• Fuel economy only average
• Hybrid model isn’t particularly efficient
• Boosterjet matches official figures

What are the running costs?

There’s a dividing line in Suzuki Vitara fuel economy numbers. That’s because it’s been around along enough for its fuel economy to be determined under two different testing regimes. Let’s start with the mild-hybrid 1.4 Boosterjet engine you can currently buy.

According to the official WLTP numbers, it can return average fuel consumption of 45.2 to 52.7mpg, depending which gearbox/drive combination is fitted. In his six-month test of the automatic/four-wheel-drive version, Gareth Evans achieved 39.4mpg. Which isn’t great for this type of car.

The 1.0 Boosterjet and 1.5 Hybrid Vitaras were also tested on the WLTP cycle, posting decidedly unimpressive numbers: 45.9mpg and 48.7mpg respectively. In our experience, the Hybrid could only manage around 40mpg on the motorway, although slower roads saw the figures creep up slightly. Contrast that to the equivalent Toyota Yaris Cross, which can approach 60mpg.

The 1.6 VVT petrol and 1.6 DDiS diesel versions of the Vitara were tested on the old NEDC cycle, achieving around 50mpg and 70mpg, respectively. But the inaccuracy of the NEDC tests means you’ll be lucky to reach 80% of those numbers. Note that the diesel emits 106g/km of CO2, so vehicle excise duty only costs £20 per year for cars registered up to 31 March 2017.  

Servicing and warranty

Suzuki upped its warranty offer in early 2023, from three years or 60,000 miles to seven years or 100,000 miles. That puts it on level footing with the likes of Kia, MG and SsangYong – only Toyota offers a longer warranty. However, to get that seven years of coverage, your car must be serviced by a registered Suzuki dealership. If not, the warranty only lasts three years

Servicing isn’t too pricey, though, and Suzuki offers fixed-price servicing plans on models up to six years old. Suzuki owners can get discounted AA roadside assistance membership should the worst happen.

Customer service is generally excellent, as well. Most Suzuki garages are small, family-run businesses that put effort into building proper relationships with customers.

Reliability

• Suzuki has a strong record
• The brand responds to problems quickly
• Owners love their cars

The Vitara’s 1.4 Boosterjet engine is used extensively throughout the Suzuki range – including in the S-Cross and Swift – and so far has proven perfectly reliable. Indeed, it was throughout our long-term test.

The other engines available in the Vitara over the years are also robust and dependable, so long as they’re serviced regularly. There’s a bit of a question mark over the longevity of the Vitara Hybrid’s electric powertrain – it was only launched in 2022, so it’s too soon to know. But, given Suzuki’s track record, we have no concerns about it.

It’s worth noting that Suzuki is known to resolve any issues that surface in its cars in double-quick time. When it became clear there was a flaw in the Celerio hatchback’s braking system, the problem was diagnosed, and a solution devised then implemented (including on existing cars) in a matter of weeks.

Nevertheless, there have been some recalls issued that affect Vitaras built before 2020. Outstanding recalls will be listed on a car’s MOT certificate, so check it out if you’re looking at a used Vitara that’s more than three years old.