• Suzuki will launch its new Vitara Brezza in South Africa on Tuesday (9 Feb).
• The Brezza is powered by a 1.5-litre petrol engine.
• Pricing for the new Brezza will be announced at the launch.
• For more motoring stories, go to www.Wheels24.co.za
Suzuki South Africa is on the cusp of a new adventure with its new Vitara Brezza. The new SUV has been launched in the country on Tuesday and promises to build on the reputability the Japanese automaker has become known for over the last decade and a bit. In the week leading up to the event, Wheels24 spent time with the new Vitara Brezza, or Brezza for short, in GLX Manual guise. And quite frankly, it was a major revelation, and testament, to the honest product portfolio we've come to know from Suzuki.
Details around the new SUV will be made available today, but there are details around the Brezza that should give prospective buyers plenty to ponder about. For instance, the exterior design is nice and bulky, with an S-Presso-esque bar running between the headlights. Two big fog lights are incorporated into the front bumper, with a silver trim taking center stage. Daytime-LEDs round off the image.
The rear is a rather pleasant sight, with a roof spoiler adding a sporty touch to the SUV's look. A nice touch is the exhaust that's hidden underneath the rear of the car. Buyers looking at the Brezza will probably opt for the two-tone colour scheme, which sees the A, B, and C pillars, and the roof, decked in a glossy black. It stands in beautiful contrast to the SUV's body colour.
Does Suzuki's new Vitara Brezza stand a chance at being a sales success in SA? Email us with your opinion or use the comment section below.
Decent ride quality
The Brezza shines when it gets on the road. Sure, it won't hassle the sports SUVs of this world, but performance is brisk and lively. Powered by a 1.5-litre naturally aspirated engine, the Brezza puts its power down gently, with gear changes taking place almost seamlessly. The engine is rev-happy, but it doesn't take much to utilize the full 77kW and 138Nm.
Our test unit came standard with cruise control, which eased the driving experience and improved fuel consumption. Speaking of, our best fuel return on the Brezza was 12.8km/litre, translates to 7.8-litres/100km. And for a new vehicle with just over 1000km on its clock, we can expect that figure to drop as the engine is 'driven in'.
There is slight body roll when the wind picks up or when you're traversing a mountain pass at speeds, and the rear feels a bit light under hard braking. The latter should be minimized when the car is fully laden with passengers and luggage.
READ: New Vitara Brezza has what it takes to become Suzuki SA's next best-seller
Pricing
The Wheels24 test team believes that the Vitara Brezza could, and can, be another sales success in Suzuki South Africa's history. Pricing for the new Vitara Brezza is:
• Vitara Brezza 1.5 GL Manual - R244 900
• Vitara Brezza 1.5 GL Automatic - R264 900
• Vitara Brezza 1.5 GLX Manual - R289 900
• Vitara Brezza 1.6 GLX Automatic - R309 900
The practical and budget-friendly package of the Vitara Brezza will appeal to many customers, putting the new SUV in a prime position from a sales perspective.
