Suzuki Vitara Brezza vs Honda WR-V vs Renault Duster: which one is the best value for money?

The compact crossover segment is big business these days, with products such as the Renault Duster and Ford’s EcoSport having a valid claim to have helped establish the segment. The problem for the two segment stalwarts is that almost every major manufacturer now has a competitor within this bustling sector, making competition tough.

The latest addition to the segment comes from Suzuki in the form of the Vitara Brezza, which will be joined by its mechanical twin, the Toyota Urban Cruiser shortly. Honda introduced its own contender to this segment late in 2020 with the WR-V. For our purposes today we will be taking both the Suzuki and Honda newcomer and comparing them with one another. The models chosen for this comparison are all identical in terms of price and feature 5-speed manual gearboxes. The question is, which one of the trio represents the best value for money?

Related: Suzuki Vitara Brezza (2021) First Drive Review

Facts and figures:

	Suzuki Vitara Brezza 1.5 GLX	Honda WR-V 1.2 Comfort	Renault Duster 1.6 Expression
Engine type	1.5-litre naturally aspirated 4-cylinder	1.2-litre naturally aspirated 4-cylinder	1.6-litre naturally aspirated 4-cylinder
Power/Torque	77 kW/138 Nm	66 kW/110 Nm	84 kW/156 Nm
Kerb Weight	1 130 kg	1 100 kg	1 179 kg
Ground clearance	198 mm	173 mm	210 mm
Airbag count	2	6	2
Load Volume	328-litres	363-litres	478-litres
CO2 emissions	147 g/km	149 g/km	162 g/km
Fuel Consumption(claimed)	6.2 L/100 km	6.4 L/100 km	7.0 L/100 km
Service plan	4 yr/60 000km	4 yr/60 000km	3 yr/45 000km
Price	R289 900	R289 900	R289 900

Analysis

Drivetrains

As basic, front wheel-drive products with small naturally aspirated engines, all three of these products are relatively similar, with the Renault featuring the largest and most powerful engine but weighing the most while the Suzuki is the second most powerful but the second heaviest, while the Honda, which features the smallest and least powerful engine is also the lightest vehicle here. All three models are fitted with a 5-speed manual gearbox.

Related: Top 5 features that make the Renault Duster stand out from its competitors

Efficiency

Those in the market for vehicles such as these will find efficiency a big selling point. Since all these models weigh less than 1 200kg and feature small, naturally aspirated engines, it is fair to assume that each contender will be frugal. On paper at least, the Suzuki is the most efficient, with the Honda in second and the Renault in third. When it comes to CO2 emissions, the Suzuki and Honda are almost inseparable while the Duster pollutes the most. The Duster has the largest fuel tank, at 50-litres, followed by the Suzuki at 48-litres and the Honda at 40-litres, meaning that the vehicle with the most range on a single tank is the Suzuki.

Related: First drive review: The 2021 Honda WR-V crossover

Practicality

As far as practicality goes, the Duster is the bigger car between the three. The Renault is the longest, the widest, the tallest and features the longest wheelbase, has the most ground clearance whilst providing the most boot space. The runner-up in this category is difficult to determine as the Suzuki is wider, taller and features more ground clearance while the Honda is slightly longer, has a longer wheelbase and features a bigger boot. Having looked at the figures, the Honda appears to be the worthy runner-up, however, it is incredibly close.

Equipment

From a standard equipment perspective, the Duster is the least impressive despite offering niceties such as hill hold assist, traction and stability control, front electric windows, 2 airbags, airconditioning, a multifunction steering wheel, cruise control, Bluetooth and USB connectivity, remote central locking, cloth seats, LED daytime running lights and fog lamps.

The Suzuki, in GLX and the Honda, in Comfort guise add to what the Duster offers with 16-inch alloy wheels, 2 airbags in the Brezza and 6 in the WR-V, climate control, a multifunction steering wheel, a touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, voice control and USB functionality, front and rear electric windows, child safety locks, split-folding rear seat, rear Park Distance Control and rear ISOFIX child seat anchor points. The Suzuki adds more specification though, with keyless entry and start, automatic wipers and retractable mirrors, a front armrest and LED headlights.

Safety

From a safety perspective, all three models would be considered acceptably safe from a South African buyer’s perspective. The Vitara Brezza was subjected to the Global NCAP crash safety test in 2018 and achieved a 4-star score for adult occupant safety and 2-stars for child occupant safety. The Duster range was tested by the EuroNCAP new car assessment programme in 2017, where it achieved a total of 3-stars including 71% for adult occupant safety, 66% for child occupant safety and 56% for pedestrian safety and 37% for its safety assistance systems.

While the Honda has yet to be tested, the WR-V shares many of its components with the outgoing Jazz which was tested by the EuroNCAP new car assessment programme back in 2015, where it achieved a 5-star rating, achieving 93% for adult occupant safety, 85% for child occupant safety, 71% for its safety assist systems and 73% for pedestrian safety. The rating was valid until the Jazz went out of production in 2020, making it reasonable to assume that the WR-V is comparable.

Related: How capable is a Renault Duster 4x4 off-road?

Verdict

Having looked at the specifications for all three competitors, it becomes clear that each product offers specific merits to budding owners. The Suzuki is the newest product to market and offers a wonderful middle ground between the Duster, which is the most spacious and the Honda, which appears to be the safest of the three. From an efficiency perspective, the Suzuki appears to just beat the Honda while it is again the Vitara Brezza that is the best specified. Therefore, it is the Suzuki that wins today’s comparison, by a relatively narrow margin.

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