SUV/4X4, Suzuki

Vitara has lasting appeal

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Suzuki Vitara Hybrid

By Bill McCarthy

It could be argued that the Vitara is a bit of an everyman car, with broad appeal ticking virtually all the boxes. It is a stylish looking compact SUV that attracted attention, especially in its two-tone livery, is powered by Suzuki’s latest Boosterject/hybrid combination, is hugely practical with various boot space combinations and is more than capable off-road.

Add to that an attractive price tag and you can see the appeal.

While Suzuki has now linked up with Toyota to share models and technology, the Vitara remains a mainstay of the Suzuki brand.

It’s a tough segment to operate in, but Suzuki is keeping pace with technology and during its 50th anniversary year in 2020 the Vitara received an even higher specification with 48V Hybrid technology, while at the same time the latest ALLGRIP ‘Select’ four-wheel drive became available as optional equipment on SZ-T and SZ5 models, again marking 50 years of Suzuki 4×4 technology.

The firm is proud of the design with tapering roofline with silver roof rails, the familiar clamshell bonnet raked windscreen and distinctive chrome grille, chrome lower bumper, smart headlight clusters and LED daytime lamps. To the rear it features smart wraparound clusters with LED display and privacy glass.

The contrasting black roof, door mirrors and wheel arch guards give it a particularly eye-catching appeal. 

The interior is smart and airy, with solid and robust switchgear. The centrepiece, touchscreen, although looking slightly dated now, controls a number of major functions including infotainment and navigation and connectivity via smartphones.

There’s also bags of headroom and legroom is good, while the seats are comfortable and fully adjustable and the commanding driving position is a bonus.

The single-choice powerful turbocharged 1.4-litre Boosterjet engine, mated to the auto gearbox, delivers pace and economy. It is quick off the mark, hitting 60mph in just over 10 seconds.

Pretty impressive for a four-wheel drive car. The engine set is paired with Suzuki’s lightweight Integrated Starter Generator, or ISG, 48v lithium-ion battery and 48V-12V (DC/DC) converter. These drive some low power components and adds an extra boost to acceleration.

The ISG is charged by the battery which is in turn re-charged as the car brakes and decelerates.

The base model includes seven airbags, assisted braking; collision avoidance system, alloy wheels, LED projector headlamps for low and high beam, DAB Radio with CD, USB and Bluetooth connectivity, auto air conditioning and front and auto headlights and wipers.

The SZ-T model driven here adds 17-inch alloy wheels, white stitching for seat trim fabric, Smartphone link audio and navigation system, keyless entry with start button and panoramic sunroof.

Practicality and versatility are key with this kind of vehicle and it offers bags of stowage space. With the rear seats in place, there are 375 litres of space available increasing to 1,730 with the rear seats folded. There is also a hidden compartment space under the boot floor cover.

Handling is decent with little evidence of wallow when cornering and the ride is comfortable enough.

The car is also packed with safety kit to deliver a five-star Euro NCAP safety rating. Equipment includes seven airbags, lane departure warning and lane departure prevention; blind spot monitor and rear cross traffic alert and adaptive cruise control.

There is plenty of competition out there in this segment, but the Vitara remains an impressive performer.

Factfile

Suzuki Vitara 1.4 SZ-T Hybrid

Price: £28,399

Mechanical: 129ps, 1,373cc, 4cyl petrol engine and electric motor driving front wheels via 6-speed manual gearbox

Max speed: 118mph

0-62mph: 10.2 seconds

Combined mpg: 45.2

Insurance group: 23

CO2 emissions: 142g/km

Warranty: 3yrs/60,000 mile

Travel

Go west for the best of Scotland

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A spectacular sunset at Turnberry Holiday Park with Ailsa Craig in the distance

The west coast of Scotland has many famous sons, and no, we’re not talking about Donald Trump and his offspring. Yes, Trump does own the famous Turnberry golf course, but this part of the world, Ayrshire, with its rugged coastline and secluded beach is famous for other Scotsmen and women.

King of Scots Robert I, better known as Robert the Bruce, was born at Turnberry Castle, he defeated the English during the first war of Scottish independence, while poet Robert Burns, also known as the National Bard and the Bard of Ayrshire, is also a native as is Alexander Fleming, who credited with discovering penicillin. Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon also hails from Ayrshire.

So there’s quite a history to the area and it attracts tourists looking for peace and quiet away from the madding crowd. Or, golfers looking for some of the finest courses in the world.

Our visit took us to a mobile home site halfway between the small village of Turnberry and the town of Girvan, just a stone’s throw from the sea. The views from the site, operated by Park Holidays are spectacular with the iconic Ailsa Craig dominating the view. Described as a huge volcanic plug of rock, it sits in the Firth of Clyde, 12 miles from the mainland.

It is famous for its  “blue hone” microgranite, quarried to make curling stones that feature in the Winter Olympics.

It was also a feature during coverage of previous Open golf championships, with cameras taking lingering shots of its brooding presence in the distance.

  • Ailsa Craig viewed from Turnberry golf course
  • The impressive George Square in Central Glasgow
  • A local marina near Turnberry
  • The promenade and beach at Girvan
  • The waves receding at Girvan beach
  • Golfers on the ninth tee at Turnberry Golf Course
  • The brooding Ailsa Craig from Girvan beach
  • Plaque on Girvan promenade explains Ailsa Craig
  • The path through the golf course leading to the iconic Turnberry Lighthouse

The site itself features a number of carvan styles and we were lucky enough to bag a bit of a bargain, with one of the lower grade ‘Bronze’ grade caravans costing us just £230 for the week.

An added bonus was that we were automatically upgraded to a range-topping eight-berth when we arrived.

Facilities are decent enough, with laundry, waste disposal, play areas, small shop and bar/restaurant available.

The bar looks out over Ailsa Craig and hosts evening entertainment depending on what stage of the season you are there. It was still going reasonably well in late September.

There is plenty to see and do within the immediate area, particularly if you are a fan of ancient buildings with castles.

Further afield, Glasgow is less than 50 miles away and can be reached by rail if you have had enough of driving. It’s a beautiful city and well worth a visit, with Glasgow Central one of the most iconic railway stations in the UK.

More locally, there are golf courses everywhere with Turnberry just a couple of miles away, while other Open courses like Troon and Prestwick are just up the coastline.

The most picturesque of course is Turnberry with the iconic lighthouse, built by the family of the author, Robert Louis Stevenson, in the middle of the course and Ailsa Craig in the distance. Public footpaths allow people to wander up the lighthouse and the runways which were used during the Second World War are still part of the course, although now unused.

Just next to the lighthouse, are the still visible ruins of Turnberry Castle, home of Robert the Bruce who defeated the English in battle. It is located between the 9th and 10th holes of the Championship Ailsa course.

Slightly further afield is Culzean Castle and Country Park is the perfect place for a family day out, while if you fancy a wee dram, a specialist whisky shop is nearby.

Turnberry itself offers some small beaches with rolling sand dunes and its flora, fauna and wildlife in general give the designation of Site of Special Scientifc Interest (SSSI), so well worth bringing our binoculars along. While Ailsa Craig still dominates here, further in the distance are the Isle of Arran.

While the site shop is small, carrying necessities, there is a boutique farm shop just down the road and for a more substantial shop in the small town of Girvan is about three miles away.

It’s a picturesque little town with a small harbour and a long promenade with access to beaches.

It hosts a large supermarket and the railway station for that trip to Glasgow.

We had postponed a foreign holiday and, given the huge rise in staycations during the pandemic, we were lucky to find somewhere as picturesque and relaxing. A first holiday in Scotland definitely not the last 

FACTFILE

Park Holidays UK, a major group of 40-plus parks in England and Scotland. Due to the popularity of holiday home ownership, there are currently no plans to provide any letting facilities in 2022. However, says the company, it’s likely that some holiday home owners will wish to make their accommodation available for sub-letting next year – and by the end of December, details will be known and published on the company’s website (www.parkholidays.com).

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