Suzuki Vitara review

The problem here is that, having compared the Vitara’s insides to a Duster, the Suzuki carries quite the premium over its Romanian counterpart. Whereas before you could spec the smaller, cheaper powertrain to match the budget interior, Vitara prices now start at over £22,000 for the base-spec, front-wheel drive SZ4. That used to be under 17 grand and yet it still comes without any form of infotainment screen. Ouch. It does have adaptive cruise control and a decent array of active safety systems as standard, though.

Stepping up to the middling SZ-T trim adds £1,000 and introduces the 7.0-inch touchscreen with sat nav as well as larger 17-inch alloy wheels. Top spec SZ5s with front and rear parking sensors and suede seats now start at £25,249, with Allgrip 4WD models commanding an £1,800 premium over 2WD.

Our main issue here? A top-level Duster Prestige with four-wheel drive starts at £20,455 and has a very similar feel inside to the Vitara. In the late twenty-thousands there are plenty of other more premium crossover options, too.

Suzuki has an unimpeachable reputation when it comes to reliability and customer care, though, and the Vitara gets a three-year/60,000-mile warranty as well as 12 months of roadside assistance, both in the UK and Europe. Unlike the Jimny, it also boasts a five-star Euro NCAP safety score.