New Suzuki Grand Vitara in South Africa – The details

Suzuki South Africa has unveiled the all-new Grand Vitara, with the model’s local launch penned in for the first quarter of 2023.

The Grand Vitara is positioned as the flagship in Suzuki’s vehicle line-up, and the SUV will be on display for anyone to see at the Festival of Motoring at Kyalami from 26-28 August.

What to expect

At launch next year, the new Grand Vitara will be sold with two 1.5-litre petrol powertrains, one of these being hybrid, available in manual and automatic specifications depending on the model.

This “Smart Hybrid Vehicle by Suzuki” (SHVS) system is the first time the brand will sell an electrified version of its cars in the country, and it sees an integrated starter generator instead of the more conventional alternator to deliver additional power to the engine during acceleration.

This innovation is also able to regenerate energy during braking for storage in a 12V lithium-ion battery, which is fitted alongside the standard lead-acid battery in the hybrid Vitaras.

“The SHVS system primarily assists the engine during normal and more demanding driving conditions and in doing so, increases fuel efficiency and reduces emissions,” said Suzuki.

“It can, however, channel its energy to components such as headlights, air conditioning, and infotainment to reduce the engine load for further fuel savings.”

On top of this, the new hybrid Grand Vitaras will also get Suzuki’s electronically-controlled four-wheel-drive system as standard with four distinct drive modes – Auto, Sport, Snow, and Lock.

“By selecting between these driving modes, drivers can optimise their experience for fun, peace of mind, or efficiency depending on their needs and the road surface or prevailing conditions,” said the manufacturer.

As Suzuki’s most expensive vehicle, the new Grand Vitara further gets the most advanced features at the company’s disposal.

Standard across the range are LED projector headlights, cruise control, keyless entry and start, intelligent climate control, and six airbags.

On the top-of-the-line derivatives, buyers can also expect a 9-inch touchscreen infotainment system, a 360-degree camera programme, a heads-up display, as well as wireless smartphone charging.

The South African pricing and complete specifications of the new Suzuki Grand Vitara will be announced closer to the vehicle’s launch date in 2023.