As before, prices sit mainly in the £17,000 to £26,000 bracket and buyers choose between 'SZ4', 'SZ-T' and 'SZ5' trim grades.
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You'll need a budget of well over £20,000 for the ALLGRIP 4WD version. All variants get seven airbags, 16-inch alloy wheels, a DAB Radio with USB and Bluetooth connectivity, cruise control with a speed limiter, auto air conditioning, front and rear electric windows and projector headlamps. The plusher SZ-T trim level adds 17-inch silver painted alloy wheels, rear privacy glass, Smartphone link audio and a navigation system.
There's a range of personalisation options and lots of safety technology. This includes Dual Sensor Brake Support, Lane Departure Warning and Prevention, Traffic Sign recognition, Blind Spot Monitor and Rear cross traffic alert.
Cost of Ownership
The Vitara's CO2 emissions are low thanks to the use of high tensile steel and other weight saving measures in the body plus an Engine Auto Stop Start system which shuts down the engine when stationary. Go for the 1.4-litre Boosterjet manual with ALLGRIP 4WD and the combined fuel return is 52.3mpg with a CO2 reading of 127g/km. Choose the same car with auto transmission and you're looking at 51.4mpg and 128g/km.
Residual values might well stack up better than the industry average if the current crop of Suzuki models is anything to go by. Strong reliability records and modest optional equipment lists have helped to keep 'real world' residuals buoyant. The Vitara shouldn't divert too far from that template even if it does promise additional personalisation options.
Summary
Customers wanting a small Crossover of this kind now have so much choice that for many of them, it must be difficult to know where to start. If that's the case for you, then beginning your search by looking at a great all-rounder in this segment seems to make a lot of sense. And this improved Vitara is certainly that.
In this test, we've looked at some of the reasons why. Take, for example, the extra space you get inside compared to key competitors like Nissan's Juke. And the high standards of specification that'll sugar the showroom proposition. Plus for what it's worth, this Vitara is also a bit more capable in poor conditions than most of the alternative choices you could make, provided you can stretch up to one of the pricey ALLGRIP 4x4 models. This is, in other words, in every sense, a Vitara for the modern world. A car that's a little more than just a fashion statement.