The Suzuki Vitara has been awarded ‘2017 Drive Car of the Year: Best City SUV’ in Australia for the third year in a row.

Drive judges tested a total of 51 cars across 15 categories at Goulburn’s Wakefield Park Raceway to determine which models represent the best in their respective class, with the winners announced this month. Having defeated Jeep’s Renegade for the title in 2016, the Suzuki Vitara remained the victor, despite facing a larger field and harder challenges with stiff competition from Subaru’s second generation XV, the Toyota C-HR, and Hyundai’s new Kona. The XV proved to be the biggest threat, but Vitara’s category-leading fuel efficiency and value for money was too hard to resist.

Judges described Vitara’s engine as one of the best in the segment with excellent driving dynamics along with good handling, steering, and agility. They also praised its smooth six-speed auto for further enhancing driving experience. All of this in addition to its outstanding range of standard specs including leather seats with suede inserts, 17” black alloys, LED DRL’s, fog lights, privacy glass, reversing camera, Apple CarPlay® and built-in multimedia satellite navigation.

“To be receiving Drive’s Best City SUV award for the third year in a row is both a huge privilege and pleasure. The challengers in this category made it tough for Vitara but I’m not surprised in the slightest that it has risen to the challenge, once again, and taken out the win. Vitara is a one-stop shop with its space, power, personalisation options, and superior fuel economy. Receiving this acknowledgement from Drive reaffirms its position as class leader and we couldn’t be happier!” – Michael Pachota, General Manager Automobile – Suzuki Australia