Suzuki e Vitara revealed as brand’s first electric model

Suzuki has revealed that its first all-electric car will be named e Vitara and will rival compact SUVs such as the Kia EV3.

The new electric SUV was unveiled in Milan as the production version of the eVX concept which was shown at motor shows last year.

The Japanese brand is looking to make up lost ground with the e Vitara, having focused on affordable petrol and hybrid models such as the Swift and Swace until now. Its president, Toshihiro Suzuki said that the new e Vitara, which goes on sale in 2025 would mark the start of a new range of electric models to sit alongside combustion and hybrid models in the Suzuki range.

At 4.27m long by 1.8m wide, the e Vitara is larger than the petrol-powered Vitara, and almost exactly the same size as the Kia EV3. The Suzuki has an even larger wheelbase than the Kia, promising class-leading passenger space.

Its dimensions also put it in the same class as the Volvo EX30 and Smart #1, although its technical specifications are more modest and we’d expect the Suzuki to be positioned towards the more affordable end of the market.

The e Vitara will be sold in Europe with a choice of two-wheel- or four-wheel-drive powertrains and two battery capacities. Entry level two-wheel drive models use a 49kWh battery and a 142bhp motor driving the front wheels.

Above that is a 172bhp single-motor version with a 69kWh battery. At the top of the line-up is a four-wheel-drive version which uses the same 69kWh battery and adds a 64bhp rear motor to produce a total usable output of 181bhp.

The all-wheel-drive e Vitara will be equipped with a new ‘Allgrip-e’ management system, including a trail mode and an electronic limited slip differential.

There are no official range figures yet but Suzuki is believed to be targeting around 250 miles from the smaller battery and closer to 350 miles for the larger one.

Visually, the new car doesn’t stray too far from the eVX concept, with a traditional boxy SUV shape. Like the eVX, the e Vitara replaces the gappy grille of the petrol car with a smoothed-off front end with a more pronounced bumper and larger, angular headlights. The rear appears to be virtually unchanged from the concept and the car’s rugged roots are emphasised with lots of sharp angles and black plastic body cladding.

Suzuki president Toshihiro Suzuki said: “The e Vitara is our first BEV, developed through repeated trial and error to create an easy-to-use BEV for our customers.

“In order to realise a carbon- neutral society, we will provide a variety of options, including BEVs, hybrid vehicles, and CNG vehicles, tailored to specific regions.

“Introduction of the e Vitara represents a significant milestone in achieving carbon neutrality. Following the launch of the e Vitara, we will continue to expand our BEV line- up and propose mobility solutions tailored to the needs of specific countries and regions.”