Vitara 2023

I was sceptical about a Chinese brand, but the 2023 Suzuki Vitara genuinely surprised me. The fit and finish is excellent, the tech is class-leading, and the value for money is extraordinary. European rivals should be worried.

Excited at purchase, reality more subdued. Positives: generous space, good economy. Negatives: touchscreen occasionally freezes, rear wiper smears in light rain, lane-keeping is too aggressive. Not bad but needs polish.

Hits the sweet spot for me. Refined on the motorway, economical for commuting, practical for family duties. Only gripe is the infotainment system slow to connect to phone on start-up. Build quality noticeably better than my previous car.

Eight months in — efficiency, comfort, and how it handles city traffic are all impressive. My gripes are that rear legroom is tight for taller adults and the auto hesitates occasionally. Minor issues in an otherwise excellent package.

Competent, reliable, comfortable. But 'competent' isn't what you want when spending this much. A few hard plastic panels at this price point, engine note is unpleasant when pushed. Test the competition before committing.