2018 Suzuki Vitara joins B-segment crossover fray
Suzuki Philippines officially launches all-new Vitara
A new crossover from Suzuki has just arrived in the Philippines and is set to take on the likes of the Ford EcoSport, Nissan Juke and Mazda CX-3. Officially making its local debut is the all-new Suzuki Vitara. It replaces the third-generation Grand Vitara and marks the brand's entry in the lucrative B-segment crossover.
Unlike its predecessor which had a body-on-frame construction, the 2018 Vitara utilizes a unibody construction, hence its crossover pedigree. In terms of size, the all-new Vitara measures 4175mm long, 1775mm wide and 1610mm tall. Plus, it has a generous 2500mm wheelbase. Two variants are available, namely the GL+ and GLX. An entry-level GL will be available shortly after.
Over to its design, the fourth-generation Vitara ditches its boxy looks for a sleeker finish. The front fascia has a swooping design which blends with the fenders and bumper seamlessly. Like the third-generation model, this too has a two-bar chrome grill albeit smaller and thinner. It also gets upswept headlights, new circular foglights and a clamshell hood.
Five-spoke alloy wheels give the Vitara a suave finish while the black plastic body cladding on the wheel arches give it a more rugged appearance. The GL+ gets a set of 16-inch rims while the GLX gets upgrated to 17-inch alloys. As for lighting, full LED headlights are fitted to the GLX while the GL+ gets a pair of halogens. As a bonus, a panoramic sunroof is standard on the GLX. Also worth noting are the distinct muscular arches that run from the doors all the way to the rear quarter panels.
Dominating the rear fascia are the eye-catching hexagon-shaped taillights and large back window. The spare tire cover, on the other hand, is no more while the tailgate now opens upwards instead of sideways. Also present is a single rear center foglight that is housed within the rear bumper.
Inside, the 2018 Vitara gets a sportier, more youthful cabin than the older model. The familiar three-spoke steering wheel gets a mild redesign and now comes with updated multimedia controls. The instrument panel gets a dual gauge cluster design along with a bigger multi-info display that can show average fuel consumption, tripmeter and the like.
Sitting at the center dash is a new 10-inch touchscreen infotainment system. It supports AM/FM radio, Bluetooth, USB, Aux and also comes with Wi-Fi connectivity, in the case of the top-spec GLX. On the other hand, the GL+ gets a smaller 7-inch touchscreen. For those that need to charge their devices, a 12V power socket also comes as standard equipment in the Vitara. Meanwhile an automatic climate control, standard on both variants, keeps the cabin cool on hot days.
Under the hood, the 2018 Vitara is powered by a 1.6-liter, four-cylinder gas engine. It generates 115 PS @ 6,000 rpm, along with 156 Nm of torque @ 4,400 rpm. In the meantime, the lone transmission option is a six-speed automatic although the entry-level manual variant will be offered soon. All variants are front-wheel drive.
Key safety features present in the all-new Vitara include four-wheel anti-lock disc brakes with electronic brakeforce distribution, hill hold control, cruise control, electronic stability control, ISOFIX rear anchors for child seats and a host of airbags.
The 2018 Suzuki Vitara is made and sourced from the company's factory over in Hungary.
Pricing of the 2018 Suzuki Vitara are as follows:
Vitara GL+: Php 938,000
Vitara GLX: Php 1,048,000
