission or with all-wheel driveBoth with manual and automatic gearbox. The 1.6 diesel engine also has 120 horsepower and the possibility of having all-wheel drive. The diesel engine costs 2.000 euros more, which can be difficult to justify unless many kilometers are to be covered. You're better off spending that money on a higher trim level, like the GLX in our test.

Equipment Suzuki Vitara

GL

• 16″ steel wheels with hubcaps
• Puncture repair kit
• Black door handles
• Electric exterior mirrors
• Air Conditioning
• Front electric windows
• CD+MP3+USB+Bluetooth
• 7 airbags
• ESP
• Tire Pressure Control
• Hill start assist

GLE (add to previous)

•  17″ alloy wheels
• Body colored handles
• heated mirrors
• Climate
• 7″ touch screen
• Rear camera
• Cruise control and limiter (adaptive in 4×4)
• Predictive braking control (4×4)
• Descent Control (4×4)
• Tinted windows
• roof rails
• Leather steering wheel
• Four electric windows
• Front fog lamps
• LED daytime running lights
• trunk light
• 12V socket in the trunk

GLX (add to previous)

• Exterior chrome accents
• LED headlights
• rain sensor and lights
• Navigator
• Adaptive cruise control
• Power folding mirrors with turn signals
• Keyless entry and start
• heated front seats
• Front and rear parking sensors

Suzuki Vitara Prices

Editor's opinion

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