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2023 Suzuki S-Cross vs 2021 Suzuki Vitara

What's the difference?

VS
Suzuki S-Cross
Suzuki S-Cross

$26,828 - $46,370

2023 price

Suzuki Vitara
Suzuki Vitara

$19,800 - $31,555

2021 price

Summary

2023 Suzuki S-Cross
2021 Suzuki Vitara
Safety Rating

Engine Type
Turbo 4, 1.4L

Inline 4, 1.6L
Fuel Type
Premium Unleaded Petrol

Unleaded Petrol
Fuel Efficiency
6.2L/100km (combined)

5.8L/100km (combined)
Seating
5

5
Dislikes
  • High prices
  • Dated design inside and out
  • Needs 95 RON premium unleaded

  • No AEB availability in this grade
  • Stiff ride
  • Too much road and engine noise intrusion
2023 Suzuki S-Cross Summary

Big news on the smaller SUV front. Suzuki has launched an “all-new” S-Cross.

But despite what some of the clever photography might have you think, this MY23 update is actually the second facelift of the decade-old original, bringing a redesigned front and rear end as well as a minor dashboard update, with little changing underneath.

A bit more than what the current Mitsubishi ASX received back in 2019 but far less than what the latest Ford Ranger espouses, then.

That all said, we came away surprised from what amounted to a reunion with a quiet old acquaintance that’s long lurked away from the crossover spotlight.

Is this year the S-Cross’ time to shine?

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2021 Suzuki Vitara Summary

Suzuki invented the modern compact SUV. It’s funny how quickly people forget.

Yes, the pioneering Vitara of 1988 rode on a ladder-frame chassis so was not car based, but it was successful enough to show the way for others to follow. Chiefly, Toyota, with the seminal Corolla-derived first-gen RAV4 of 1994.

Fun fact: this earliest Vitara was also known as the Suzuki Escudo (Japan) and Sidekick (North America), as well as the GMC/Geo/Chevrolet Tracker and Pontiac Sunrunner (USA), Asüna Sunrunner (Canada), and perhaps most evocatively, Wanli WLZ5020XLD and Guangtong GTQ5020XLZ (China).

So, respect to the Vitara, especially since it has evolved over four redesigns, eight different badges and 33 years, from fashionable 4x4 leisure machine to 4x4 off-roader (1998 FT and 2005 JT Grand Vitara) to 2015’s monocoque-bodied JY-series small SUV.

How does the 2021 JY Series II Vitara 1.6 auto stand up? Keep on reading.

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Interested in a Suzuki Vitara?

Deep dive comparison

2023 Suzuki S-Cross 2021 Suzuki Vitara

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