Reasons are aplenty- but what continues to stand for me it is sales record that keeps outperforming its competitors.
Of late, is the affordable Vitara Brezza that was dropped for a review purposes.
Boasting a standard 77kW 5-speed manual transmission with a 1.5-litre engine, meaning it lacks power when taking off, as we experienced with my lensman, we had to let it cool and come up with a plan.
SUVs by nature boast power but as for Brezza it was the opposite. But, the clutch is light that made it possible to manoeuvre traffic that is synonymous in Joburg that was complemented by comfort and enough leg room, even for heavier passengers (yes pun intended).
It is paired with either a 5-speed manual or a 4-speed automatic transmission. It also comes in 2 grades of spec, the GL and the flagship GLX, the latter of which features smarter trim such as a silver skid plate on the bumper, folding exterior mirrors, 16-inch alloys (as opposed to steel wheels on the GL) and full LED headlights. The GLX also features more goodies inside, such as a leather multifunction steering wheel, cruise control, rain-sensing wipers and keyless access, and so on.
The luggage capacity can accommodate a decent 328 litres. The rear seats, meanwhile, split in a 60/40 configuration and can be folded down to free up utility space, but it’s not perfectly practical setup because the seatbacks rest at an upward angle, so the enlarged load area isn’t flat. A full-size spare wheel is fitted under the boot board, which is a nice plus for the SA market.
Driving it, the Brezza weighs just over 1.1 tonnes, so it’s one of the lighter SUVs on the market, if you consider owning one.
The 5-speed manual derivative, has a slick-shifting gearbox with easy-to-sync gears.
At 130km/h, the Brezza is buzzing along at around 3 600 rpm in top gear and contributed to frugal fuel consumption 7.2 L/100 km, as we took Krugersdorp and back to Fourways.
In terms of safety, it is packed with 2 airbags, positioned in the front of the car. ABS, EBD (with emergency brake assist) and side-impact protection are fitted, but stability control or traction control are omitted. A major concern…?
The touchscreen infotainment system is easy to use and easily connects with Apple Carplay and Android Auto, and some of the interior plastics are of marginal quality.
A breezer, a family car, depending which side of the fence one is seated?
The Vitara Brezza is sold with a 4-year/60 000 km service plan and a 5-year/200 000 km promotional warranty.
It retails for R244 900 or GLX Manual R289 900
Verdict
Performance 1-10 (3)
Fuel petrol 1-10 (4)
Image (The Vitara Brezza lacks power but its a convenient family SUV).
