Suzuki’s return to the Malaysian market is a blessing for fans of the famed S-badge. Though the Jimny will be the next model to be launched, could Suzuki’s third Malaysian-bound model be the X50-rivalling Suzuki Vitara?

The B-segment crossover is currently only available in three markets in ASEAN – Brunei, Singapore, and the Philippines with the latter expecting a new variant to arrive this week. Suzuki Philippines initially posted a teaser image of the Vitara on its Facebook page.

A day later, Suzuki Philippines revealed that the new variant will be called the Vitara AllGrip and will be launched on 28-May 2021.

This new variant will be a new addition to the Vitara line-up in the Philippines which currently only consists of the front-wheel-driven GLX. The Filipino-spec Vitara is imported from Hungary.

The Vitara AllGrip will be the first B-SUV in the Philippines to come with 4WD. It will compete directly against the current leader in the segment, the Geely Coolray (Proton X50’s donor car, but you probably knew that already).

Also read: Geely Coolray (Proton X50) claimed to be the Philippines best-selling crossover in Q1 2021

AllGrip is Suzuki’s term for its all-wheel-drive (AWD) system. The Vitara uses a real-time system (AllGrip Select) that uses a viscous coupling to automatically distribute traction to the rear wheels when it detects slippage at the front.

Sounds like it could give Mitsubishi’s Super Select 4WD II system a run for its money but in a smaller package.

Also read: This is why the Mitsubishi Triton’s Super Select 4WD is the best

Despite gaining 4WD, the Vitara AllGrip will be powered by the same 1.6-litre 4-cylinder M16A engine as its FWD sibling. This unit is capable of delivering up to 115 PS and 156 Nm. This engine is mated to a 6-speed automatic with paddle shifters.

The Philippines will be the second market in ASEAN to launch the 4WD version of the Vitara after Brunei. The Singaporean-spec Vitara is only available with front-wheel-drive (FWD) albeit with a turbocharged 1.4-litre Boosterjet engine (138 PS/220 Nm).

Priced from P 1.458 million (around RM 125,000), the Vitara AllGrip will be the cheapest crossover to come with 4WD. However, is it enough to convince buyers over the Geely Coolray which starts from P 978,000 (around RM 84,000)?

Also read: Suzuki's return to Malaysia: what other models could be launched here?