The current generation of Suzuki’s famous SUV may not be as capable as some previous generations but it is still among the best performers in its class. It offers pretty solid off-road performance, thanks to the excellent all-wheel-drive system but at the same time, it’s easy to drive and offers a high level of athleticism on the road. Such a combination makes it one of the most desirable models in the class, even though we haven’t seen a redesign for about seven years. From what we can see, the redesign won’t happen in the next year either. The 2023 Suzuki Vitara will continue in the same way, with familiar design and features.
All this means that we’ve been seeing familiar pros and cons. As we already mentioned, this SUV offers good handling and decent driving dynamics. Also, we like its all-wheel-drive system very much. On the other hand, the biggest complaint goes to the interior design, which feels a little bit old and lacks soft-touch surfaces. Finally, there is a new hybrid powertrain, which isn’t particularly powerful but promises great efficiency.
Since there are no significant changes to come, we presume that the 2023 Suzuki Vitara will hit the market sometime in the last quarter of the year.
2023 Suzuki Vitara Design
Design-wise, the 2023 Suzuki Vitara hasn’t changed much since the launch of the current generation, which was back in 2015, even though we saw a facelift a couple of years ago. The overall layout is the same and the current model doesn’t seem as capable as the previous generation, which featured a longitudinally-mounted engine and full-time 4WD with a locking differential. The new model is rather a modern crossover, which offers engaging handling and solid driving dynamics. Still, it hasn’t forgotten how to act off the road, as it features the company’s famous All-Grip all-wheel-drive system.
Visually, the 2023 Suzuki Vitara will continue in the same way. The 2019 update brought a few revisions to the front but the overall look is largely the same. This is generally a well-looking crossover, especially if you pick nicer wheels, a two-tone exterior finish and other fancy features. The next year’s model might bring some new color options, but the officials are still quiet on that matter.
Interior
Interior changes won’t happen either, so we are about to see a familiar layout. As we already mentioned, this SUV doesn’t feature the fanciest cabin design in the class. The dashboard is designed in a simplistic manner and definitely puts functionality ahead of aesthetics. Also, you may notice the lack of soft-touch materials, but that doesn’t mean that the quality is bad. Everything feels solid and well assembled.
As we are talking about a subcompact crossover, we are sure you know what to expect in terms of interior space. The front seats and shaped well and accommodate adults very well. The second row is a little bit tighter but still can accommodate two adults in a nice fashion. The cargo area is typical for the class and offers around 350L of space.
2023 Suzuki Vitara Engines
Under the hood, the 2023 Suzuki Vitara will continue in the same way. Base models will carry on with a familiar 1.4-liter turbo-four, which comes in a combination with a small electric motor. The gasoline engine puts out around 127 horsepower, while the electromotor adds 13 hp, for a total output of 140 horsepower. Considering that the vehicle weighs around 1.200kg, it’s no wonder that 0-100km/h sprint takes less than 10 seconds, which is pretty good for a subcompact SUV, as these vehicles usually feel way more lethargic.
Also, the company introduced a new hybrid powertrain. That system is based on a 1.5-liter naturally-aspirated engine, which comes in pair with a single electric motor, for a total output of 115 horsepower. The engine comes in pair with a 6-speed automated manual transmission, which isn’t particularly fast with gear changes. As a result, this version is way slower and needs around 12.5 seconds to hit 100 km/h.
2023 Suzuki Vitara Release Date and Price
We expect that the 2023 Suzuki Vitara will arrive sometime in the last quarter of the year, with a starting price of around €21.000 in Europe and £23.000 in the UK. Key competitors will be models like Nissan Juke, Honda HR-V, Toyota CH-R etc.