Reliability, safety, running costs and what to check before you buy.
Enter a registration number to see MOT history, tax status, mileage, recalls and more for any Suzuki Vitara.
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With 81,466 currently licensed in the UK, the Suzuki Vitara is one of Britain's well-known cars.
Euro NCAP awarded the Vitara 5 stars in 2019, with 92% adult occupant and 83% child protection scores.
It has a 81.5% first-time MOT pass rate — above the UK national average of 72%. Common MOT failure areas include suspension, brakes, tyres.
Annual running costs are estimated at £3,048 for a typical 5-year-old example, breaking down to £254/month or 38p/mile.
NCAP Safety
2019
MOT Pass Rate
81.5%
55,000 tests
Monthly Cost
£254
est. annual total
New From
£22,000
Euro NCAP tested the Vitara in 2019 and awarded it 5 out of 5 stars.
Adult Occupant
92%
Child Occupant
83%
Pedestrian
74%
Safety Assist
65%
There are 31 known DVSA recalls affecting the Suzuki Vitara. Enter a registration number to check whether a specific vehicle is affected.
R/2025/127
On affected vehicles the EVAP Carbon canister should be filled with activated carbon however an air gap may develop on the inside during use which may degrade its performance. There is a risk that fuel evaporation gas will leak into the atmosphere resulting in non-compliance with regulations.
Build dates: 2019-09-13 to 2020-01-07
R/2025/127
On affected vehicles the EVAP Carbon canister should be filled with activated carbon however an air gap may develop on the inside during use which may degrade its performance. There is a risk that fuel evaporation gas will leak into the atmosphere resulting in non-compliance with regulations.
Build dates: 2019-12-13 to 2020-12-11
R/2025/127
On affected vehicles the EVAP Carbon canister should be filled with activated carbon however an air gap may develop on the inside during use which may degrade its performance. There is a risk that fuel evaporation gas will leak into the atmosphere resulting in non-compliance with regulations.
Build dates: 2020-12-01 to 2022-10-26
R/2025/127
On affected vehicles the EVAP Carbon canister should be filled with activated carbon however an air gap may develop on the inside during use which may degrade its performance. There is a risk that fuel evaporation gas will leak into the atmosphere resulting in non-compliance with regulations.
Build dates: 2021-01-25 to 2022-04-05
R/2025/127
On affected vehicles the EVAP Carbon canister should be filled with activated carbon however an air gap may develop on the inside during use which may degrade its performance. There is a risk that fuel evaporation gas will leak into the atmosphere resulting in non-compliance with regulations.
Build dates: 2021-07-26 to 2022-02-17
+ 26 more recalls. Check a specific vehicle to see the full list.
Based on 55,000 MOT tests, the Vitara has a first-time pass rate of 81.5% — above the UK national average of 72%.
This is a positive sign for reliability. The Vitara is less likely to have issues at MOT time than the average car on UK roads.
Annual running costs for a typical 5-year-old Suzuki Vitara are estimated at around £3,048 per year, or £254 per month.
Fuel
£1,309
/year
Road Tax
£195
/year
Depreciation
£889
/year
MOT
£55
/year
Estimated annual running costs based on available data. Excludes insurance, parking, and finance costs. Actual costs depend on your driving habits and circumstances.
The Vitara achieves a combined fuel economy of around 40.3 mpg (34.7 mpg urban, 37.2 mpg extra-urban).
| Variant | Fuel | Combined | Engine |
|---|---|---|---|
| VITARA | PETROL | 40.3 mpg | 1.0L |
| VITARA | PETROL | 43.6 mpg | 1.4L |
| VITARA | PETROL/ELECTRIC | 53.2 mpg | 1.4L |
| VITARA | PETROL/ELECTRIC | 54.3 mpg | 1.5L |
| VITARA | PETROL | 53.3 mpg | 1.6L |
| VITARA | PETROL | 32.5 mpg | 1.6L |
| VITARA | DIESEL | 70.6 mpg | 1.6L |
| VITARA 2019 | PETROL | 44.6 mpg | 1.0L |
Starting from £22,000 new, a Suzuki Vitara typically retains about 56% after 3 years and 46% after 5 years.
| Age | Retained | Est. Value | Lost |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 year | 75% | £16,500 | −£5,500 |
| 2 years | 64% | £14,000 | −£8,000 |
| 3 years | 56% | £12,350 | −£9,650 |
| 4 years | 50% | £11,100 | −£10,900 |
| 5 years | 46% | £10,200 | −£11,800 |
| 6 years | 43% | £9,500 | −£12,500 |
| 7 years | 41% | £8,950 | −£13,050 |
| 8 years | 39% | £8,500 | −£13,500 |
| 9 years | 37% | £8,050 | −£13,950 |
| 10 years | 35% | £7,650 | −£14,350 |
There are currently 81,466 licensed and 6,164 SORN Vitaras in the UK (87,630 total). This makes it a common vehicle on UK roads.
The Vitara has a 81.5% first-time MOT pass rate based on 55,000 tests — above the UK national average of 72%. This suggests good overall reliability.
Euro NCAP awarded the Vitara 5 out of 5 stars when tested in 2019. It scored 92% for adult occupant protection, 83% for child occupant protection, 74% for vulnerable road users, and 65% for safety assist features.
Annual running costs for a typical 5-year-old Vitara are estimated at around £3,048 per year (£254/month). This includes fuel, road tax, depreciation, and MOT fees — but excludes insurance, servicing, and repairs.
There are 31 known safety recalls affecting the Vitara. These are issued by the DVSA when a safety defect is found. You can check if a specific vehicle is affected by entering its registration number.
A new Vitara starts from around £22,000. After 5 years, a typical example retains about 46% of its original value.
Enter the registration to check its full MOT history, tax status, mileage, recalls and estimated value — all free.
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Free Plate Check may earn a small commission from partner links, at no cost to you.
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