Suzuki e Vitara makes its first global premiere

Suzuki Motor Corporation has taken a major step towards achieving carbon neutrality with the launch of its first mass-market battery electric vehicle (BEV), the e Vitara. The news was announced during a global event in Milan and marks the company’s official entry into the electric vehicle market. The e Vitara is based on Suzuki’s new HEARTECT-e platform, which is specially developed for battery electric vehicles (BEV). The platform’s lightweight construction ensures protection of high-voltage components while enhancing interior space through a compact layout. The floor design has been optimized to accommodate the larger battery, freeing up more space for passengers and luggage. Here’s everything you need to know about electric vehicle design, battery packs and features.

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Suzuki e Vitara: Dimensions

The car has an overall length of 4,275 mm, a width of 1,800 mm, a height of 1,635 mm, and a wheelbase of 2,700 mm. The company said the SUV has a minimum ground clearance of 180mm and a curb weight ranging from 1,702kg to 1,899kg, depending on the model.

Suzuki e Vitara: design details

The electric car strictly adheres to the design language of the eVX concept, retaining features such as square wheel arches, chiselled rear haunches, sloping roofline and angular headlights with distinctive Y-shaped LED light signatures. However, the production version introduces some changes.

At the front, the car features a redesigned bumper with sharp lines, deeper creases and lower air intakes designed to direct airflow to the running gear for enhanced cooling. The fog lights are located at the bottom of the bumper. Like the eVX, the e Vitara emphasizes a rugged aesthetic through extensive use of cladding, particularly on the bumpers, doors, sills and wheel arches. The flush door handles on the concept’s front doors have been replaced by traditional pull handles, while the rear door handles are mounted on the door pillars.

The iconic three-bar lighting pattern remains part of the taillight design. The bumpers have been subtly revised and the rear windscreen now has a centrally located wiper, complemented by a wraparound spoiler. The vehicle is available with 18-inch or 19-inch wheels shod with 225/55 tires.

Suzuki e Vitara: mechanical specs

Mechanically, customers can choose from two battery sizes: 49kWh or 61kWh lithium-ion phosphate packs, with a larger 61kWh pack available on models equipped with optional all-wheel drive. The standard configuration is front-wheel drive, with a 142bhp motor integrated on the front axle and a torque of 189Nm. Higher-spec trims offer a more powerful 172bhp motor, while all-wheel drive models feature an additional 64bhp motor at the rear axle, producing a total system output of 181bhp and 300Nm of torque.

e The AWD version of the Vitara comes with the AllGrip-e system, which features Trail mode. In this mode, the vehicle applies brakes to the wheel that has lost traction while directing torque to the other wheels, effectively mimicking the function of a limited-slip differential. Although Suzuki has yet to provide official range figures, it has previously mentioned that the larger 61kWh battery is expected to provide more than 500 kilometers of range based on global test cycles.

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Suzuki and Vitra: interior

The interior design of the e Vitara largely reflects the concept shown in renderings late last year. At the top of the dashboard, two separate displays sit within a shared bezel, with soft-touch material on the lower half that separates the upper and lower parts of the dashboard. A compact row of physical buttons sits between the central air vents, while further down, there’s a rotary shifter and an electronic parking brake. The upper portion of the center console houses controls that appear to float above, creating additional storage space below.

Suzuki has announced that production of the e Vitara will begin in the spring of 2025 at Suzuki Motor’s Gujarat plant, with plans to export the vehicle to various international markets. The company also reiterated that the e Vitara will be launched in India, with sales expected to begin in mid-2025.