It’s time to play
When this current generation Vitara was launched back in 2017 and subsequently updated, it was only available as a 4x2. Now this well-liked subcompact SUV is finally available with four-wheel drive.
Launched last May 28, the new Vitara maintains its 185mm ground clearance and character lines. This height can now be taken advantage of with the new 4WD system.
Redesigned
It’s not simply the addition of 4WD. New are the redesigned chrome grille with LED headlights on either side, sitting on a new front bumper with brushed aluminum front and rear skid plates. The side features chrome door handles and moldings and new 17-inch alloy wheels. Behind are new rear combination lights, relocating the reverse light to the center of the rear skid plate. Topping it off is a new rear roof edge spoiler.
Inside, the new Vitara’s cabin has been further refined to be sporty and comfortable. Seats have a new geometric pattern and the center of the dash still has the analog clock. The instrument cluster mounts a 4.2-inch multi information LCD display between the guages. The steering wheel has controls for audio entertainment and cruise control.
The entertainment system is a 10-inch multimedia touchscreen with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. The display also doubles as the digital Clinometer and reverse camera’s display. It’s equipped with automatic air conditioning. Though on sunny days, you can take advantage of the panoramic sunroof.
For road trips, it has 375 liters of luggage space with the rear seat upright and 710 liters with the rear seat folded forward.
Power and AllGrip Select
Under the hood is a four cylinder, 1.6 liter gasoline engine that puts out 115-hp at 6,000 rpm with 156-Nm of torque at 4,400 rpm. It’s mated to a six-speed automatic transmission with paddleshift.
Driving all four wheels is AllGrip Select that has four, four-wheel drive modes: Auto, Sport, Snow and Lock. They’re activated with a push and turn dial on the center console with the multi information LCD display showing which mode is selected.
Auto Mode uses the front as the primary drive wheels. This mode prioritizes fuel economy in typical day to day city driving conditions. When the system detects slip, it applies power to the rear wheels to provide drive and traction. Sport Mode improves cornering by giving the rear wheels more torque and optimizing throttle response and torque. Snow Mode optimizes response, handling and enhances traction and stability on slippery surfaces. Lock Mode is for extreme situations like mud or sand, with the engine sending even more torque to the wheels that need them and works with ESP and other electronic control technologies.
Packed with safety
The new Vitara is not short on safety. It has six SRS airbags, hill descent and hill hold control, and brake assist function. It is also equipped with Electronic Stability Program (ESP). It also has pedestrians in mind with its external panels built with impact-absorbing properties to mitigate the extent of injuries in the event that the car impacts pedestrians.
The New VitaraAllGripis priced at P1,458,000 for the mono-tone variant and P1,468,000 for the two-tone variant. This new Vitara AllGrip is manufactured in Suzuki Hungary, making it exempt from safeguard duties.