The Suzuki Vitara Turns 35

Pioneer of compact SUVs at its launch in 1988, the Vitara remains one of the Brand’s best-sellers, especially in Europe where it has become hybrid.

In the 1980s, the automotive market was divided into three main segments: sedans and their derivatives (station wagons, coupes, etc.), minivans, and off-road vehicles. Suzuki revolutionized these established segments by offering as early as 1988 a model that combined what was until then almost –unthinkable: an elegant body with an elevated stance, real on-road behavior and comfort, and a 4×4 transmission providing true off-road capabilities… The first compact SUV was born, called Vitara. Its success was immediate and worldwide.

Since 1988, 3.9 million Vitara have been sold in 190 countries, including over 115,000 units in France. In France, the Vitara is the third best-selling Suzuki. It accounts for about one in five of the Brand’s sales in the first nine months of 2023.

After 16 years under the name Grand Vitara, Suzuki’s flagship model reverted to its original name in 2014: Vitara, simply. This fourth generation, presented at the Paris Motor Show in 2014, is the first to be manufactured in Europe, in Hungary.

In 2020, the Suzuki Vitara took a new step by adopting, like the entire Suzuki Passenger Vehicle range in France, a 48V hybrid SHVS powertrain. This is just the beginning: in 2022, it additionally received Suzuki’s new hybrid system that can be recharged automatically, allowing frequent driving in 100% electric mode.

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