Full review of the Suzuki Vitara

Like many African countries, Malawi has a thriving Japanese used car market. The reason for that is the ease of importing a car into the country, the economical prices of used Japanese cars, and the availability of car parts. If you are looking for a Suzuki Vitara for sale in Malawi, let us take a look at Suzuki Vitara. It is undoubtedly a promising vehicle with a long production run.

Suzuki Vitara Overview

The Suzuki Vitara has been a staple in the SUV market, having been in production for many years now and in its fourth generation. It is a series of SUVs ranging from mini SUVs to subcompact crossover SUVs designed for maximum practicality.

The Suzuki Vitara has been in production since 1988, providing drivers with a reliable, versatile, and stylish vehicle that can tackle any terrain. In this comprehensive guide, well examine the Suzuki Vitara in further detail, spanning generations, and go into great length on the most recent model.

First Generation

In 1988, Suzuki introduced the first model of the Vitara in the Japanese domestic market. In the North American market, it was introduced as the Suzuki sidekick. It remained in production until 1999.

The Suzuki Vitara first-generation was available as a 2-door convertible, a 3-door panel van, and a 3 and 5-door SUV. It came in petrol and diesel engine options with a 5-speed manual, 3-speed automatic, or 4-speed automatic transmission.

Second Generation

The second generation vehicles were announced by Suzuki in 1997. They were more expensive, powerful, and somewhat larger than the previous generation models. The mini SUV class still had the 3-door version, while the five-door version was included in the compact SUV class category.

The Suzuki Vitara was known as "Grand Vitara" in most international markets. The second generation vehicles were available in 1.6L, 2.0L, and 2.5L petrol engines, while two options were available in the diesel engine. The car received a facelift in 2000, 2002, and 2004.

Third Generation

Most vehicles with an extensive production run undergo minor and major changes over time to keep up with the changing market dynamics. In 2005, Suzuki introduced the third-generation Grand Vitara, which was completely redesigned. In Japan, it is sold as Escudo.

The newer model had a more unibody construction with a built-in ladder frame that improved the vehicles ground clearance while improving stiffness. This led to a short roof and floor height. Moreover, the vehicle retained the MacPherson strut suspension but replaced the rear solid axle with an independent multi-link suspension.

It came with a 1.9L diesel engine, while for the petrol engine, there were many options. Its available in a rear-wheel-drive and a four-wheel-drive. The third generation vehicles are mostly available as a 5-door SUV, while in some markets, its also available as a 3-door SUV body style.

Fourth Generation

The fourth generation Vitara went into production in 2015. It is available as a 5-door SUV in a front-engine, front-wheel-drive, or a front-engine, four-wheel-drive layout. It has a Global C platform.

Furthermore, the vehicles are equipped with a lightweight unibody platform and are categorized as subcompact crossover SUVs. Moreover, it comes in a petrol, petrol hybrid, and diesel engine option.

The 2018 facelift gave the vehicle a heightened front bumper and added a 4.2" color LCD MID. It also boasts added safety features such as a collision avoidance system and a traffic sign recognition function.

The fourth-generation Vitara also comes in a special version called the Vitara S or Vitara Sport. It is available in some markets. The Vitara S comes with a 1.4 liter K14C Boosterjet turbocharged petrol engine delivering 140 PS and 220 Nm. Moreover, a 6-speed automatic transmission comes as standard with the engine.

The Vitara S also comes with a more luxurious interior, such as leather/suede sports seats, aluminum sports pedals, black alloy wheels, red LED headlamp surrounds, and a distinctive five-slotted grille.

The Suzuki Vitara is also available in a special edition, "Star Edition," in the Chinese market. This version of the Vitara has a rose gold-colored body with a new grille design and headlights. It only comes with a 1.4-liter turbocharged petrol engine.

In 2019 Suzuki launched the limited edition "Vitara Katana" for the Italian market. The vehicle pays tribute to the Suzuki Katana 1000 sport bike. It boasts a 1.0-liter Boosterjet model with a manual transmission. You can get it in a front-wheel-drive or with AllGrip all-wheel-drive.

Is The Suzuki Vitara Worth It?

The Suzuki Vitara is undoubtedly a promising vehicle with a practical design. As compared to other SUVs in its class, it is reasonably priced and offers respectable features. You have seen above how the vehicle has evolved over time to accommodate a broader target market. However, you will find that its design has evolved over time, both on the exterior and interior of the vehicle. Visit SBT Malawi now to avail the best car deals now.

Nevertheless, the interior of the vehicle may come off as boring to some people, but it is still quite spacious. It offers a fuel-efficient petrol engine and generous amounts of kit. Let us take a comprehensive look at each feature separately below:

Design

The Suzuki Vitara has a bold and dynamic design that makes heads turn on the road. The car has a bold grille and angular headlamps that give it an aggressive appearance from the front. The body is sleek and aerodynamic, with sculpted lines that enhance its overall appearance.

Its definitely a stylish car with some stunning features that instantly grab attention. You can find the Suzuki Vitara in various colors such as Cosmic Black Pearl Metallic, Atlantis Turquoise Pearl Metallic, and Silky Silver Metallic.

Interior

The vehicles interior is roomy and comfortable, with enough space for both people and luggage. You can find the seats in premium materials, and the dashboard features an intuitive layout that is easy to use. However, you might find the material quality lacking that just can not compete with most alternatives.

Furthermore, you can find a 7.0-inch infotainment touchscreen that comes with Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, Bluetooth connectivity, and DAB radio as standard. You can also charge your devices using the USB plug point.

Performance

The Suzuki Vitara has a range of engines under the hood depending on the trim level. The base model is available with a 1.6-liter engine that delivers 115 horsepower, while higher trim levels are available with a more powerful 1.4-liter turbocharged engine that delivers 140 horsepower. The vehicle is available with both manual and automatic transmissions and front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive.

Safety

To safeguard the driver and passengers, the car is equipped with a number of safety features. A rearview camera, adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning, and the automatic emergency braking are some of these features. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety both gave the Vitara good safety ratings (IIHS).

The Final Word

You can find the Suzuki Vitara for sale in Malawi easily on the SBT Japan website. SBT stocks a wide variety of used Japanese cars at affordable prices. You can order your car easily with a smooth delivery process.

If you are looking for a particular vehicle or require more clarity on import regulations, documents, and modes of payment, then you can contact our customer support representatives. They will assist you with all your queries.