Suzuki Grand Vitara facelift arrives in the UK with updated styling and lower emissions
Suzuki has launched a refreshed Grand Vitara in the UK, bringing revised exterior styling, minor interior changes and improved diesel emissions for the 2013 model year.
Suzuki has introduced a refreshed Grand Vitara for the UK market, updating its mid-size SUV with revised styling and an improved diesel engine for the 2013 model year. The new model is now on sale, with prices starting from £15,995.
Exterior and equipment changes
The 2013 Grand Vitara receives a new front grille, reshaped bumper and revised foglights. Higher-spec SZ5 five-door models feature black headlight accents and 18-inch alloy wheels, while other versions are fitted with 17-inch alloys. Suzuki has also introduced a 16-inch temporary-use spare wheel mounted on the tailgate, which increases the overall length by 200mm for the five-door and 170mm for the three-door model.
These changes follow a similar pattern to updates seen in other markets, such as theSuzuki Grand Vitara facelift in Malaysia, and reflect Suzuki’s approach to keeping the model competitive in the compact SUV segment.
Diesel engine improvements
Suzuki has upgraded the 1.9-litre DDiS diesel engine for the 2013 Grand Vitara, reducing its CO2 emissions from 179g/km to 174g/km. Official combined fuel economy is now 41.5mpg UK, a modest improvement over the previous 42.8mpg figure. The engine continues to drive all four wheels through a manual transmission, with no changes to power output reported for this update.
Trim levels and pricing
The refreshed Grand Vitara range continues to offer both three- and five-door body styles. Alloy wheel size varies by trim, with SZ5 models gaining the largest 18-inch wheels. The addition of the spare wheel on the tailgate is now standard, affecting both the look and practicality of the SUV. Starting price for the updated range is £15,995, positioning the Grand Vitara competitively against other compact SUVs of the period.
For buyers considering a diesel five-door, the updated model completes the UK line-up, as detailed inSuzuki Grand Vitara diesel 5-door completes UK line-up.
Model positioning and context
The Grand Vitara’s facelift arrives during a period of transition for Suzuki, which had recently exited the US market. The UK update follows similar revisions for the Japanese-market Escudo, known locally as the Grand Vitara, and precedes the introduction of the next-generation Vitara in later years.
With its revised styling and lower-emission diesel, the 2013 Grand Vitara aims to maintain its appeal among buyers seeking a traditional, rugged SUV with genuine off-road capability. The update keeps the model relevant in a segment increasingly dominated by crossovers and soft-roaders.
