2005 Suzuki Carry Reviews

The Suzuki Vitara nameplate is edging towards 40 years in the Aussie new-car market. And as it’s grown in size and sophistication over four generations, so has the depth of competition it faces.Small SUV heavy-hitters like the Chery Tiggo 4, GWM Haval Jolion, Hyundai Kona, MG ZS and Toyota Corolla Cross outsell it by ratios of up to 60 to one (in the case of the Tiggo 4).So, this just-released Turbo Hybrid variant is an important addition to the Japanese maker’s line-up, aimed at snatching extra market share in a hotly contested segment with what Suzuki promises is “enhanced fuel efficiency, reduced emissions and refined on-road performance”.We spent a week with the top-spec ‘AllGrip’ all-wheel-drive version to see if it has what it takes to steer you away from the big guns. If you asked someone to describe a ‘typical’ small SUV, I’d argue the Suzuki Vitara would perfectly align with their response nine out of 10 times… and be pretty close on the 10th.Launched here way back in 2015, the current Vitara received a ‘Series III’ update earlier this year, which included the hybrid’s introduction, and its clean, neatly-wrapped exterior design stands up well, although it’s not as adventurous as more rugged rivals like the Subaru Crosstrek or Toyota Corolla Cross.Inside, there’s a slightly larger 9.0-inch multimedia touchscreen, but things like analogue instruments, a single USB-A socket (in the front) and a manual handbrake still date the car.And then there’s the elephant in the room... hiding behind a dollar sign. The price.This flagship Vitara Turbo Hybrid AllGrip will set you back $45,990. Okay, it’s a drive-away deal, but that’s enough for a Hyundai Kona Premium 1.6T N-Line AWD, Kia Seltos GT-Line AWD, Mazda CX-30 G25 Astina AWD or Toyota Corolla Cross Atmos Hybrid.And the Suzuki struggles to match that competitive set in terms of equipment bang for buck and perceived quality.Standard feature highlights include 17-inch alloy wheels, auto LED headlights, a leather-trimmed steering wheel, a reversing camera, panoramic sunroof, adaptive cruise control and climate control. But that bundle‘s pretty much cost-of-entry when you’re in upper-$40K territory.And the air-con is single-zone, the audio system has six speakers, and the car’s general look and feel isn’t spectacular.That old adage of kicking the tyres and slamming the doors when shopping for a car is relevant here, because the Vitara’s doors feel insubstantial, quivering slightly when opened and closed.  And while soft-touch material across the dashtop is fine, hard plastics on the doors don’t sit well with the price tag. But things pick up once you get underway. The 1.4-litre turbo-petrol four-cylinder engine has enough oomph to get the 1275kg five-seater off the mark cleanly and allow it to keep its head above water in traffic or on the highway.Power delivery is linear and the ‘mild-hybrid’ set-up incorporates a 48-volt integrated starter generator which takes some of the ancillary load off the engine and tips in an extra 50Nm of pulling power when required. Overall outputs are 81kW and a handy 235Nm.The strut front, torsion-beam rear suspension does a great job of keeping this compact and relatively light SUV composed over bumpy urban surfaces. Electrically assisted steering is accurate and road feel qualifies as excellent. When you need to push into the upper rev range engine, exhaust noises start to make their presence felt in the cabin. But overall, the Vitara Hybrid is a surprisingly comfortable ride.At just under 4.2 metres long, the Vitara is a ‘small’ small SUV and while the front part of the cabin is reasonably roomy with plenty of storage options, the back seat ranks as okay in the context of the category. Sitting behind the driver’s seat set to my 183cm position, legroom is reasonable and headroom is generous but best not to try folding three full-size adults in there too often. There are no adjustable vents, power outlets or a fold-down armrest for back-seaters, and getting in and out is an effort.Boot volume is a reasonable 362 litres, available with the 60/40 split-folding backrest up, that figure expanding to 642 litres with it folded.And there’s a range of thoughtful bins, anchors and hooks back there, as well as a 12-volt outlet and an adjustable floor for the option of a flat load space plus a space saver spare underneath it. Bravo.When it comes to fuel efficiency the Vitara Turbo Hybrid’s official combined cycle (urban/extra-urban) figure is 5.9L/100km and over a week of mainly urban driving with some highway running thrown in we saw a real-world average of exactly that – 5.9L/100km. That’s pretty handy in the current fuel price era, but bear in mind the minimum requirement is 95 RON premium.The Vitara is currently ‘unrated’ by ANCAP but includes a decent suite of ADAS (Advanced Driver-Assistance Systems) crash-avoidance features including Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB), adaptive cruise, lane departure warning, lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert and front and rear parking sensors. And it all behaves well in operation.The airbag count runs to six (dual front, front side and side curtain) and there are three child seat top-tether points across the second row with ISOFIX anchors on the outer positions. All to be expected in the category and at this price point.Service is recommended every 12 months/10,000km, which is relatively frequent in terms of distance, but an average of $397 per workshop visit for the first five years is far from outrageous.

The Suzuki Jimny is back with a tech refresh and minor update after a production pause. The line-up now has an updated AEB system as well as adaptive cruise control, lane departure prevention, and front and rear parking sensors. The base-spec Jimny Lite also gets a new 7.0-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as part of this latest line-up refresh. Is the Zook worth your cash?

Suzuki has released the pricing and specifications for its new e Vitara electric compact SUV in Australia.This will be the first electric version of the popular Suzuki put on sale in Australia, starting from $46,990 (drive-away) as part of a limited-time deal.The all-wheel drive version of the car is $10,000 more under the deal.Prices will rise by $3000 on the Motion grade and $2000 on the Ultra grade after the pre-order pricing expires on the 1st of July this year, with this deal also only applicable to the first 100 customers. The cheapest automatic petrol variant of the Vitara in Australia has a starting price of $31,990 (before on-road costs), so going electric incurs a substantial premium for buyers. The e Vitara will tackle other electric compact SUVs in its segment, such as the strong-selling Kia EV3, which starts from $47,600 (before on-road costs). It will also take on cheaper Chinese rivals, including the BYD Atto 2 and the MG S5.The car is offered with either a single electric motor, producing 106kW and 193Nm, or a dual motor pumping out 135kW and 307Nm. The base Motion variant gets 344km of WLTP driving range from its 49kWh battery, while the 61kWh unit in the AWD offers 395km. DC fast charging from 10-80 per cent takes 45 minutes, courtesy of a newly-developed platform from Suzuki. On the inside, there is a single display spanning the dashboard made of a 10.1-inch central touchscreen and a 10.25-inch digital driver display.The Ultra grade of the car receives a glass roof with a shade and a wireless phone charger, along with a premium sound system. 2026 Suzuki e Vitara pricing Australia 2026 Suzuki e Vitara electric motor and efficiency 2026 Suzuki e Vitara standard features Other standard features include: Rain-sensing wipersSynthetic leather steering wheelFront and rear USB portsAmbient lightingUltra grade addsGlass roof with shadeWireless phone chargerFabric and synthetic leather seatsElectrically adjustable driver seatHeated front seatsInfinity sound system with subwoofer 2026 Suzuki e Vitara safetyThe Suzuki e-Vitara has a four-star ANCAP safety rating.  Standard safety features include: 7 airbagsAdaptive cruise controlAuto emergency brakingLane keep assistLane departure preventionForward collision warningHigh beam assistBlind spot monitorFront and rear parking sensors360-degree cameraMulti-collision braking  2026 Suzuki e Vitara dimensions  2026 Suzuki e Vitara warranty and servicingThe e-Vitara comes with a five-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty as well as an eight-year/160,000-kilometre battery warranty. The car is also available with a five-year capped-price servicing plan. 

The Nissan Qashqai is among several models to learn their safety fate as part of the latest batch of Australasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP) ratings.The updated Qashqai family SUV has received a four-star rating, down from the five-star rating awarded in 2017.The Qashqai maintained a high child protection rating of 91 per cent, but it saw substantial drops in the Adult Protection, Vulnerable User Protection as well as Safety Assist categories.The 78 per cent Adult Protection rating was in significant part due the front structure of the car presenting a moderate risk to occupants of oncoming vehicles in the frontal offset test.Its Vulnerable Road User Protection rating was at 68 per cent, while its Safety Assist rating was 62 per cent.The incoming Suzuki e-Vitara was also hit with a four-star rating.The e-Vitara was the first Suzuki to be tested by ANCAP since the Fronx compact SUV. The Fronx was subject to a major recall following its one-star rating, with ANCAP urging people to not travel in the rear seats of the car.With a 77 per cent Adult Protection rating, the e-Vitara had marginal protection for the driver’s chest and adequate protection for the passenger’s chest, with good protection elsewhere.The car was also marked down due to the lack of a centre airbag, according to ANCAP.The safety regulator’s Chief Executive Officer Carla Hoorweg acknowledged the safety improvement from Suzuki.“It’s encouraging to see improvements in safety performance across the market, this latest rating achieved by the e-Vitara is evidence Suzuki can produce a model that offers sound levels of safety performance,” Hoorweg said.There were new five-star ratings for the revamped Audi A3 hatchback and the Q3 compact SUV. The A3 was awarded 86 per cent for Adult Protection and 80 per cent for Child Occupant Protection, while the Q3 got 87 per cent and 86 per cent, respectively.The other car to earn a five-star rating was the updated Cupra Leon hatchback. It received 88 per cent for Adult Protection and 86 per cent for Child Protection, with 82 per cent each for Vulnerable Road User Protection and Safety Assist.

The Suzuki Vitara will go down in history as one of the true pioneers of the modern automotive history.The 1988 original sparked the SUV era with its urban off-road chic, prompting Toyota to refine and greatly capitalise on the concept for the seminal, first RAV4 of 1994, that instantly became the template for others to follow.Strangely, Vitara wouldn’t go full SUV until the fourth-generation arrived in mid-2015, after years of holding on to Suzuki’s proper 4x4 roots in the same way that the ultra-successful Jimny still does today.That Vitara, known as the LY series, remains current to this day, helped by great design and superb proportions that have helped keep the Japanese SUV from The Grim Reaper all this time.It’s also a sporty and even fun drive, with direct steering, predictable handling and an actual, torque-converter automatic transmission, instead of the continuous variable transmission (CVT) alternative favoured by many, far-more mundane rivals.But there-in lays the problem with the latest, Series III facelift, released earlier this year and now dubbed the Vitara Hybrid. Its age plus a lack of real change are really starting to show.Take, for instance, the Hybrid badge emblazoned on the (completely unchanged since 2019 Series II facelift) tailgate.Today’s small SUV buyers expecting an advanced, series-parallel hybrid petrol-electric powertrain as (again) trailblazed by Toyota nearly 30 years ago will, instead, be met with a mild-hybrid system with a 48-volt integrated starter motor generator acting as an electric motor, and small 48V 8Ah lithium-ion battery. Admittedly, that’s more than what Mazda’s so-called “M Hybrid” system provides, but that’s not saying a lot.Though Suzuki’s hybrid does add an additional 12kW/50Nm of power and torque respectively, adding 15Nm more torque overall than before, the ageing 1.4-litre four-cylinder turbo ‘Boosterjet’ engine it is paired to is 21 per cent less powerful than the proceeding non-electrified version.That would be OK if there was a corresponding 21 per cent drop in fuel consumption, but the ADR 81/02 consumption figures have only edged down incrementally, by 0.1 and 0.3 litres per 100km depending on grade compared to before. The best average figure is 5.8L/100m, which is only in the region of a 1.7 to four per cent slide.If you’re seeking a Vitara Hybrid with Toyota-hybrid levels of fuel economy, you may be disappointed, as the larger Corolla Cross hybrid returns 4.2L/100km while the smaller Yaris Cross hybrid is at just 3.8L/100km.Especially as the Suzuki also prefers to sip from the more-expensive premium unleaded petrol bowser.And speaking of prices, there’s the $39,990 drive-away pricing for the base Vitara Hybrid 2WD, extending to $45,990 for the (albeit better-equipped) AWD version.That’s a lot more than what the preceding non-Hybrid 1.6-litre model started at (from $31,990 before on-road costs), though – in fairness to the company – reflects the huge increase in the cost of shipping from the Hungary plant that provides Australia with its Vitaras.But that’s somewhat more than the Yaris Cross GX hybrid’s $31,790 and just a bit under the larger Corolla Cross GX hybrid’s $37,440 (both before on-road costs), and exactly the same as the Honda HR-V e:HEV starts at (returning 4.3L/100km), which, like the Toyotas, is newer, more-modern and technically-advanced than the Suzuki.Surely 11 years of production have amortised the development costs of the fourth-gen Vitara. Shouldn’t it be cheaper as a result?The last point about modernity is also obvious inside, as the Vitara continues with much the same dashboard design, layout and hardware as the 2015 original. Again, back then, Suzuki’s stylists were clearly ahead of the game, as the basics remain sound and the whole thing is well built, but there is very little for current owners to trade-up to the 2026 model when, trim changes, digital speedo, updated multimedia set-up and removal of the analogue clock in the centre air vent aside, the cabin feels nearly identical. And, in contrast, every rival seems at least one-generation newer inside.What we’re saying is that the Vitara remains a good car, but one that cannot compete on value for money, fuel economy or performance compared to its many, fierce strong-hybrid competitors from Japan, South Korea, China and Europe. Expectations must be tempered.Throw in a now-void five-star ANCAP crash-test rating (it expired years ago due to age), as well as a very average five-year warranty against some others’ seven and even conditional 10-year schemes, and we reckon we deserve a newer, better Suzuki small SUV.Luckily, the e-Vitara all-electric small SUV looks very, very promising, so don’t dismiss Suzuki yet. Let’s just hope the pricing is as sharp as the styling and packaging are.Watch this space.

In a press conference the Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association has declared the country’s once-dominant national car industry is “on the brink of survival”.The body said collaboration between Japan’s automakers was becoming more important than competition amongst each other, as it faces never-before-seen external challenges.It admitted that the “international competitiveness” of its members had to be brought into question.Speaking as part of a panel, JAMA Vice President and CEO of Honda Toshihiro Mibe said: “The global competition environment is becoming more fierce every day. Against this backdrop, the automotive industry in Japan is now posed with the question of whether we will be able to survive or not.”“Looking back, the structure of the automotive industry has worked well. There was the structure of Keiretsu which indeed worked for the last few decades against that environment. But we believe the existing areas of collaboration are not enough.”The Japanese term “Keiretsu” refers to the unique connection between Japanese companies, with cross shareholdings and shared business goals, which promotes stability and financial resilience, as well as faster and more efficient supply chains. It allows companies in these networks to engage in long-term planning and keeps money in Japan.A result of this interdependence means a brand like Toyota (widely recognised as the head of one of the largest Keiretsu networks) has vast shareholdings in brands which would normally be its competitors, as well as deep ties with Japanese parts suppliers.But it seems this system is struggling to be competitive in an environment of aggressive and often state-backed Chinese automakers making technological leaps and bounds and sales progress across the world.“So, the area of collaboration is required with a sense of speed. I think it is going to be key.” Mibe said. “We need to dismantle the old structure or else we will not be able to create new areas of collaboration.” Some areas earmarked by the organisation for focus were hiring more “software-related personnel” with Japanese automakers focusing too much on the “hardware part in our history.” according to Mibe.The group also earmarked the future use of artificial intelligence and more robotics in order to address what is expected to be a 20 per cent shortfall in the number of available workers to staff manufacturing plants in Japan.However, the JAMA members also re-committed to a “multi-pathway” strategy as the “winning pathway” in order to stay on the right side of both tightening emissions regulations, and a tough tariff environment in Europe and the US in the face of a surge of electrified Chinese models.“This is not just about how we compete with China, but how Japan can make a contribution to each country in a way which is suited to the local community,” said JAMA Chairman and CEO of Toyota Motor, Koji Sato.As to the recent Middle East crisis, Sato said 800,000 vehicles were currently exported to the region, and that would be the bare minimum economic impact, but also some shipping costs would double as routes remained closed around the Middle East.A larger concern is the sourcing of aluminium and raw materials required for plastics.“About 70 per cent of it comes from the Middle East, so if the issue is prolonged, needless to say we’re going to have a procurement problem.” Sato said.Locally, a Toyota spokesperson said it is not anticipating any impact from the war in Iran on supply or costs for Australian-delivered vehicles at this time.Meanwhile a seismic shift has taken place in the Australian sales charts, with Japan being unseated as the top country-of-origin by China.This is against a backdrop of BYD, GWM, MG and Chery all occupying spots in the top-10 best-selling automakers in Australia, unseating old favourites from Japan such as Nissan, Subaru and Isuzu.Mitsubishi, which is clinging to eighth position, is expecting to drop out of the top-10 this year as it faces a reduced range of vehicles, and more expensive new-generation offerings soured from Europe.

Suzuki’s first electric vehicle (EV) is more than it seems.Badged e Vitara, it will be aimed directly at the BYD Atto 2 and Kia EV3 small SUV set when sales commence mid this year.And, despite the familiar name, this is like no other Suzuki that’s come before, as our preview test drive demonstrates.But let’s get one thing straight first.The existing, fourth-generation Vitara, released way back in 2015, continues with a facelift, upgraded mild-hybrid turbo-petrol engine and updated multimedia. That starts from a hefty $40K drive-away, raising the question: how much will the e Vitara cost?Suzuki’s not saying just yet, but we’re thinking from mid-to-high 30s for the e Vitara Motion 2WD, placing it in between the BYD Atto 2 and evergreen Atto 3.That base grade comes with a slightly smaller battery than most rivals. It's a 49kWh LFP item courtesy of BYD and capable of 344km WLTP range, yet is well specified, with a heat pump for greater thermal efficiency, climate control, 10.1-inch touchscreen, 360-degree camera, fabric seats, ambient lighting, a slide/recline rear bench and 18-inch alloys as standard.There’s also a decent level of advanced driver-assist systems (ADAS), including auto emergency braking (AEB), rear cross-traffic alert and lane-keep tech.Then there’s the e Vitara Ultra that’s expected to start from under $50K, adding AWD, a 61kWh battery for 395km of WLTP range, as well as adaptive LED headlights, a glass roof with sun shade, wireless charger, Infinity audio upgrade, heated front seats and artificial leather upholstery.Helping keep this electric Suzuki cost competitive is down to economics – the petrol Vitara comes expensively from Hungary while the e Vitara arrives from India, where it is built, in big volume, alongside its Toyota Urban Cruiser clone.Yep, there’s a Toyota version. There’s also a lot of Toyota underneath Suzuki’s freshman EV.Dubbed 'Heartect e', this box-fresh skateboard architecture was co-developed with Toyota, and features a Suzuki SUV-first multi-link suspension.Larger than the old one, the e Vitara measures in at 4275mm long, 1800mm wide and 1635mm high, while its 2700mm wheelbase represents a sizeable 300mm stretch. For an EV, a kerb weight between 1700kg and 1860kg is commendable.Yet the chunky design reflects Suzuki’s heritage with its exaggerated cladding extending up and over the wheel arches, broad stance and handy 180mm ground clearance.That sizeable wheelbase benefits interior packaging too.Two things stand out the second one steps (easily and effortlessly) into an e Vitara.Firstly, the cabin is longer and broader than the diminutive exterior proportions suggest, with decent space front and rear, including for headroom. Nice.And, secondly, this is a junior Toyota bZ4X/Subaru Solterra in its dashboard shape, style and character.We’re talking about the long, rectangular screen, the graphics within the 10.25-inch electronic driver display, the central touchscreen layout, the row of (thankfully) physical buttons and volume knob below for the climate control, as well as the entire ‘two storey’ centre console set-up, down to the gear selector, armrest and lower-level storage.Even the squarish steering wheel and related switchgear seem Toyota.These, along with the comfy seats, excellent driving position, strong ventilation, general practicality and high-quality presentation, really elevate the brand’s interior presentation. The e Vitara feels solid and expensive inside.The same applies with the rear seat, that also benefits from a slide and recline function for the split-fold bench. USB ports, ventilation and cupholders speak to family-friendly functionality.Except… out back. The floor is high and the aperture smallish. With the rear bench slid all the way back, VDA capacity is just 238 litres, rising to 306L pushed forward. With backrests down, that rises to 562L. And there’s no spare wheel, just an infernal tyre-repair kit. Not happy, Suzi.At the other end, the e Vitara offers a choice of two powertrains – a single, AC synchronous electric motor driving the front wheels, as well as second electric motor on the rear axle for AWD.The 2WD models make 106kW of power and 193kW of torque, compared to the AWD’s combined 135kW and 307Nm, as a result of the rear e-Axle, made up of an electric motor, inverter and reduction gears working simultaneously, contributing 48kW and 114Nm.Are these outputs enough for a 1.8-tonne electric SUV?A brief spin on mostly suburban and rural back roads around outer Sydney in the base FWD model revealed a quiet, smooth and competent EV.Designed to be as benign as possible, a squeeze of the throttle resulted in brisk acceleration, with plenty of power in reserve once speed quickly increased.Suzuki says the AWD can scoot to 100km/h from standstill in a lively 7.4 seconds, some 2.2s faster than the 2WD, yet the latter certainly seems rapid enough.Like the related Toyota bZ4X, a push of a button provides some single-pedal slowing-down braking ability.As with the regular Vitara, the electric version brings light yet responsive steering, so it’s quite enjoyable to dart around busy traffic.And even on bad roads, the suspension seemed to do a good job isolating us from bumps and noise intrusion. You’d never call the chassis sporty, but there’s an underlying solidness keeping things under control.In fact, and not surprisingly, the e Vitara seemed very Toyota-like in its dynamic abilities during our brief drive.Toyota, with Subaru’s support, also helped develop the electric Suzuki’s AWD system, which includes variable torque distribution between the axles according to traction needs, as well as a limited-slip diff in Trail Mode for extra-slippery conditions.A very short stint around a controlled 4WD course provided evidence of some decent off-road prowess.A promising start, then, but what will the electric Suzuki really be like on Australia’s roads? You’ll need to check back in with us when our full testing commences mid-year.That’s when we’ll also find out if the e Vitara’s efficiency claims come anywhere near the stated combined average WLTP figures of 14.9kWh/100km for the 2WD and 16.6kWh/100km for the AWD.It’s also worth noting that, while there is room for improvement with a 2025 European NCAP rating of four stars, the e Vitara is better than Suzuki’s recent form with the three-star Swift supermini.We’re also hoping the newcomer improves on the brand’s existing, mediocre five-year/unlimited km warranty, which is below many rivals’ seven-year schemes nowadays. More info, including service intervals and pricing, will be revealed closer to the e Vitara’s mid-year launch.

The enduring family workhorse of the small SUV segment, the ageing Suzuki Vitara finally goes hybrid for its second facelift, adopting a mild-hybrid 48V ISG (Integrated Starter-Generator) set-up similar to the one proven on the smaller Swift supermini, to bring consumption down whilst keeping prices reasonable. But, has the Japanese engineered and European-built small SUV changed enough?

$19,990 drive-away is back! The sub-$20,000 barrier has been breached by a popular new model in Australia, bucking a long-term trend of continuous price hikes.More importantly, and in a first since the Suzuki Swift jumped well beyond $21,000 at the beginning of this decade, the car in question is not based on an older or outmoded design nearing the end of its lifecycle, but something released relatively recently as an all-new proposition.That model, inevitably, is the latest iteration of the second-generation MG3, which has already seen a couple of price cuts since the entry-level Vibe CVT automatic grade arrived in Australia during the second half of last year.Initially set at $21,990 drive-away, it dropped by $1000 last month, but is now retailing at $19,990 drive-away until the end of March.However, this latest price is conditional, since it comes with the proviso that is highly unusual at a national retail level - that a member of the buyer’s family must be, or have been, an owner of an MG vehicle.Snappily branded as the “MG Family $1,000 Off” campaign, an MG dealer told CarsGuide that it “includes existing and previous owners and their immediate families, taking in spouses, children (including step/adopted ones) and parents.”Whether previous family ownership extends to the pre-Chinese ownership era of MG Rover models from before 2005, like the ZT, ZS and ZR, as well as the TF and MGF roadsters of the ‘90s, could not be confirmed.In some cases, proof may also be required before the $19,990 drive-away price can be applied at the point of sale – otherwise the Vibe CVT grade returns to the standard $20,990 drive-away.Furthermore, the sub-$20K pricing applies only to new (so not demonstrator) MY25.5 MG3s (so already built and presumably landed in Australia), and in white or black and with a black interior, and while stocks last. They must be sold and delivered to the customer by March 31, 2026, and excludes fleet, government and rental buyers.The real significance of this is the fact that, unlike the previous first-generation MG3 that first entered production all the way back in 2011, the newer (ZP22) version only dates back to 2024.This means it has significantly more safety features, including autonomous emergency braking (AEB) and some advanced driver-assist system (ADAS) technologies.As we said earlier, this hasn’t been the case since the contemporary Swift jumped in price during 2021.And while the MG3 currently has a four-star crash-test rating with ANCAP, its nearest competitor on price, the one-segment-size-down Kia Picanto, remains untested.Note, too, that, even at $20,990 drive-away, the MG3 Vibe CVT is by some margin currently the cheapest new vehicle in Australia, undercutting the base Picanto Sport manual at $22,140 drive-away by over $1100, and $2250 for the auto version that is the more-appropriate point of comparison.Well specified, the Vibe CVT is powered by an 81kW/142Nm 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine, driving the front wheels via a CVT continuously variable transmission.Standard features include 15-inch steel wheels, cloth upholstery, a reversing camera, a 10.25-inch touchscreen display, Apple CarPlay/Android Auto connectivity, adaptive cruise control, AEB, blind spot monitoring, lane departure warning/assist, rear cross-traffic alert, speed sign recognition and a seven-year/unlimited kilometre warranty (like Kia’s), but increased to a 10-year/250,000km conditional guarantee of serviced at an MG dealer.

The new Suzuki Vitara hybrid has been priced in Australia, as it looks to take on popular competitors in the compact SUV segment.