Suzuki Vitara vs Citroen C4 Cactus & Renault Captur - pictures

The Suzuki Vitara has gone from rugged 4x4 to compact crossover to take on the likes of the Citroen C4 Cactus and Renault Captur. 

The Vitara tested here costs £16,999. 

Powered by a 1.6-litre diesel engine, it produces 118bhp and 320Nm of torque. 

The Vitara's interior is rather bland to look at, and some of the plastics aren't great, but the touchscreen infotainment system is great to use. 

Legroom in the rear is decent, plus access is good through the wide rear doors. It isn't the most spacious in this test, but large windows and high-set seats create an airy atmosphere. 

The Vitara's 375-litre boot has a practical shape and a flat load lip. 

The new touchscreen infotainment system looks great and is a model of clarity. 

Suzuki has attempted to inject the Vitara with a much-needed dose of style, yet the car still appears a little awkward. Five-spoke alloys and swept-back headlamps do look the part, though. 

"The Vitara is the sole car here that's available with four-wheel drive. The selectable, electronically-controlled ALLGRIP system comes only on the flagship SZ5, but it has a differential lock and hill descent control. 

Here we test the C4 Cactus with a 1.6-litre diesel engine, producing 98bhp. 

The model tested here comes in at £17,975. 

Inside, the central touchscreen and LCD display ahead of the wheel dominate the minimalist cabin.

Tall rear passengers will find that their heads brush against the cabin roof, but panoramic sunroof helps brighten things up. 

With the rear bench folded, boot extends from 358 litres to 1,175 litres. 

"Citroen's trademark Airbumps are a clever, head-turning addition. However, our car's black panels had developed milky streaks from washing and weathering. We'd suggest choosing a light-coloured Cactus."

Curvy, jacked-up body and high-set LED daytime running lights provide plenty of kerb appeal. 

"The diesel has the lowest running costs, but we'd opt for the smooth and punchy three-cylinder petrol turbo." 

The Captur in this test is a 1.5-litre diesel Dynamique version, weighing in at £18,724 as tested. 

Our Captur's £399 optional contrasting roof and door mirror colour adds style, while colourful trim inserts inside are just as striking. 

Look past the bright colours and bold shapes of the Captur's interior and you'll find some disappointing plastics. Renault's R-Link touchscreen infotainment system is the most comprehensive of the cars in this test, though. A pollution

The Renault is the shortest car in this test, but has the most room inside thanks to the longest wheelbase. The rear bench slides, too. 

Thanks to the sliding rear seats, boot capacity goes from a competitive 377 litres to a huge 455 litres. Folding the rear seats flat increases total capacity to 1,235 litres. 

Front seat covers zip off and can be machine-washed to keep the cabin fresh, plus pockets on the back of the front seats are made from bright elastic. 

"Unlike the Vitara there's no four-wheel drive version of the Captur. However, flagship Signature Nav models do get the Grip Xtend system, which allows you to switch the traction control between Road, Soft Ground and Expert modes."&nbs

Renault has worked hard to make the Captur stand out from the crowd, and the car certainly looks more distinctive than the bland Vitara. 

All three cars target style-conscious buyers, so there are customisation options available for each, enabling you to choose from contrasting roof colours, bright trim inserts and different wheels.