Suzuki is preparing to launch its first fully-electric vehicle in Australia.
The all-new e Vitara is expected in showrooms from June, but there’s no word on the price yet.
It follows close on the heels of the dismissal one-star result achieved by Fronx in safety tests conducted by ANCAP.
This at a time when Suzuki sales are down almost 30 per cent across the board year on year.
The compact, five-seat e Vitara will be available in two variants, Motion and Ultra.
The first is front-wheel drive, with a 49 kWh battery, the latter is fitted with a larger 61 kWh battery pack and is all-wheel drive.
Suzuki’s Michael Pachota describes the arrival of the e Vitara as a defining moment for the company.
“It’s our first battery electric vehicle and a clear signal of how we’re evolving as a brand, whilst remaining true to the values that have always defined Suzuki – efficiency, reliability and everyday usability,” he said.
“The e Vitara represents the next chapter in the evolution of one of Suzuki’s most recognisable nameplates, combining our compact SUV heritage with advanced electric technology, modern design and the practical thinking our customers expect from Suzuki.”
e Vitara is built on Suzuki’s newly developed Heartect-e or “skateboard” platform, designed specifically for battery electric vehicles.
The platform optimises cabin space, structural rigidity and driving range, while efficiently managing collision energy and integrating high-voltage battery systems to support everyday usability.
It features an all-new electric powertrain, incorporating a lithium iron-phosphate (LFP) battery system, electric drive axles and an integrated heat pump battery thermal management system as standard.
With a single electric motor Motion delivers 106kW of power and 193Nm of torque, with drive to the front wheels and a range of up to 344km.
Ultra ups the ante with 135kW and 307Nm, plus two electric motors, one for each axle and range of 395km.
With Allgrip-e the rear electric motor kicks in to boost traction in slippery conditions, along with dedicated driving modes designed to support both everyday driving and more challenging surfaces.
e Vitara supports both AC and DC charging, with fast-charging capability enabling convenient top-ups and reduced charging times.
The charging port is located above the passenger side front wheel and charging times under initial development were targeted as:
- DC rapid charging time of 45 minutes from 10-80 per cent
- 11kW AC 3-phase 230V/16A power supply – fast charge of 5.5 hours from 10-100 per cent
- 7kW AC single-phase 230V/32a power supply – charge of 9 hours from 10-100 per cent
(Charging times are for both 49kWh and 61kWh models).
Introduced in November, 2024 and produced in India, the e Vitara is also sold as the Urban Cruiser by Toyota.
The eAxle technology was developed in collaboration with Toyota and is integrated into the platform.
Suzuki is expected to reveal the price of e Vitara closer to launch.
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