Which used Suzuki Vitara should you buy?

The Suzuki Vitara is a family-friendly small SUV that focuses on value. Even as a new car it’s well equipped for the money, yet if you’re looking for the best Suzuki Vitara deals then a used model is a great option.

It’s an alternative to the likes of the Nissan Juke and Renault Captur. You could also consider the Dacia Duster, which is a budget model that has some off-road ability.

The Suzuki Vitara has this extra side to it too, as Allgrip versions comes with four-wheel drive. While it’s not quite as capable as the Suzuki Jimny off the tarmac, it’s a better off-roader than two-wheel-drive cars such as the Juke or Captur.

The Suzuki Vitara engine range is simple, with just a handful of petrol motors. There’s a 1.0-litre three-cylinder engine which is economical and powerful enough for most drivers.

There’s also a 1.6-litre petrol and in more recent models, a 1.4-litre BoosterJet. Suzuki calls the newer version of this a hybrid, but this is a little misleading as it’s only a mild hybrid - meaning it can’t drive on electric power alone, and only has a tiny electric motor that adds a small boost to the engine.

Read our full Suzuki Vitara review

What used Suzuki Vitara trim levels are available?

You can get a Suzuki Vitara with either a manual or automatic gearbox and there are three main trim levels to be aware of: SZ4, SZ-T and SZ5. Here we’ll look at each to see what comes included as standard.

Suzuki Vitara SZ4

The entry-level Suzuki Vitara SZ4 is only available as a manual and with two-wheel drive. This model comes with an impressive amount of safety equipment, with the highlights detailed below:

• Lane departure warning
• Blind-spot assistance
• Traffic sign recognition
• Rear cross-traffic alert
• Adaptive cruise control
• LED headlights
• 16-inch alloy wheels
• Climate control
• CD player
• USB connection
• Bluetooth connectivity
• Digital radio

Suzuki Vitara SZ-T

The Suzuki Vitara SZ-T has a more comprehensive tech offering. And while it features the same fabric seats as the Suzuki Vitara SZ4, they have white stitching for a different look. This model is available with Allgrip four-wheel drive, and it’s also possible to find models with an automatic gearbox. 

• Touchscreen media system
• Sat-nav
• Reversing camera
• Android Auto
• Apple CarPlay
• 17-inch alloy wheels

Suzuki Vitara SZ5

The Suzuki Vitara SZ5 comes with a bundle of extra equipment over the Suzuki Vitara SZ-T as standard. It’s also available in automatic and four-wheel-drive forms.

• Suede upholstery
• Hill descent control (on four-wheel-drive models only)
• Keyless entry
• Front and rear parking sensors
• Panoramic sunroof
• Polished 17-inch alloy wheels
• Electric folding door mirrors with an indicator light

Is a used Suzuki Vitara a good buy?

On the road, the Suzuki Vitara is comfortable and good to drive, despite its very reasonable price tag. It’s known to be reliable too, so we’d have no qualms buying a second-hand Suzuki Vitara that’s been looked after. 

Aside from being strong value and offering more off-road capability than most cars of this type, the Suzuki Vitara also comes with plenty of standard equipment for the money.

There’s enough room in the Suzuki Vitara for a family and the boot is a decent size, too, although some rivals do offer greater luggage capacities.