Suzuki Grand Vitara – Luxury for the Masses

By: Dylan Naidoo

The sudden rise of the Suzuki brand in South Africa should not be understated. In the past few years, Suzuki has beaten the likes of many legacy automakers that have been thought to have a stable stronghold in the South African market. As of November 2025, Top Auto reported that Suzuki reigns as the second best-selling car brand in South Africa, beating the likes of Hyundai, Ford and even VW, with a total of 6,890 units sold in the month of November. These sales figures show the dominance of Suzuki in the South African market, and one of those successful Suzuki models is the Grand Vitara. 

Technology and Engineering

The Grand Vitara is a very well-equipped SUV fitted with what you would expect from a 2026 SUV at the price. Namely, a large touchscreen infotainment system topped off with driving assists such as a rear-view camera and hands-free calling and controls. One aspect that immediately stood out for me was the air conditioning. It was very strong, instantly cooling the car faster than I expected it to. The engine was on the quieter side, being a smaller 1.5l naturally aspirated (NA) engine but still has a decent amount of power. The SUV is fitted with more premium features as well, such as a wireless charging pad and a retractable sunroof. In terms of fuel, 5.6l/100km is the figure that is claimed by Suzuki, which would land the SUV having similar fuel figures to some smaller hatchbacks such as the Kia Picanto, which I think was very impressive for an SUV.

Design

I got to be driven in the Grand Vitara with KZN Top Business, and being driven in the car it stands out to me why Suzuki has been so dominant in South Africa. Suzuki has significantly improved the design of their cars in the past few years, making them stylish cars at a great price. The Grand Vitara is no different, being quite an improvement in design over the previous shape. However, stylish SUVs at affordable prices are a competitive market in South Africa, especially with competitors from China. Suzuki has the advantage of being a legacy car brand in South Africa with a large following, especially when it comes to serving the needs of most car buyers, and the Grand Vitara demonstrates this very well. Overall, the Grand Vitara is a great looking SUV with modern styling, making it a very attractive option for SUV buyers. 

Interior

The interior of the Grand Vitara looks absolutely stunning. Our model for review was the highest-end GLX model, equipped with the artificial leather seats. The seats are quite soft, and feel snug to sit in. Looking at the rest of the interior my first reaction to it was “Wow, this looks really modern.” The large digital display along with the advanced air conditioning controls are quite reminiscent of high-end German cars, especially those from BMW, and yet the affordable price of the Suzuki in comparison truly surprised me.

Ride Quality

When it comes to the ride, it would be fair of me to say that it has very competitive ride quality at its price range. Smaller bumps on the road can barely be felt, effectively gliding through them and the suspension does a good job softening the larger bumps. Overall, ride quality feels better than expected for the price, firmly confirming to me why Suzuki has been exceeding in the current South African car market.

Pricing and Overall thoughts

The new Suzuki Grand Vitara is a highly competitive SUV in its segment offering an excellent mix of luxury and advanced technology all at the competitive starting price of R359 900 for the manual and R381 900 for the automatic, with our GLX model starting at R453 900. For the money, you are getting a fully equipped SUV that exceeds my expectations of what I expect from a 2026 SUV.

Suzuki Grand Vitara 1.5 GLX 4AT