Adding ‘S’ to the title isn’t just about spoilers and alloy wheels with this Vitara, as Al Suttie discovers
1 – At a first glance, the Vitara S is little more than a set of gloss black alloy wheels, rear spoiler and some nicer seat fabric.
2 – Dig a little deeper, specifically under the bonnet, and you find Suzuki’s new 1.4-litre turbo petrol engine.
3 – This is where things get interesting as it has 140hp and 220Nm of torque to make the 1.6 petrol looks somewhat weedy by comparison.
4 – That impression is massively underlined on the road, where the plodding 1.6 is easily out-performed by this nippy 1.4.
5 – It helps the Vitara S tips the scales at just 1200kg, so it is surprisingly zesty off the line and through the gears.
6 – The S also has the handling and balance to make the most of this point-to-point appeal, and it rides reasonably too.
7 – We had a six-speed manual version which has a decent shift action and returns 52.3mpg. Not quite as good as the 1.6’s best, but good enough for us.
8 – There’s also still all of the four-wheel drive and variable modes to let you wander off the beaten track should the inclination take you.
9 – Talking of steep slopes, the Vitara S is pricier than its sister models, and comparably quick rivals are cheaper but less efficient.
10 – Emissions of 127g/km are middling, but better than a rival Nissan Juke’s or Vauxhall Mokka’s, and the Suzuki is markedly more fun to drive.
