Suzuki Vitara - Interior, design and technology

Park the Suzuki Vitara next to the Suzuki S-Cross, and they look virtually the same size, but the official statistics reveal that the Vitara is slightly shorter. It’s still bigger than the Nissan Juke, though.

The chunky styling focuses on sharp lines and striking details. It’s a solid-looking SUV, with a squared-off front end and a clamshell bonnet (not dissimilar to several Land Rover products), a slatted grille that reminds you of a Jeep, and lots of black plastic trim on entry-level models give it a more robust look than most small SUVs. Mid-range SZ-T and above get more chrome detailing to try and give the Vitara a premium look.

The fake vents at the edges of the bonnet, and the muscular lines that flow back along the doors and up over the rear wheels add a dash of sportiness. Metallic paint is available for £535, but if you want a contrasting black roof, you’ll need to stump up for an SZ-T or SZ5 version and add an extra £300 on top of that.

Inside, the interior design is lifted by some chrome rings around the air vents, and a strip of silver plastic that stretches across the dash and looks a little like metal. It all seems well screwed together, and it is easy to understand.  

However, far too many hard, scratchy plastics are used throughout the rest of the interior to challenge the class best. For the money, the Skoda Kamiq uses much plusher materials.

Sat-nav, stereo and infotainment

The entry-level Go comes with a four-speaker audio system with a DAB digital radio, a CD player, USB/Bluetooth for media streaming, and steering wheel controls.

The SZ-T and SZ5 models add a touchscreen sat-nav system, plus Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone connectivity, while the SZ5 has a slightly better-sounding six-speaker audio system. The glossy nav screen can be a little difficult to see in bright sunlight, and isn’t the slickest to use even when you can see it.