Suzuki e-Vitara: Meet the brand's first global electric vehicle

Suzuki is entering the electric car market for the first time with a 4.27-metre SUV with some off-road capability.

Suzuki e-Vitara 2025

Photo by: Motor1.com España

By: Pablo García

Published by: Brian Potter

Nov 6, 2024 at 4:36am ET

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Suzuki has shown us its first electric car that will be sold in all markets where the Japanese brand is present. The Suzuki e-Vitara will be manufactured in India from spring 2025 and is scheduled to arrive in the European market in September of the same year.

During its international debut in Milan (Italy), we were able to talk to its engineers, who confirmed that the SUV will have a Toyota counterpart. In fact, they told us of the excellent relationship between the two brands, confirming that the fruit of this good relationship will lead to more models, the vast majority of which will be developed by Suzuki but sold by both brands.

Toyota Urban SUV Concept

Suzuki and Vitara (2025): Das Exterieur

Suzuki eVitara

Exterior and dimensions

The eVitara is based on the eVX concept car, from which part of the design is retained. It measures 4.27 metres long, although due to its generous shape and wheel size, the car appears larger when viewed from the outside.

To give you an idea, it is about the same length as a Kia EV3 or a Peugeot E-2008, (4.30 metres for both models) and 4 centimetres longer than a Volvo EX30. However, at 1.64 metres, the height is the same as that of the smart #1.

As for the boot, we haven't been given an official figure, but looking at it live, it seems to be just shy of 300 litres. It does, however, have a double floor for storing the charging cables.

Length Width Height Wheelbase Suzuki e-Vitara 4,275 mm 1,800 mm 1,635 mm 2,700 mm Kia EV3 4,300 mm 1,850 mm 1,560 mm 2,680 mm Peugeot E-2008 4,304 mm 1,550 mm 1,523 mm 2,605 mm Smart #1 4,270 mm 1,822 mm 1,636 mm 2,750 mm

In terms of design, the car is very attractive with a recognisable front end as it has certain features of the current Vitara. Where it does differ with the rest of the brand's models is in the side view, with unpainted plastic wheel arches (also found in the lower area of the sides), in the large size of the rear doors and in the location of the door handle (in the door frame itself), which conceals its presence, but which is not suitable for children as its position and location is more difficult to reach compared to a conventional position.

Gallery: Suzuki e Vitara (2025)

Suzuki and Vitara (2025)

Source: Suzuki

The brand has also sought to emphasise its shapes, with straight lines that give it volume. At the rear, there is a large unpainted bumper, ideal for a car that will spend a lot of time in the city, and lights connected by a black moulding (unlit).

Interior

The interior offers a good fit. The upper part is hard plastic, which changes to soft in the middle part. The two screens, which are linked together and positioned high up, improve visibility. The resolution of both displays is very good, with a large amount of information and, in the case of the multimedia system, apparently well-structured menus.

The air vents have a good visual impact, unlike other models where they try to hide them without any sensibility. I also like the fact that it uses physical controls to operate the climate control or the driving modes. As for the gear selector, there is a rotary wheel inherited from the Toyota bZ4X.

Suzuki y Vitara (2025)

Powertrain and battery

Suzuki calls its new platform Heartect-e*.* Presumably more models from both Suzuki and Toyota will be based on this architecture, but the brand has not confirmed models or expected dates.

In Europe, the Suzuki e-Vitara 2025 will be available with 140 PS and 170 PS front-wheel drive and 180 PS for the AllGrip-e all-wheel drive version. This is remarkable, as its direct rivals are only sold with single-axle drive, with the exception of the Volvo EX30.

The all-wheel-drive variant has a Trail mode that helps with low-speed progress over slippery terrain and improves traction when overcoming obstacles by acting as a limited slip lock, braking the wheel that loses traction and sending the force to the opposite wheel.

FWD 49 kWh FWD 61 kWh AWD 61 kWh All-wheel drive FWD 140 PS FWD 170 PS AWD 180 PS Torque 189 Nm 189 Nm 300 Nm Battery 49 kWh 61 kWh 61 kWh

The batteries are lithium iron phosphate (LFP) and have a capacity of 49 or 61 kWh. The brand has not yet provided the homologated range, but we have been told that the variant with 170 PS and 61 kWh battery will exceed 250 miles. To recharge it and without official figures yet, brand sources have told us that it will have fast charging (up to 150 kW in DC direct current).

Suzuki e-Vitara 2025

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Its main assets

The Suzuki e-Vitara 2025 is positioned in a very interesting segment for this type of vehicle, as it offers a good interior space, in a contained exterior size. All this, with an ideal range for day-to-day use and even the possibility of making the occasional journey.

In addition, the e-Vitara has an attractive design, with a good level of equipment and, compared to its rivals, the added bonus of all-wheel drive, which, together with the unpainted plastic bodywork protections and the good ground clearance of 18 centimetres, make it a perfect model for leaving the tarmac behind.