WHAT CAR AWARDS - Suzuki takes another best buy nod, this one is for the Vitara SUV.

Suzuki celebrated good news at the What Car? awards again last night with Vitara awarded a ‘Best Buy’ accolade for the second year in the small SUV class. The 1.6-litre SZ4 model was comprehensively judged by the editorial team and announced as the best overall model in its price bracket of less than £15,000.

Steve Huntingford, Editor of What Car? comments: “Despite a strong challenge from another Suzuki small SUV, the new IGNIS, the Vitara’s combination of generous space, a long equipment list, keen pricing and low running costs help it win this entry price point for the second year in a row. 

There’s no need to be any more frivolous than the entry-level 1.6-litre petrol engine. Not only is it sensibly priced, it’s easily strong enough to haul a family and luggage, and proved to be remarkably fuel efficient in our real-world economy test.

"The Vitara is good to drive, too. Its body is tightly controlled in corners, the steering is reasonably precise and the suspension smooths out the worst our broken roads can throw at it.  It’s an impressively roomy car inside – four adults will sit comfortably, with plenty of leg room. The boot is practical and generously sized, too, with a wide opening and a low lip. Entry-level SZ4 trim is very well equipped: 16in alloy wheels, Bluetooth, a DAB radio, a USB port, steering wheel-mounted controls, cruise control and seven airbags all come as standard.”

Vitara is proving to be very popular with customers in the UK with 11,500 sold in 2016. Suzuki’s ALLGRIP four wheel drive technology is available as an option on SZ5 models and is standard equipment on the 1.4-litre Boosterjet S model.

Just 200 Special Edition Jimny Adventure series SUV'a are heading to the UK, get one now, they wont last long.

Since first launched in 1998, the Suzuki Jimny has accumulated a major following of loyal owners around the world and with its practical look Jimny owners can really enjoy a quirky alternative to a supermini or crossover SUV.  

To add further customer appeal for 2016, the new Jimny Adventure Special Edition is now on sale with a very limited production run of just 200 units for the UK.

Jimny Adventure is based on the popular high specification SZ4 model which includes Dark Silver 15-inch alloy wheels, synthetic leather seats, air conditioning and rear privacy glass as standard and then adds unique features including full screen satellite navigation with Bluetooth connectivity, hard spare wheel cover with ‘Adventure’ logo as well as individual Pearl White Metallic / Quasar Grey 2-Tone paint finish.

Jimny Adventure offers strong customer value and is priced at £14,949 including metallic paint, just £1,000 more than an SZ4 model before optional metallic at £430 is added.

Jimny is equipped with an all-alloy 16 valve 1.3-litre engine that benefits from Variable Valve Timing (VVT) for lively performance and strong fuel economy from its light kerb weight of just 1,090 kg. The Adventure is available with manual transmission that returns an official 39.8mpg in combined cycle driving and CO₂emissions are 162g/km.

Jimny has built up an established, tough and capable reputation amongst its 24,000 loyal owners in the UK with many now on their third or even fourth car in succession. Durability was certainly put to the test back in 2014 when long standing Suzuki fan Les Carvall and three friends drove two Jimnys around the world on their ‘Heaven can wait I’m busy’ charity expedition. Starting in Southampton, the four month long Global tour clocked up over 18,500 miles across some very challenging terrain and both cars returned unscathed with no reliability faults to report. 

Suzuki takes the title of best Compact Crossover in The Sunday Times Top 100 cars 2016.

Suzuki GB PLC would like to share some very good news for its Vitara model as it has been voted the winner of the compact crossover category in The Sunday Times Top 100 cars of 2016. 

Launched in the UK nine months ago, the Vitara was tested by their editorial team against some very strong competition from four different brands with one costing over £16,000 more for its lowest priced derivative.

The Sunday Times comments: “Squint — hard — and you might mistake the new Vitara for a Range Rover Evoque. That’s because Suzuki’s crossover has morphed from a cheap and cheerful off-roader into a primped, well-equipped vehicle that’s top of its class. This has a lot to do with the low starting price.”

Vitara SZ4 is available from £13,999 and standard equipment for all models is comprehensive and includes seven airbags, alloy wheels, DAB Radio with USB and Bluetooth connectivity, cruise control with speed limiter, auto air conditioning and front and rear electric windows.  Suzuki’s latest ALLGRIP four wheel drive technology is available as an option.

The most recent addition to the range is the new S model which provides a more sporting and dynamic character to the Vitara line up. The new S is the first Suzuki to utilise new BOOSTERJET technology engine which, in Vitara, is a 140PS 1.4-litre Direct Injection turbocharged unit (DITC). 

This new engine has compact dimensions and offers 220Nm of torque available from just 1,500rpm through to 4,000rpm.  CO₂  emissions are 127g/km and just one gramme higher for the optional six speed automatic transmission.

Suzuki also scored well in the warm hatchbacks category with its popular Swift Sport model. First launched in the UK in January 2012, the Sport again impressed the team who commented:  “This might look slow on paper and in the metal too, but get in and you won’t want to release the steering wheel. 

The Swift’s non-turbocharged 1.6-litre engine is a gem: smooth, revvy and full of heart. The car grips tenaciously, steers with energy and the subtle go-faster tweaks mean nobody else is likely to realise the fun you’re having, particularly if you opt for the five-door version. The three-door is a sub-£14,000 bargain”.

Suzuki to consolidate sales gains with some great offers to keep the momentum flowing.

• Even stronger value for Q3 2015 with PCP schemes on offer across the Suzuki range of cars.
• Celerio SZ2 available from just £79 per month payable over 42 months with a deposit of £1,816.
• Swift SZ3 three and five door models (2 wheel drive) include free satellite navigation upgrade and 0% APR PCP finance with £0 deposit.
• Vitara SZ4 available from £179 per month over 42 months.
• S-Cross 1.6 SZ3 available from £159 per month over 48 months.

Suzuki have launched their summer offers across the range, including the new Celerio and Vitara models, and the ever-popular Swift and S-Cross. A PCP (Personal Contract Purchase) agreement is ideal for customers who want to purchase a new Suzuki at a low monthly cost.

The recently introduced Celerio SZ2 is priced at £6,999 and is available for £79 per month over 42 months, with a deposit of £1,816 and optional final payment of £2,685. Celerio SZ2 is well equipped with a DAB digital radio, CD tuner, Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) and daytime running lights all included as standard specification.

Swift is one of Suzuki’s world strategic models and makes strong statements in styling, impact safety, driving performance, handling as well as offering low fuel consumption and low CO₂ emissions. Swift is also Suzuki’s largest selling model in the UK, accounting for 40% of sales, and a target of 15,000 units for 2015.

Swift SZ3 is available on PCP with 0% APR and £0 deposit, at a cost of £172 per month over 42 months with a final payment of £3,375 for a three door model, or £182 per month with a £3,438 final payment for a five door model.

In addition, all Swift customers purchasing an SZ3 specification car will receive a free satellite navigation upgrade until the end of September. This is in addition to air conditioning, 16-inch alloy wheels, front fog lamps and Bluetooth connectivity which are all included as standard.

S-Cross SZ3 is also available on PCP with 2.9% APR and 48 monthly payments of £159. A £2,090 deposit is required and the optional final payment is £5,275. SZ3 models are equipped with air conditioning, 16-inch alloy wheels, USB and Bluetooth connectivity as standard.

The all-new Vitara is also included in the summer offers, with a 42 month PCP at £179 per month with a deposit of £2,600 for the Vitara 1.6 SZ4 model, which is priced at £13,999. The optional final payment for those customers who want to keep their car is £5,665.

The all-new Vitara is designed meet contemporary needs and incorporates Suzuki’s cutting-edge ALLGRIP four wheel drive system as an option. Advanced safety and connectivity equipment is available and Vitara also enables owners to express themselves through various personalisation options.

Standard equipment specification for the SZ4 model includes seven airbags, 16-inch alloy wheels, DAB Radio with USB and Bluetooth connectivity, Cruise control with speed limiter, auto air conditioning, front and rear electric windows and projector headlamps.

After a Hiccup at launch, the new Suzuki Celerio gets updates and upgrades.

• New Dualjet engine with 84g/km CO₂ emissions is the cleanest and most fuel efficient new car on sale for less than £10,000.
• SZ3 Dualjet priced at £8,499 includes air conditioning, DAB digital radio, Bluetooth and alloy wheels as standard.
• Auto Gear Shift (AGS) now available on SZ4 model as an £800 option.
• “A+ compact” car that exceeds ‘A’ segment standards gives class leading interior space.
• Six airbags and ESP fitted as standard safety equipment for all UK models.
• Class leading luggage capacity of 254 litres.

The Celerio, Suzuki’s all-new global compact city car, went on sale in the UK in February and more than 2,000 have been delivered to date. Suzuki has now introduced two new derivatives to the range which are the Dualjet and Auto Gear Shift models.

The new ultra clean Dualjet engine emits 84g/km of CO₂ and attains 78.4mpg on the EC Combined fuel cycle making it the most fuel efficient new car on sale for less than £10,000. Dualjet is a lot less in fact, as it is on sale for £8,499 which is just £500 more than the 99g/km SZ3 model.

The new engine incorporates twin fuel injectors for improved fuel economy; Dualjet technology positions the fuel injectors very close to the engine inlet valves and allows for a finer fuel mixture which in turn provides a more effective transfer into the engine. This engine also incorporates a stop start facility when stationary.

Also now on sale is Suzuki’s new development in automated manual gearbox technology. Known as Auto Gear Shift (AGS), this system features an Intelligent Shift Control Actuator positioned at the top of the transmission that operates the gearshift and clutch automatically.

With AGS, the driver can enjoy the effortless driving of an automatic, particularly in city traffic, but without any loss in fuel efficiency or increase in CO₂ that would normally be the case with a conventional torque converter equipped automatic transmission. CO₂ emissions are only 99g/km and Celerio with AGS is therefore VED exempt.  A unique feature of the Suzuki AGS is a low speed ‘creep’ facility which allows the car to move in gear without the accelerator being applied, ideal in slow traffic and when parking.   

AGS is offered on the top SZ4 grade for £9,799 representing an additional £800 over the manual transmission model.

Standard specification highlights for all Celerio models is comprehensive and includes six airbags (Driver, passenger, side and curtain), ESP*, air conditioning, alloy wheels, DAB Radio, CD Tuner, USB, Bluetooth connectivity and remote central locking.

The even higher equipped SZ4 model adds polished alloy wheels, rear electric windows, front fog lamps, body coloured door mirrors and chrome front grille.

Suzuki Vitara achieves the full EURO NCAP Five Stars, with above average marks in all categories.

• New Vitara scores high in all categories of assessment
• The first compact SUV to attain five stars in new and more rigorous testing by Euro NCAP
• Outstanding crash performance due to Suzuki’s Total Effective Control Technology (TECT)

The new Suzuki Vitara compact SUV, launched earlier this month, is rated one of Europe's safest cars according to independent crash testing results from Euro NCAP, receiving the maximum 5-star rating. 

Vitara is also the first compact SUV to earn five stars in the more rigorous 2015 Euro NCAP testing programme which further reinforces the exemplary level of safety of the new model.

Suzuki’s new Vitara has been awarded high scores in all four areas of assessment and also exceeds the minimum level required in all of these to attain the five star rating. These areas are listed below:

Area of Assessment	Vitara Score	Minimum required for Five star Euro NCAP rating
Adult occupant	89%	80%
Child Occupant	85%	75%
Pedestrian	76%	65%
Safety Assist	75%	70%

The new Vitara’s passive and active safety systems are designed to intelligently anticipate and react to potentially dangerous situations with an excellent level of protection. 

One of its major safety features is Total Effective Control Technology which is a concept for occupant protecting impact absorption and low weight developed by Suzuki.

Extensive use of high tensile steel and computer aided engineering technologies make the body light, highly crashworthy as well as fuel efficient.

Standard safety equipment includes seven airbags which includes a driver’s knee airbag as well as seat belt pre-tensioners and force limiters. 

Euro NCAP’s tests on the front seats and head restraints showed good protection against whiplash injury in the event of a rear end collision and a geometric assessment of the rear seats also  indicated good protection.

Suzuki paid particular attention to child safety in accordance with latest European legislation and pedestrian protection received the highest score amongst its competitors thanks to bonnet shape and new structures for the cowl top and wipers. The bumpers also provide good impact absorption to lessen the degree of harm if the car comes into contact with a pedestrian.

Vitara is on sale in the UK from £13,999 for the SZ4 1.6-litre petrol model with two wheel drive and is available with ALLGRIP four wheel drive as an option.

Suzuki leads the way in 4x4 non hybrid CO2 emissions.

• All new Vitara 5-door Compact SUV – on sale in the UK from April.
• CO₂ emissions of 111g/km for 1.6-litre DDiS with ALLGRIP four wheel drive.
• Three low CO₂ emission 4x4 Suzuki models available across the range.
• New Vitara available with 1.6-litre petrol or 1.6-litre DDiS engines, both with 120PS.
• Available in SZ4, SZ-T and SZ5 grades, priced from £13,999 for 1.6 petrol SZ4 with two wheel drive up to £21,299 for 1.6 DDiS SZ5 ALLGRIP.

On sale in April, Suzuki is pleased to announce some great news for buyers of the all new Vitara ALLGRIP DDiS model which is the cleanest non-hybrid 4x4 on the market. CO₂ emissions are just 111g/km for the 1.6-litre DDiS SZ5 ALLGRIP model with an EC combined fuel consumption figure of 67.2mpg.

It's not just in the 4x4 SUV segment that Suzuki excels either, as the recently launched Swift 4x4 Dualjet model at £14,199 also emits 111g/km and, in the Crossover segment, the S-Cross 1.6DDiS SZ-T at £21,299 is only slightly higher at 114g/km.

From the launch of Vitara in April, Suzuki will offer three low CO₂ emission 4x4 models from its range and these are all within the top four most fuel efficient 4x4s on the market. At £21,299 for the SZ5 DDiS ALLGRIP, buyers would need to spend almost £6,000 more to gain any advantage in emissions by moving to a competitor model that utilises a hybrid drive system.

Four-wheel drive is typically seen as detrimental to fuel economy and emissions performance. By contrast, Suzuki’s ALLGRIP system enables CO₂ emissions that are remarkably low for a four-wheel drive petrol-powered SUV as well, with figures of 130g/km with five-speed manual transmission and 131g/km with optional six-speed automatic transmission that will be available in the summer.

New Vitara - Specification Highlights and Pricing

Standard equipment specification for the SZ4 model includes seven airbags, 16-inch alloy wheels, DAB Radio with USB and Bluetooth connectivity, Cruise Control with speed limiter, auto air conditioning, front and rear electric windows and projector headlamps.

SZ-T adds 17-inch silver painted alloy wheels, rear privacy glass, Smartphone link audio and navigation system.

Moving up to SZ5 adds LED Projector headlights, 17-inch polished alloy wheels, suede seat fabric, keyless entry with start button, Adaptive Cruise Control, Radar Brake Support and Panaoramic sunroof.

Model	Vehicle OTR Price
1.6 SZ4	£13,999
1.6 SZ-T	£15,499
1.6 SZ5	£17,999
1.6 SZ5 ALLGRIP	£19,799
1.6 DDiS SZ-T	£16,999
1.6 DDiS SZ5	£19,499
1.6 DDiS SZ5 ALLGRIP	£21,299
Urban Pack (for SZ-T & SZ5)	£500
Rugged Pack (for SZ-T & SZ5)	£500
Metallic Paint (for all models)	£430
Dual-tone Paint (for SZ-T & SZ5)	£800