SECTOR: Crossover   PRICE: €22,670–€24,170   FUEL: 5.4–5.5l/100km   CO2: 127–128g/km

It is less than a year since Suzuki launched the latest Vitara range, giving the company’s long-running model much more appeal than before. Now it has introduced a new petrol engine to the range, which has plenty of appeal for fleet drivers.

The new engine looks similar on paper to those produced by other manufacturers, using direct fuel injection and turbocharging to enable downsizing. From a displacement of 1.4-litres, the new Boosterjet engine develops 140hp at 5,500rpm and 220Nm of torque between 1,500rpm and 4,000rpm.

Suzuki offers the new engine with either a six-speed manual transmission or six-speed torque converter automatic. The days when a conventional automatic would bring a heavy fuel consumption penalty are passed. With manual transmission, the Vitara delivers combined fuel consumption of 5.4l/100km with CO2 emissions of 127g/km, while the automatic delivers combined consumption of 5.5l/100km and CO2 emissions of 128g/km. In both cases these are the right side of 130g/km for markets with emissions related taxation. Suzuki is only making the Boosterjet engine available with its ALLGRIP four-mode four-wheel drive system.

By contrast, Suzuki’s 1.6-litre petrol engine offered from launch in the Vitara offers 5.6l/100km and 130g/km CO2 or 5.7l/100km and 131g/km CO2 with the same automatic transmission, but with 120hp and 156Nm of torque. The same 1.4-litre engine and six-speed manual or automatic transmission is also offered in the S-Cross. Both S-Cross and Vitara share the same drivetrain options, which include the FCA-sourced 120hp 1.6-litre DDiS diesel engine with either six-speed manual or six-speed dual clutch (TCSS) transmission. Both 1.6-litre engines are available with either two or four-wheel drive, while the 1.6-litre engine is also available with the six-speed automatic transmission in both two and four-wheel drive.

The Boosterjet engine might seem a little down on power compared with rivals from the VW Group for instance, which offers 150hp, but the Suzuki’s kerb weight of around 1.2-tonnes ensures that performance is lively. The small turbocharger is designed to offer boost from low revs and without lag and does so in practice.

It’s not clear why the engine is only available with the ALLGRIP system – the 1.6-litre diesel produces much more torque (320Nm), yet can be had with two-wheel drive. But the Boosterjet engine is a delight and so confident was Suzuki in the chassis, that part of the driving exercise involved time on a race track. Here the car showed itself to be very well behaved in conditions that fleet drivers are not likely to experience.

My choice would be the automatic. The new auto transmission is perfectly matched to the engine’s characteristics so that it offers the combination of lively performance and automatic convenience for town driving. Since the CO2 emissions penalty is small it is unlikely to have a big impact on lease prices. While the 1.6-litre diesel offers lower CO2 emissions and would be a better choice for long distance drivers, the new 1.4-litre petrol engine provides an alternative for those who would prefer a petrol engine.

Verdict:

The new Boosterjet engine offers another option for Vitara and S-Cross buyers, providing a small, powerful, fuel-efficient petrol engine as an alternative to the 1.6-litre diesel.