Ever since it became a subcompact crossover, the Suzuki Vitara has managed to outsell almost everything in its class. I cannot say that Suzuki hit the jackpot with it, but it sure got close. Really close. Now in its third year of production, the car has received a mid-cycle facelift that gives it exterior features and a more refined cabin. It Completely ditched the most popular engine from the lineup, though. The 1.6-liter, naturally aspirated engine was replaced with the Boosterjet engine. It is a 1.0-liter that's good for 109 horsepower and 125 pound-feet of torque. Obviously, not the most powerful engine out there, but it is expected to outsell the other one in the line up (the 1.4-liter, 138 horsepower engine) by quite a margin.

2019 Redesigned Suzuki Vitara With A New Engine And New Charm

Specifications
  • Make: Array
  • Model: 2019 Redesigned Suzuki Vitara With A New Engine And New Charm
  • Engine/Motor: V8
  • Horsepower: 1325 @ 7000
  • Torque: 1032 @ 6000

Redesigned Suzuki Vitara With A New Engine And New Charm

Specifications
  • Make: Array
  • Model: Redesigned Suzuki Vitara With A New Engine And New Charm

Not Exactly Glaring Exterior Changes

Looking at the new Suzuki Vitara, one may say that something is off compared to what we have become accustomed to. A keen eye will note the new grill (now evoking a certain Japanese spirit about the car,) the new front bumper, and the LED-infused tail lights. Actually, I do not mind these new taillights. They are simple, yet effective at the same time. The front lights seem to have been modified a bit, but nothing crucial was changed.

Obviously, the Suzuki Vitara is far from disregarding the classic subcompact crossover shape that so many buyers have become accustomed to. That is why Suzuki focused only on improving features you said you wanted improved.

Enter the Cabin

The instrument cluster isn’t as spartan as before. Along with a new design, it gained an integrated color display. It looks much better sorted now. Somehow, it is classier and in line with the times. Interestingly enough, some of the other changes are harder to spot, but they are equally important. Suzuki improved some of the materials used for the interior. Not only did the new Vitara leap 100 miles ahead and offer soft-touch plastics, but the car, as a whole, gained more comprehensive safety gear.

Safety

Go for the top-notch model called the Vitara SZ5 and you'll get automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning and assistance, Dual Sensor Brake Support, traffic sign recognition, blind spot monitoring, and rear cross traffic alert. All of these are advanced features for sure.

Although small and not exactly bursting with power, the Suzuki Vitara can be had with an AWD system. Called ALLGRIP all-wheel-drive, it is available only with the SZ-T trim level. At least in the UK.

Options

We are still rather low on details, but Suzuki did introduce two new color options, a new wheel design, and some new color personalization options for the interior. They will reveal a lot closer to the live introduction at the 2018 Paris Motor Show. After all, the car will go on sale in September.

Further reading

Read our full review on the previous generation Suzuki Vitara.

Read more Suzuki news.

Read more Paris Auto Show news.