Suzuki has for many years now produced some excellent cars that sell well around the world and whilst we confess to not loving them all, the Swift and the Vitara in particular have always been favourites. But whilst most manufacturers have been dabbling in EV technology for a long time, our friends at Suzuki have held back until now. Now that could be because they didn’t want to waste time, money and effort experimenting with cars that were not really fit for purpose or even what the customer wanted or were they cleverly playing the waiting game until the time was right in a world where EVs now play a huge part in the industry and are eventually popular enough for them to dip their toes in the water?
We were lucky enough to have an early test drive of the e Vitara, Suzuki’s first ever all electric car in the UK, so how did it fair?
This is a joint venture with Toyota, so all good there. The exterior is pretty much similar to its rivals as an electric SUV, but it is at the larger end of small SUVs, so really quite spacious and roomier than most, it is quite handsome in a rugged way with chunky visuals, making it even more attractive.
On the inside, there is ample room front and back with plenty of space for storage but nothing in the “frunk”. There are a wide range of driver’s seat and steering wheel adjustments to get yourself into the perfect position.
The dashboard can look quite busy if you choose the multi coloured version that Lorraine loved but Ally hated, however there is an option of a sleek plain black for those with a more conservative persuasion…
The tech is as you would expect, it has a 10.1 inch central touchscreen and a 10.25 inch digital driver’s display. We love the physical buttons that make climate control easy to use.
As standard, you get front and back parking sensors and a rear-view camera, which come as options on other rivals plus a host of other safety features.
The range will depend on which battery size you choose and whether or not you opt for the 2 or 4 wheel drive, but you will get a decent scale from between 214-267 miles albeit dependent on varying elements like, weather conditions, use of radio and air-con, Lorraine’s heavy right foot...nothing new there!
Glad to be reviewing Suzuki’s first entry into electrification and look forward to the next 3 EVs planned before 2030.
Prices start from around £28,000 up to around £38,000.
Ally says: The e Vitara is a great drive, it is comfortable and is available in 2 wheel drive or with Suzuki’s famous expertise on their All Grip system. The pricing is also competitive along with their reputation for exceptional after sales service.
The e Vitara does not qualify for the government grant, however Suzuki is offering a very special deal which is well worth checking out.
Lorraine says: A tough sector with several great cars already leading the way, however I suspect the e Vitara may very well be a dark horse that will take the loyal Suzuki buyers by surprise and not just current Vitara owners.
