Suzuki launches its first hybrid in South Africa – the all-new Grand Vitara

 ·19 Apr 2023

Suzuki’s all-new Grand Vitara is officially on sale in South Africa with a starting price of R339,900.

The Grand Vitara range offers five variant options with two different drivetrain options, including the first-ever mild hybrid petrol-electric powertrain from Suzuki Auto South Africa.

The Grand Vitara also includes three gearbox options and two- and four-wheel drive choices.

This launch follows a few months after Suzuki Auto South Africa gave the public their first taste of its new flagship at last year’s Festival of Motoring.

“The previous-generation Grand Vitara was very popular and had a particularly long life cycle in South Africa thanks to its popularity.

“The new model is a reinterpretation of the Grand Vitara concept and has been completely redesigned from the ground up, with a focus on style, technology and ride comfort,” said Brendon Carpenter, the brand marketing manager of Suzuki Auto.

Features 

All models feature roof rails and 17-inch alloy wheels. In the GL model, the alloy wheels are painted, while the GLX versions have machine-polished rims of the same size. Roof rails are also standard across the range and are silver on the GLX versions, which also get privacy glass on the rear doors as standard.

In addition to this high specification level, all GLX models are fitted with a panoramic sunroof. The 6-speed four-wheel drive Hybrid model also has paddle shifters that allow the driver to shift gears right from the steering wheel.

All models also have keyless access, keyless start/stop, electric windows, wireless connectivity for Apple CarPlay and wired Android Auto, automatic climate control, cruise control, a leather-covered steering wheel with remote controls for the audio, cruise and phone features and a powerful audio system.

GLX-versions of the Grand Vitara further receive a full leatherette interior, wireless charging tray, ambient lighting (including in the footwells), and additional USB-charging sockets for rear passengers.

In the centre console, the GL models come with a 7-inch infotainment system which also hosts a reverse camera. On the GLX models, the centre-mounted screen is a high-resolution 9-inch infotainment system offering a 360-degree camera view of the car. At the same time, additional driving information is shown on the standard Head-Up Display (HUD).

The HUD displays a large variety of information, including vehicle speed, engine speed, gear selection, instant fuel consumption figures, vehicle alerts and even climate control settings.

Performance

The Suzuki Grand Vitara will be offered with the choice of two versions of Suzuki’s K15 engine. The first engine is a naturally aspirated four-cylinder petrol engine that delivers 77 kW of power and 138 Nm of torque.

The second engine on offer, and a first for Suzuki in South Africa, is the petrol engine with mild hybrid electric power (code-named SHVS or Smart Hybrid Vehicle by Suzuki). This engine uses a much higher compression ratio than its sibling and an always-on mild-hybrid system with a power output of 75.8 kW and 136.8 Nm.

The Grand Vitara offers a claimed fuel consumption of 6 litres per 100 kilometres, while the hybrid variant reduces this to 5.6 L/100km. To further save on fuel, this version of the Grand Vitara is fitted with Start/Stop technology and will switch off when the vehicle is stationary, for instance, at a red traffic light or in heavy traffic.

There are three transmission options available in the Grand Vitara. The standard two-wheel drive petrol engine Grand Vitara models can be purchased with either a five-speed manual or four-speed automatic transmission.

The mild-hybrid version of the Grand Vitara has a six-speed automatic transmission with switchable all-wheel drive. This features Suzuki’s AllGrip Select system, automatically switching its power between the wheels depending on road conditions and driver input.

All models have six airbags as standard, including side curtain airbags that stretch across the length of the cabin.

All models also feature electronic stability control (ESP), ABS brakes with Emergency Brake Assist (EBA), Hill Hold Assist (HHA) and rear parking sensors as standard.

Pricing

The five model variants on offer and their respective price tags are as follows:

  • Grand Vitara 1.5 GL Manual – R339,900
  • Grand Vitara 1.5 GL Auto – R359,000
  • Grand Vitara 1.5 GLX Manual – R397,900
  • Grand Vitara 1.5 GLX Auto – R417,900
  • Grand Vitara 1.5 GLX Hybrid – R529,900

All the options above come with a 6-year/90,000km service plan and a 5-year/200,000km warranty.

All models can be ordered in Arctic White, Splendid Silver, Opulent Red, Grandeur Grey, Celestial Blue, Midnight Black and pearlescent versions of Arctic White and Cave Black.

Two-tone options with a black roof and side mirrors are available in Arctic White, Splendid Silver and Opulent Red.


Suzuki Grand Vitara




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