Suzuki Vitara Mild Hybrid: now with the benefits of the ECO label

The Suzuki Vitara receives 48-volt Mild Hybrid technology to improve consumption and emissions, while also offering the benefits of the DGT’s ECO badge.

Suzuki also joins the Mild Hybrid light hybridisation technology for the Suzuki Vitara. For many manufacturers, this technology is a technically simple and cost-effective solution for reducing a vehicle’s consumption and emissions. And for environmental badge purposes, vehicles that use it receive the DGT ECO label, just like “true” hybrids.

Here we explain in more detail why a Mild Hybrid car is not really a hybrid. The main difference is that they use an electric motor and a much smaller battery, to assist at start-up and also provide additional thrust alongside the combustion engine. But in a Mild Hybrid the electric motor can never move the vehicle on its own, there is no direct connection between the electric motor and the wheels.

This is how the Mild Hybrid system of the Suzuki Vitara works

The Japanese brand already has other models with light hybridisation in its range: the Suzuki Swift and the Suzuki Ignis, which are the cheapest ECO-labelled 4x4s on the market. Unlike the Vitara, in these cases it is a 12-volt MHEV system, whereas the Vitara uses a more sophisticated 48-volt system, which will also arrive this spring on the Suzuki S-Cross and Swift Sport.

In the Vitara, the IGS electric motor connected to the combustion engine has 10 kW of power, instead of 2.3 kW, while the lithium-ion battery becomes 8 Ah. In this way, in the Vitara the electric motor performs the functions that it does in the Ignis and Swift: start-stop by quickly restarting the engine, regenerative braking to store energy in the battery, and electrical assistance to the on-board systems with the engine idling.

But in the Vitara, the electric motor also adds its thrust to that of the combustion engine. And it does so with very good results.

Up to 15% less consumption

The 1.4 Turbo Boosterjet petrol engine loses 11 CV and now delivers 129 CV at 5,500 rpm. For its part, maximum torque increases by 10 Nm, reaching 235 Nm from just 2,000 rpm.

In practice, the best part is that what Suzuki promises is fulfilled: equivalent performance with a reduction in consumption of almost one litre of fuel every 100 km, and a noticeably pleasant driving experience thanks to the smoothness of the 1.4 engine and the electric motor’s assistance in the first moments after pressing the accelerator.

The 5.7 l/100 km of WLTP homologated combined consumption, which rises to 6.2 l/100 km in the 4×4 version, are genuinely achievable in the Vitara Mild Hybrid, as long as you drive efficiently. We were able to verify this on the same route we took at the time of the Vitara’s first test drive, when it debuted its latest changes.

As a distinctive feature, the Vitara remains one of the few SUVs of its size that, while maintaining comfort and good dynamic qualities on tarmac, stands out when it comes to continuing along tracks and dirt roads. Especially in the version with the effective 4×4 traction, also thanks to good body angles and a very effective hill descent control. What is no longer available is the option of choosing an automatic gearbox.

Prices of the Suzuki Vitara Mild Hybrid

Suzuki has simplified the Vitara range by eliminating the basic version and leaving two trims: GLE and GLX. All versions come as standard with full LED headlights, adaptive cruise control and the Suzuki safety systems package, which includes predictive braking control, lane change alert, rear traffic alert, lane keeping assistance, fatigue detector, blind spot presence detector and traffic sign recognition.

The GLE trim already has unusually complete equipment for an entry-level version, adding to the above the rain and light sensors, rear camera, 17-inch alloy wheels, heated seats, roof rails, the multimedia system with touchscreen and air conditioning.

Unless you are looking for exclusive equipment, you can therefore save the almost 2,300 euro premium of the GLX, which adds polished wheels, keyless entry, leather upholstery and parking sensors, along with a few other aesthetic details.

Prices, which include a 1,300 euro discount across the entire range, are as follows:

• Vitara 1.4 T GLE MHEV: €22,400
• Vitara 1.4 T GLE 4×4 MHEV: €24,240
• Vitara 1.4T GLX MHEV: €24,690
• Vitara 1.4 GLX 4×4 MHEV: €26,490

Additionally, a further 1,400 euro discount applies when financing the purchase. In this case, the Vitara GLE MHEV drops to 21,000 euros, a very competitive price against its rivals. And for now there are not many SUVs with an ECO label in this size or price category. Below it, there is the Ford Puma Ecoboost MHEV, in 125 CV versions (from €19,510) or with 155 CV and ST-Line trim (from €20,410, with discounts). For more details, see the road test of the Ford Puma EcoBoost MHEV.

Another ECO-labelled SUV thanks to light hybridisation that stands out from the Vitara for being far more sophisticated in both its exterior and interior design and its overall approach is the Mazda CX30 2.0 Skyactiv. Discounted prices start from 24,800 euros for the 4×2 version, and there is also a 4×4 from 28,425 euros, with a less “offroad” approach than the Vitara.

Also with an ECO label, but with LPG instead of light hybridisation, other alternatives would be the Opel Mokka X LPG, the Dacia Duster LPG or, on price, although it is larger, the DSFK 580, a Chinese SUV with up to 7 seats which is offered adapted for LPG.

Image gallery Suzuki Vitara

Technical specifications of this car

Off-RoadSuzuki Vitara11 versions · from 27,925 €