Features / 24 December 2024 / Michael Taylor

Cheapest vs most expensive Suzuki in South Africa – The R364,000 difference

Suzuki is one of the fastest-growing car brands in South Africa, hitting new sales records over the course of 2024.

The Japanese automaker has risen to the point where it is now competing with VW for the title of the country’s second-best-selling nameplate – a feat that would have seemed unthinkable just a few years earlier.

Much of this success comes down to the fact that Suzuki has an extensive collection of affordable vehicles, including the cheapest set of wheels on the market – the R178,900 S-Presso.

That being said, Suzuki does have a few premium selections as well, with the most expensive being the R542,900 Grand Vitara, so it’s an interesting process to examine these two cars side-by-side to see what the company can provide on either end of the price spectrum to explain this R364,000 gap.

Engines

The S-Presso is fitted with a 1.0-litre, naturally-aspirated petrol engine which produces 49kW and 89Nm.

This connects to the front wheels via a five-speed manual gearbox, resulting in an average fuel consumption of 4.6l/100km.

As for the Grand Vitara, the range-topping SUV is unusual in that it is Suzuki’s first hybrid option in South Africa.

This takes the form of a 1.5-litre petrol drivetrain with 76kW and 137Nm, which is assisted by an integrated starter motor and a 12V battery.

It also features the AllGrip all-wheel-drive system and a six-speed automatic gearbox.

The hybrid additions provide smoother acceleration at low speeds, and efficiency is further increased by a Stop/Start function and regenerative brakes that harvest the kinetic energy from braking and feed it back into the battery.

The reward for all of these systems is an average economy stat of 5.6l/100km, which may be higher than the S-Presso, but bear in mind that the Vitara is 780mm longer and weighs 585kg more, so the difference is understandable.

Features

Suzuki’s hatchback sets the benchmark for equipment in South Africa with electric front windows, central locking, electronically adjustable side mirrors, manual air conditioning, rear parking sensors, a multifunction steering wheel, ABS, two airbags, and 14-inch steel wheels in plastic decorations.

It also has two speakers as standard, but a radio must be installed for an additional cost.

The carmaker’s flagship Grand Vitara, on the other hand, will treat buyers to 17-inch alloy wheels, LED headlights and daytime running lights, keyless entry and start, a leather multifunction steering wheel, automatic climate control, leatherette upholstery, ambient cabin lighting, a wireless phone charger, a 9-inch infotainment unit with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and a heads-up display.

This is in addition to cruise control, rear parking sensors, hill assist, a surround-view camera system, and six airbags.

Both cars are sold with a standard 5-year/200,000km warranty, but the S-Presso is bundled with a 2-year/30,000km service plan while the SUV has longer 4-year/60,000km coverage.