Suzuki is giving its ageing Vitara another facelift, featuring tech and safety upgrades plus some minor visual tweaks.
The Vitara is currently produced exclusively at the Suzuki Magyar plant in Hungary, but it’s unclear if we’ll receive the full gamut of upgrades and when the refreshed crossover will arrive.
We’ve contacted Suzuki Australia to confirm launch timing.
The autonomous emergency braking system, called Dual Sensor Brake Support II, has an expanded detection area and can detect vehicles, motorcycles and pedestrians directly or diagonally ahead of the Vitara.
The updated Vitara also includes a driver monitoring system, using a camera attached to the instrument panel, as well as lane-keep assist.
The adaptive cruise control system uses millimetre-wave radar and a monocular camera, and is linked to a traffic sign recognition system.
Inside, there’s a new 9.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system, which features Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
European-market Vitaras also feature Suzuki Connect, allowing owners to monitor their vehicle remotely via a smartphone app.
Externally, the updated Vitara is distinguished visually by a new grille, with chrome strips connecting visually with the headlights and bookending the Suzuki logo.
There’s a restyled front bumper with C-shaped indents incorporating the fog lights, while below the grille is a black trapezial area.
No photos have been released of the rear, though we’d expect the usual facelift fare like new tail light graphics and a restyled bumper.
There’s a new two-tone exterior finish – Sphere Blue Pearl with a Cosmic Black Pearl Metallic roof – plus a new single-tone finish, Titan Dark Grey Pearl Metallic.
European buyers will continue to be offered a choice of a mild-hybrid and “strong hybrid” powertrains, both available with a choice of front- or all-wheel drive.
A 1.4-litre four-cylinder engine with a 48V mild-hybrid system opens the range, producing 95kW of power and 235Nm of torque.
Optional is a 1.5-litre four-cylinder hybrid with 75kW and 138Nm, mated with a 24.6kW/60Nm electric motor, a 140V lithium-ion battery, and a six-speed automated manual transmission.
Suzuki Australia has previously indicated the “strong hybrid” will arrive here late in 2024.
-
2023 Suzuki Vitara -
Currently, the Vitara is offered in Australia with a choice of a naturally aspirated 1.6-litre four-cylinder engine with 86kW and 156Nm or a turbocharged 1.4-litre four with 103kW and 220Nm.
Both are offered with a six-speed automatic transmission, with the 1.6-litre also available with a five-speed manual.
Vitara sales in Australia plunged 35.3 per cent in 2023 to 2016 units. It occupies the same segment as the S-Cross, which at 598 sales was up 66.1 per cent.
The current Vitara entered production back in 2015, arriving in Australia later that year. That means it’s close to celebrating its 10th anniversary, and it remains unclear when a new generation will debut.
The related S-Cross, also produced in Hungary, received a substantial upgrade in 2021 – arriving here late in 2022 – that brought with it new interior and exterior styling and more safety equipment, but saw it retain the same underpinnings.
MORE: Everything Suzuki Vitara
