The Suzuki Vitara Has Gone Electric

Suzuki’s been a little later than most to the electric car game – so much so that some might argue it’s rather missed the boat for early adopters – but it’s nevertheless arrived, launching its first mass-produced EV in the shape of this: the Suzuki e Vitara.

It is, rather inevitably, a compact crossover, although the name should have given that away – Suzuki’s been using it on various little 4x4s since the late ’80s. It’s effectively a toned-down version of the eVX concept unveiled early last year.

There’ll be two different choices of battery – 49 or 61kWh items. They’re packaged up together with the electric motor and inverter in the front axle.

Suzuki hasn’t confirmed performance figures, but it should be a relatively spritely thing in the way EVs tend to be. Opt for the 49kWh battery and you get 142bhp, while the 61kWh unit ups that to 171bhp. Spec the bigger battery, and you can also get an optional four-wheel drive version, which throws in a smaller e-motor on the rear axle for a total output of 181bhp.

Torque for both front-wheel drive versions is 139lb ft, while this jumps to 221lb ft for the four-wheel drive. This will likely be tempered, though, by the fact that with four driven wheels, the e Vitara weighs up to 1899kg. Get the little battery, and this drops down to a more palatable 1702kg. The four-wheel drive version gets a dedicated Trail mode, which uses torque vectoring to help out if the car detects things getting a bit slippery.

Suzuki hasn’t detailed anything about the interior, but it has released some pics which show the inevitable digital instrument screen and infotainment screen combo. We see some proper buttons as well though, so top marks there.

Set to be built in India and go on sale in Europe next year, the e Vitara is based on Suzuki’s new dedicated HEARTECT-e EV platform, which will underpin its batch of upcoming EVs, which the likes of the Swift Sport and Jimny have made way for in Europe. Toyota, meanwhile, will soon unveil its own little electric crossover, closely related to the e Vitara.