Suzuki is late to electric power, amongst the last to reveal its first non-ICE vehicle. To be known as e Vitara, the compact electric SUV will be available with four-wheel drive. However, it will be the only EV it produces for the time being.
The Kia EV3 and Skoda Elroq rival is all new, not a re-engineered Vitara. It is 100mm longer at 4275mm with a wheelbase of 2700mm. Track is out by 200mm too so expect more interior and luggage space than in Vitara.
Check out our Vitara hybrid review.
Naturally it is heavier, ranging from 1700-1900kg. That’s at least 500kg more than the ICE equivalent.
This closely resembles Suzuki’s eVX concept revealed early last year, both vehicles featuring angular wheelarches, a sloping roofline and lots of plastic body cladding.
The e Vitara has more character lines on the body but lacks the flush door handles of the concept car. The charging port is located above the front-left wheelarch.
The interior is a welcome update on tired Vitara’s. Behind the two-spoke steering wheel is a digital driver’s display, which shares a panel with the central infotainment screen.
Climate controls are separate from the screen, and there’s a floating centre console with a rotary gear selector. Other items include a wireless charging pad and cup holders, and a large storage area under the floating centre console, along with charging ports.
The e Vitara sits on a new dedicated electric platform called ‘Heartect-e’. Entry-level e Vitara has a 49kWh battery and a front-mounted 106kW/189Nm motor. A 61kWh battery pack will also be available on the 4wd model, and Suzuki is aiming for 400km of range with this bigger battery. It will recharge at rates of up to 150kW. The motor it powers outputs 128kW with the same 189Nm of torque as the entry-level unit. At the rear is a 48kW motor increasing overall torque output to 300Nm.
A new AllGrip-e system offers a Trail mode for rough terrain and slippery conditions. It can apply the car’s brakes on spinning wheels and send torque to the opposite wheel, acting like a limited-slip differential.
Suzuki’s EV hub is in India. Production of the e Vitara will kick off there in Q2 2025, with sales underway in Europe midyear, with no pricing yet confirmed. Toyota will sell a rebadged version of the e Vitara, with bZ branding.
Development of any further EVs by Suzuki is on hold while the firm monitors global conditions, following the slowdown in EV sales. Other electric models were under development, likely as replacements for S-Cross and Ignis. Whether or not five EVs will launch before 2030, as promised previously, is unclear but now that looks unlikely.
The EV slowdown, along with the release of myriad inexpensive Chinese EVs, has caused the rethink. Despite this, EVs are still a key part of the brand’s future, a smaller model the next in line. Suzuki is also working on a biogas variant, primarily for the Indian market which is responsible for half of its annual sales.
