Bravo Helmut, once again a very informative and insightful review. I am pleasantly surprised with the consumption, and Your remarks on the gearbox are excellent.
Thank You for perfect eco-test. Can You please test previous model Vitara 1.4 BoosterJet mildhybrid ? I'm very curious on overall efficiency. Thank You in advance.
I think the troubles start with the price, the old 1.4T 48V hybrid in Hungary was about 5700 usd cheaper, providing far more power and flexibility. Also if there is a highway use the smaller engine probably not that efficient as the 1.4T, since it can't charge the battery while the turbo constantly increases the efficient by using the exhaust gas. I had a 1.0T SX4-Scross with 6AT and when I went uphill with cruisecontroll the transmission had to shift down 2-3 speed to maintain the speed, its probably the same or worse with this 1.5 hybrid. However 1.4T handles it like a champ because of the higher torque even on lower RPM. Since vitara and scross is made in my country we usually have 2.7-3000$ discount, but this new hybrid just entered a new price category where is a lot of more competition and with this engine setup I don't think the Suzuki will be a nice choice. And in Hungary Vitara + Scross was on the top of the sales by far in the past years, but if the 1.4T goes out and the 1.5 hybrid comes with this price, iam 100% it will change.
if I'm not mistaken in this hybrid system AC can't work from the battery, that is why when going downhill the engine was mostly on. You should re-do the test without AC.
With 6 degrees Celsius outside AC wasn't on, neither was heating, which I deliberately switch off for the descent to avoid such a scenario. The engine was on to "assist" with braking as the electric motor isn't very strong. You see that with other hybrids as well, however, the Suzuki doesn't switch the engine off immediately when not needed and also, when the engine is on and you step on the gas-pedal the petrol-engine is used. Toyota, for example, the petrol engine switches off once you step on the gas-pedal. The Suzuki doesn't.
@@ecodriver1746 AC works at lower temperature if you want to do dehumidification, this can easily be tested when defogging windows. With AC on this process is much faster than with AC off.
For sure it is more economical than the mild hybrid ονε, but for a family car it reduces the luggage compartment space is reduced a lot (375lt vs 289lt)
Helo About the comparison between Ford Focus & Vitara I`ve noticed at 16:30 that the downhill consumption is very different:so,the downhill drive mode is same for both car?😇That is just leave the brake pedal free as more as it could?So in downhill condition the engine was charging the battery-this is the difference on driving the Focus?Thanks.
I don‘t think this concept will have a great future. Modern Torque-Converters or CVTs are more comfortable, last longer and with more gears they are even more efficient.
Cost and simplicity. It will help reduce cost for a global platform, that complies with developed and undeveloped markets. For me, in my country (Costa Rica, Latin America), could be an awesome alternative, because CVTs and auto transmissions are more expensive to repair (used car market is important to satisfy too). Greetings
Hi Esteban, the issue with automated mechanical gearboxes used in cars is that they need to be repaired quite often, as a) the clutch wears rather quickly and b) most people don't know how to treat those systems while driving and therefore they easily break.
@@ecodriver1746 True, depending of the driver, they have to learn, as we learn how to drive a manual transmission without frying the clutch in the first launch. Maybe Suzuki with this Vitara has a plus, they have low gears and the assistance that the MGU gives, so no much clutch slippage to launch the car. Greetings
It is planned to use Toyota's HSD for other Suzukis in the future, the current Suzuki Swace and Across are basically re-badged Toyotas. This, however, is a development of Suzuki.
In my opinion the hybrid system is not the problem, it's the clutch and the gearbox. As long as it's driven carefully and with the knowledge how it works and what needs to be done to make it last it should be ok, but the problem is most people don't care and have no clue how this technology works, so - tbh - I can't see this last long and I don't think this type of hybrid will be adopted by any other manufacturer. Plus, it's not even really efficient...
The 2021 and the handshifted gearbox mild hybrid has a driveline from Toyota, the 2022 full hybrid has Suzuki own drive line but it is only available in the automatic and tbh the previous toyota seems to be doing better.
@@gegounaris if you'll open up the Suzuki you will see that it is using Toyota components for the hybrid system but they system as a whole is its own adaptation. So that sales person wasn't a complete liar.
@@ecodriver1746 Hahaha, it's not like that. At the moment when you pass a red vehicle that is parked approx. 15-20 meters before the intersection, the traffic light has a clear red light. The pedestrian is already crossing the lane in the opposite direction and crossing into yours. You are crossing an intersection with a red light. Not yellow-red, but so red that it almost turns green :-). To be clear...I'm not judging, it happens to me too...I just noticed. And to confirm, I watched the video at 0.25% speed
