Real Life Car Review: Vitara Strong Hybrid

In this episode I drive the new Suzuki Vitara Strong Hybrid. New? Well, it's been updated for 2022, but indeed, it's been on sale since 2015. Strong? Yep, that's what Suzuki calls their in-house developed Full Hybrid powertrain. But after all these years the Vitara is still a very relevant car. Failry affordable, utterly reliable, fun to drive and with the new powertrain it gets quite a good fuel economy. What's it like to drive and what are my thoughts on this car? Well, have a look at the video!
0:26 Intro
0:37 Interior and walkaround
3:17 Interior
8:43 The new drivetrain
10:46 The drive
15:17 Unusual Dutch Road Markings that trip all Lane Assist Systems
16:40 Highway driving
17:50 Curvy country roads
19:30 Final thoughts and outro

[@mgk7963]

Mild hybrid looks like the best option, similar fuel return

[@AmurTiger-vm5dy]

Great car

[@edholscher418]

Very Nice Suzuki!

[@AmurTiger-vm5dy]

Wonderful vitara

[@jtk1ify]

well balanced informative review, i was considering a vitara but work colleagues reckon it is lightweight due to body work being thinner than normal. so increase chance of early corrosion
also what safety specs does it come with?

[@Carnold_YT]

Well, Suzuki has a long tradition of building offorad capable cars, which require a solid body. The Vitara in all-wheel-drive version is such a car. The fact that it's a relative lightweight car doesn't mean it isn't constructed well. On the contrary I would say. It is a well engineered and very well built car. In my daily job I work as a technical expert in automotive, so I have seen a lot of problem cars. But the Suzuki Vitara is not one of them, especially not when it comes to corrosion. In all fairness: your colleagues are mistaken 🙂

[@VaiosSfetsas]

Excellent Test!! Did you spot any lack of power at the function of the A/C, while the car was moving by the hybrid system and the thermal engine was off? They say that the A/C of Suzuki Vitara strong hybrid works by mechanical connection to the engine, in addition to Toyota's hybrid system that works by the baterries.

[@Carnold_YT]

I did not notice reduced A/C performance when the car is in EV or Hybrid mode. But maybe because the A/C didn't need to wotk, it was fairly soft weather. This Hybrid system has a direct mechanical connection to the final drive, unlike many other hybrids. It is directly powered by the batteries. Thanks for watching!

[@vaiossfetsas7026]

I' ve already ordered the GLX Allgrip, 4wd, strong hybrid edition. I did the test drive two months ago. I didn' t notice lack of power of the A/C, while the electric motor was on. The hybrid system was working properly even when the a/c was on. Second thoughts turned on my mind, because of a greek article. They wrote that they disliked the lack of cool air when the electric motor was working. I am confused....Is that true?
Your video is excellent 👌! We are waiting for an off road experience!

[@Carnold_YT]

@@vaiossfetsas7026 The car has an Eco mode, when that is activated, the airconditioning has a reduced capacity. More cars have that, to maximize effinciency. I think the Greek article may have had the car running in Eco mode.

[@ysjmichael]

I took s-cross hybrid out for a spin, didn't get to test the paddle - like your vitara, 1.5na roars when picking up speed - does it make any difference (to stop roar/shout/bark from the engine😁) if you shift up earlier manually?

[@Carnold_YT]

It does indeed, the gearbox immediately initiates a gearshift when you use the manual mode. And during upshifts the electric motor takes over the drive, so you don't have a dip in power delivery during shifts. I have driven a lot of sophisticated hybrids (Lexus), but honestly this Suzuki system works really well when you like a calmer (and more economical) driving style.

[@ysjmichael]

@@Carnold_YT Thanks Arnold, that'd be good news as people would argue manual mode should be the default for ASG cars. Having said it's loud, but it's not piercing type of loud, it's the muscle-car type, so I could live with it, imagining I'm driving a Bradley.

[@Coordinator61]

Forget this version, sorry Suzuki killed a brilliant car by putting this 1500 cc engine in it. I owe a 1400 boosterjet allwheeldrive 6 speed automatic. Non hybrid. Very fast, 5-6 l/100 km and very smooth gear change. This new one is just not how a car should drive.

[@Carnold_YT]

Well, the 1.4 Boosterjet hybrid will also remain available, it may be depending on your country's market. Over here, the Boosterjet Mild Hybrid is still available. And yes, that is a very good car.