SMALL CHANGE

The 1.4-litre mild-hybrid-assisted, turbocharged Suzuki Vitara takes on Mazda's 2.5-litre CX-30 in small SUV face-off

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ESSENTIALS

Suzuki Vitara 1.4 Boosterjet Ultra

Price: £28,649
Powertrain: 1.4-litre four-cylinder turbo petrol mild-hybrid, 127bhp
0-62mph: 9.5 seconds
Test efficiency/range: 47.8mpg/494 miles
Annual VED: £180

Mazda CX-30 2.5 SkyActiv G Exclusive-Line

Price: £29,165
Powertrain: 2.5-litre four-cylinder petrol, 138bhp
0-62mph: 9.7 seconds
Test efficiency/range: 36.7mpg/412 miles
Annual VED: £190

SUZUKI VITARA vs MAZDA CX-30

Small SUVS do the same job, but with a different powertrain approach

IN the late eighties, the arrival of the Suzuki Vitara provided the Japanese company with a small SUV that offered a more family-friendly experience than the other 4x4 in its line-up, the SJ. It also pretty much had a monopoly on the class, because few rivals offered anything similar.

Fast-forward to today, and the small SUV sector is awash with contenders of all shapes and sizes, while powertrains range from petrol to all-electric via different degrees of hybrid assistance. For Suzuki, that means tougher competition, and the fourth generation Vitara has been given a refresh to help it keep pace with the class front-runners.

Another car that has been updated with the same objective in mind is the Mazda CX-30. It's the high-riding alternative to the 3 hatchback, featuring swoopier bodywork than the Suzuki, and as with the 3, it now comes with a 2.5-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine. It's an interesting choice that highlights Mazda's engineering ethos, and is in contrast with the Vitara's smaller turbo unit.

So which option makes more sense? And does either car offer an interesting alternative to the leading models in the small SUV class?