The Suzuki e-Vitara tackling the slalom course at Sydney Motorsport Park … just because. Photo: Suzuki Australia.
What’s Suzuki’s first electric car like at a drag race?
Well, it’s quick. Certainly quicker than the car we faced – Suzuki’s hybrid Vitara. In dual-motor, all-wheel-drive form, the new e-Vitara will do 0-100 km/h in 7.4 seconds – which, in Suzuki terms, is like discovering your accountant can bench press a horse.
But if I left the review here, that’d be like saying I’m actually quite good at lawn bowls and also leaving it here. Irrelevant. And a bit weird.
I can, however, see why Suzuki folded a drag race into the e-Vitara’s media launch at Sydney Motorsport Park. Because when on a racetrack, it’s practically the law to behave like an idiot. So we did.
Suzuki claims 0-100 km/h in 7.4 seconds for the dual-motor Ultra. Photo: Suzuki Australia.
There was also cone slaloming on the agenda, which revealed something else unexpected: this little Suzuki can actually handle. It darts about with a kind of eager tidiness that the old, plasticky hybrid Vitara could only dream of.
But what do you really need to know about the e-Vitara? Like, should you buy one over Kia’s very good EV3 or BYD’s best-selling Atto 3?
What is it?
Last year, Suzuki boldly announced its first hybrid with the new Swift hatch. But closer inspection revealed the system was a little more like an iPhone battery and a power drill. A 12-volt system is what every other car uses to start the engine each morning, without crowing about saving the world.
This time, Suzuki’s claim is genuine. The e-Vitara is definitely a full, proper EV. It shares nothing in common apart from its name with the standard Vitara, for starters.
There are two versions. The entry-level Motion gets a single motor and front-wheel drive. The Ultra gets two motors, all-wheel drive and a bigger 61 kWh battery.
Range is where things get a bit more … average. You’re looking at 344 km and 395 km, respectively. Which is fine, if your idea of a long journey is popping out for a flat white and getting distracted on the way home. Less fine when rivals are doing rather better.
“Trail” mode engaged. Photo: Suzuki Australia.
The e-Vitara basically has two rivals – the Kia EV3 and BYD Atto 3, both of which are very good and, crucially, already here with price tags. So far, Suzuki Australia is being coy with the price, but when it’s the equivalent of $49,000 in the UK, it could need a minor miracle to undercut the competition here.
What’s it like to live with?
At the launch, Suzuki showed us a video comparing the e-Vitara to a sort of mechanical cheetah. Apparently, it’s meant to look like it’s crouching, ready to pounce, with muscular haunches and all that. Most will probably only see a small SUV. A nice one, certainly. But if that’s a cheetah, then I’m a ballerina.
The best interior we’ve ever seen from Suzuki. Photo: Suzuki Australia.
Still, it’s a handsome thing. So handsome, in fact, Toyota has essentially photocopied it for its own Urban Cruiser EV (even if this model isn’t confirmed for Australia yet).
Inside, there’s also been a revolution. Gone are the depressing sheets of black plastic and in their place chunky shapes, splashes of orange and proper design effort. The tech is still simple, but everything you need is there: a 360-degree camera, wireless phone mirroring, heated seats. All no-nonsense, just how we like Suzuki.
The gear shifter is lifted straight out of Toyota’s EV, the bZ4X. Photo: Suzuki Australia.
There are, however, a couple of snags. The boot is tiny. And in the back, even someone of modest stature – say, 170 cm and devastatingly handsome – may find their head brushing the sides of the roof. Which is not ideal unless you enjoy the sensation of being gently filed down.
Out on the track’s off-road section, the Ultra version shows a surprising bit of grit. Suzuki calls its system “All-Grip”, which sounds like something you’d buy from a day-time TV infomercial, but it works – probably better than most cars proclaiming all-wheel drive – by braking wheels and shuffling power around when things get loose.
On the road, the e-Vitara is light. Or at least it feels light, which in the world of electric cars is as good as we’ll get. It changes direction keenly, the suspension isn’t trying to batter your spine and it generally gets on with things in a cheerful, unfussy way.
The verdict
The e-Vitara is not revolutionary. It’s not going to make BYD lose sleep. And without a price, for now, it’s like being asked to bid on a mystery box.
Skipping slightly, but no matter. Photo: Suzuki Australia.
But if Suzuki can sneak it in under $45K, it makes a lot of sense. As a simple, honest, easy-to-use electric car that can get at least two adults around town and onto the occasionally muddy adventure, it’s perfectly likeable.
And, when the mood takes you, it’ll even win a drag race (terms and conditions apply).
2026 Suzuki e-Vitara Ultra
- Price unknown
- 2 electric motors, 61 kWh battery, 135 kW / 307 Nm
- Automatic, all-wheel drive (AWD)
- 0-100 km/h in 7.4 seconds
- 395 km estimated range
- 1860 kg
Thanks to Suzuki Australia for providing this opportunity for testing. Region has no commercial arrangement with Suzuki Australia.
Original Article published by James Coleman on Region Canberra.
