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Suzuki e Vitara is a shared project

The Suzuki e Vitara is a shared project with Suzuki, Toyota and Daihatsu Motor Corporation. So Toyota, in turn, is also coming up with an EV crossover based on this architecture. Takahiko Hashimoto, managing officer BEV Solutions, says in an interview with AutoRAI.nl, “The platform and all EV components were developed in cooperation with Toyota. Other than that, the car is 100% a Suzuki.”

More electric Suzuki’s?

The e Vitara is the first all-electric vehicle (BEV) within the OEM partnership between Suzuki and Toyota. Introduced globally, the electric SUV responds to the growing demand for battery-electric SUVs. In addition to the e Vitara, Suzuki will also introduce other all-electric models. At an official presentation, Suzuki presented to the general public a lineup of five models. 

Just waiting quietly

In a previously released image, Suzuki showed a compact Wagon R-like family car (eWX), an electric off-roader with Jimny design and about three electric hatchbacks or crossovers. The question is whether these models are really all going to come, as Toshihiro Suzuki, Director and President of Suzuki, says, “We are going to see how this e Vitara performs and based on those results we will take the next step.” So Suzuki is keeping a cool head. During the unveiling event of the new Suzuki e Vitara, you can take that quite literally, as the car was presented on an ice rink.

HEARTECT e-platform

The e Vitara will be built on the new HEARTECT e-platform, which was developed specifically for battery-electric models. So don’t expect a hybrid on plug-in hybrid based on this Vitara. Unless Suzuki also produces the model on another platform. That platform, of course, meets the typical BEV characteristics: a long wheelbase, a low center of gravity and so on.

Starting price Suzuki e Vitara

Production of the e Vitara will begin in spring 2025 at Suzuki Motor Gujarat in India. Sales will start in summer 2025 in various regions, including Europe, India and Japan. For the Netherlands, count on a September 2025 market launch. An award? Not yet known, but the e Vitara has to compete against models like the Volvo EX30, Kia EV3 and Renault Megane E-Tech. So the price has to be right. We are betting on at least 34,000 to 35,000 euros.  

Comes as Select and Style

The Suzuki e Vitara appears on the market as Select and Style. The Select always has a black interior and the Style has a brown interior in silver or dark green. If you choose a Style in a different color, the interior will also be black. Of course, there is also a choice of powertrains. We list the European specifications of the Suzuki e Vitara for you. All batteries are of the lithium iron phosphate type, sourced from BYD. In other words, they are Blade batteries. According to Suzuki, these are durable, safe and affordable.

Suzuki e Vitara engine variants

49 kWh 2WD – 106 kW – 189 Nm – 1,702 kg

61 kWh 2WD – 128 kW – 189 Nm – 1,760 to 1,799 kg

61 kWh 4WD – 135 kW (front 128 kW/rear 48 kW) – 300 Nm – 1,860 to 1,899 kg

Driving modes: Eco, Normal and Sport. If you choose the version with Allgrip e – that is, with AWD – there is still a choice of Auto or Trail.

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Charging Suzuki e Vitara

Charging the Suzuki e Vitara – which has a heat pump as standard – can be done with 3-phase 11 kW AC or with a DC charging power of up to 150 kW. In the latter case, charging the battery from 15 to 70 percent takes about 30 minutes. The range of the small battery is not yet known. Count on 350 kilometers. The 61 kWh battery should be able to travel about 400 kilometers on a full charge of power, according to Suzuki. By the way, all versions have a braked towing weight of 750 kilograms. Want even more specs? Then check out the overview below.

• Length: 4,275 mm
• Width: 1,800 mm
• Height: 1,635 mm
• Wheelbase: 2,700 mm
• Front track width: 1,540 mm
• Rear track width: 1,545 mm
• Minimum turning radius: 5.2 meters
• Minimum ground clearance: 180 mm
• Number of occupant seats:5
• Transmission: fixed transmission
• Brakes for: Ventilated discs
• Rear brakes: ventilated discs
• Tires: 225/55 R18 to 225/50 R19

AWD thanks to AllGrip-e

AllGrip-e is an electric four-wheel drive system. The system consists of two independent front and rear eAxles. AllGrip-e also includes a Trail Mode. Spinning wheels are braked and torque is sent to the opposite wheels. Thus, the system acts like a limited slip differential.

More information about the Suzuki e Vitara – such as equipment – will be announced by Suzuki at a later date. The combustion-engined Vitara will remain in the lineup, by the way. So there will soon be a “normal” Vitara and an electric e Vitara.