Our Motoring
SUZUKI VITARA 1.4-HYBRID - SZT Suzuki has entered the fray in the hotly contested hybrid market. The Suzuki system is slightly different. It consists of a 48volt lithiumion battery which is integrated in to the starter generating system, it sounds complicated, but to make it simple what it does, it assists the driver, writes Bob Hickman.
This electric assistance in addition to the 1400cc petrol 4-cylinder engine which produces 129bhp, is sufficient to give a top speed of 118mph and a 0-60 in 9.5 seconds. The important CO figures are 128g/km. Enough of the technical features, what was the Suzuki like? It is a great affordable SUV, its raised road driving position means it is reassuring to drive and there is an awful lot of choice within the Vitara range.
A clever ECU on the engine detects when the driver accelerates and uses the electric motor to assist and create extra torque, so if you press the accelerator quickly the engine motor will kick in. So it is not a pure hybrid, it is an assistance hybrid.
There is just one engine choice, but trims vary, there are 3 grades within the hybrid setup, SZ4, SZ-T, and the SZ5. 60
