Suzuki PH reveals a more hip and youthful 2018 Vitara

Say hello to the 2018 Suzuki Vitara, a crossover that is set to rival the likes of the Subaru XV, Mazda CX-3, Nissan Juke, among others. As such, the all-new Vitara is the newest challenger to the tightly contested local subcompact crossover segment. What does it have to offer? Here’s a quick run through to Suzuki Philippines’ latest model.

The exterior of the all-new Vitara is aggressive yet sleek – in fact, we can’t help but see it as the Japanese version of the Range Rover Evoque. Yes, we know that comparing the Evoque to the Vitara might be a little over the top, but if you look at it closely both cars have a relatively similar front end.

Speaking of which, the Vitara’s fascia is crowned by wraparound LED project headlights with daytime running lights (DRL), a large grille, and a muscular bumper. Turning at the side, you’ll notice that it has features a 2-tone exterior along with sharp character lines, flared wheel arches, and 17-inch black alloy wheels. At the rear, it also has huge taillights, as well as a revamped tailgate (goodbye visible spare tire) that now opens upwards.

Inside, the all-new Vitara features a dark interior theme with suede and leather accents that are present even on the seats. The dashboard is adorned with circular air vents, a 3-spoke steering wheel, and a 10-inch infotainment system with offline navigation and Wifi, Bluetooth, and USB connectivity. In addition, the vehicle has white-on-black instrument cluster, a panoramic sunroof, and a seating capacity that could accommodate 5 occupants.

This Vitara was able to earn a 5-star safety rating from Euro NCAP due to its notable adult and child occupant protection. It is also equipped with safety features such as front, side, and curtain airbags, ISOFIX child seat anchorages, hill hold control, and brake assist function.

The all-new Vitara is powered by a 1.6L gasoline engine that delivers 115 hp and 156 Nm of torque. It's then transmitted to the front wheels via a 6-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters. Sadly, there's no 4x4 variants for this subcompact crossover.

The 2018 Vitara is initially available in 2 variants: GL+ and GLX. The GL+ is available in 5 colors: Atlantis Turquoise Pearl Metallic, Cosmic Black Pearl Metallic, Galactic Gray Metallic, Silky Silver Metallic 2, and Cool White Pearl. The GLX is offered with a 2-tone exterior such as Atlantis Turquoise Pearl, Bright Red 5 Metallic, and Horizon Orange Metallic.

Suzuki PH says the 2018 Vitara is priced as P1,048,000 for the top-of-the line GLX option and P938,000 for the GL+ variant. Details about the entry-level GL variant is yet to be announced.