Suzuki tacks 4×4 prowess onto its popular SUV
REMEMBER when Suzuki locally launched the new look of its Vitara a few years back? That model made waves for the brand as it offered Filipinos a great-looking compact SUV that drove nicely, felt comfortable, was fuel-efficient, and best of all, was easy on the wallet.
I can certainly remember that it was also consistently among the motoring media’s top picks for crossovers/small SUVs at the time — clearly because of the impressive value that the product offered. As this new-looking Vitara was a very successful product, it served as a good opportunity for the company to strengthen its presence in the very competitive Philippine automotive market.
Now, Suzuki Philippines has more good news to bring, as it very recently launched the latest version of its popular crossover/SUV — the new Vitara AllGrip. The Vitara AllGrip is a 4×4 compact SUV that is only produced in Suzuki’s manufacturing facility in Hungary (Magyar Suzuki Corp.). And as it is being imported to the Philippines from Hungary, we can infer that this vehicle is built to withstand more demanding environmental conditions, and that it is versatile enough to run on varying types of terrain.
“Ever since the new look of the Vitara was launched in the Philippine market, we have seen enormous support for the model,” reported Suzuki Philippines Vice-President and General Manager for the Automobile Division Keiichi Suzuki. Furthering the Vitara is “one of the iconic models of the brand,” the new Vitara AllGrip, with its stylish looks and aura of individuality that “will definitely encourage people to drive and bring more fun into their lives.”
Among the upgrades made to the Vitara AllGrip’s body (on top of its obviously sportier styling) are new front and rear skid plates, a lower bumper garnish in the front, accents of chrome and black grain along the sides, and a more aerodynamic rear edge spoiler.
Inside the cabin is a two-panel panoramic sunroof and a 10-inch infotainment system which can be conveniently linked with a smartphone. Keyless entry, a push-start ignition, automatically dimming rearview mirrors, a rear camera and parking sensors all come with the lot.
When asked about what especially are the competitive advantages of the new Vitara AllGrip over its competitors, Mr. Keiichi replied to “Velocity,” “The new Vitara AllGrip is coming in as the most affordable all-wheel drive compact SUV. Equipped with Suzuki’s AllGrip Select technology, it allows the driver to choose from four driving modes: Auto, Sport, Snow, and Lock. Each driving mode offers help for the driver to tackle any road or off-road conditions, simply with a switch of the knob or a push of the button.”
He continued: “The new Vitara AllGrip is equipped with a clinometer that tells you the vehicle’s position in terms of pitch and roll. It also has an altimeter and barometer for when you are adventuring outside city limits; and a compass that tells you where you are headed.”
Furthermore, Mr. Keiichi emphasized that, with the Vitara AllGrip being a 4WD, the model is also packaged with useful safety features, such as: hill descent control, hill hold control, ESP (electronic stability program), a TECT (Total Effective Control Technology) body, and a six-air bag system (front, side and curtain).
Powering the Vitara AllGrip is an efficient 1.6-liter engine mated to a six-speed automatic transmission. It also offers manual-mode-style shifting and access to paddle shifters. The new Suzuki Vitara AllGrip is now available in the Philippines in two-tone and monotone colors. It is competitively priced at P1,468,000 for the two-tone variant and P1,458,000 for the monotone variant.
