Suzuki’s top-selling compact SUV is now available in South Africa
Suzuki has added the all-new dynamic and well-equipped Vitara Brezza entry SUV to its South African line-up. A top seller in India, the newcomer comes to SA as a cool new value proposition in GL and GLX specification and with the choice of manual or automatic transmissions.
IT’S A VITARA… BUT DIFFERENT
The Brezza joins the range alongside Suzuki’s old favourite Vitara. Kind of like how Vivo runs alongside Polo or Prado is an extension of the Land Cruiser genre. It will serve a more entry-level market in parallel to its flagship SUV sibling. Talking Cruiser, this car will also come to SA as the Toyota Urban Cruiser, much like Baleno and Starlet are both available in SA (watch for that shootout soon on our pages!)
Brezza’s design and dimensions make it a nimble urban runabout with a good few true SUV traits. Riding on the same 2 500 mm wheelbase as the Vitara, it sits on the same 2.5-metre wheelbase as the Vitara, but it is 180 mm shorter and 150 mm broader and rides 13 mm taller at 198 mm ground clearance.
All Brezzas get 16” wheels, daytime running lights, a high-mounted LED stop lamp and a rear wiper, washer and demister. Step inside and the standard spec spreads to speedo and tachometer instrumentation flanking a five colour mood lit digital info display. That’s lit along with the footwell, glove box and boot. Add automatic climate control, power windows all-round, a height-adjustable driver’s seat, remote central locking and a cup holder rear armrest.
A SIGNIFICANT LEVEL OF SPECIFICATION
Also standard is latest generation 7” touch screen infotainment with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone mirroring. There’s an auxiliary input and a USB port and vehicle information and alerts too. The reverse camera is backed by rear parking sensors. All that can also be run via Brezza’s multifunction steering and voice command.
GLS models add 10 mm wider polished alloys, automatic projector main LED daytime headlamps and LED fog lamps.
Inside, the up-spec model also adds a leather clad steering wheel with additional cruise controls, silver trim highlights, a front centre armrest and a button start. Further GLX plusses include cooled glove boxes, height adjustable front seatbelts, an auto-dimming rear mirror, auto-folding side mirrors, rain-sensing wipers, a 12V port in the boot and extra sound system tweeters.
PUNCHY ‘ZOOK FOUR-POT
Brezza’s 77 kW 138 Nm multi-point fuel injected 16-valve four cylinder K15B-engine shared with Jimny, Ertiga and Ciaz drives the front axle via a five-speed manual or a new overdrive fourth gear automatic transmission. Packing McPherson strut front and torsion beam rear suspension with an electric power rack and pinion steering, Vitara Brezza’s light and strong TECT body structure has side-impact beams.
That’s a sound foundation for active safety systems the likes of ABS brakes with force distribution and assistance, airbags for the driver and front passenger, seat belt pretensioners and force limiters and ISOFIX child seat mooring, as well as an alarm system and immobiliser.
Available in six solid white, silver, grey and orange hues, as well as red and blue, Brezza also comes in three black on red or blue, or orange on grey two-tone colour options. Suzuki promises Brezza has a class-leading 5-year or 200 000 km warranty and 4-year/60 000 km service plan.
And those prices below are nothing to be sniffed at either. We now look forward to driving Brezza — keep an eye out for the road test here soon.
Suzuki Vitara Brezza Pricing 1.5 GL MT R244K 1.5 GL AT R264K 1.5 GLX MT R289K 1.5 GLX AT R309K
