Maruti eVitara electric SUV all-wheel drive test

As a global model, the Maruti eVitara will be launched in markets including Europe, Japan and India along with the Toyota Urban Cruiser EV

Suzuki’s first-ever foray into electric vehicles has seen the company launch the eVitara ahead of its launch. It’s the company’s first all-electric product and comes in SUV style. The car adopts a dual-motor four-wheel drive layout and has certain off-road capabilities. The company’s new TV ad shows the eVitara hurtling through the snow in Japan. Let’s take a look.

Maruti eVitara electric SUV

With the advent of electric vehicles and increasing acceptance of electric vehicles, Maruti Suzuki and Suzuki Global have ventured into this segment with eVitara. This is their first electric car and will be launched sometime in 2025. Toyota will also launch a counterpart to this car, called the Urban Cruiser EV.

Production of both cars will take place at Maruti Suzuki’s plant in the Indian state of Gujarat. eVitara is a global product and will be launched in markets including Europe and Japan. There is also a high possibility of launching this car in India. Ahead of the launch, Suzuki has released a new TV ad showing the eVitara hurtling through snow, showcasing its SUV credentials.

Over Christmas, Suzuki showed a video of a prototype eVitara being driven in the snow at a test track in Hokkaido, Japan. The company mentioned that this test mule was tested on snow to identify any glitches in tricky terrain and low-temperature conditions. In the video, we can see the eVitara drifting heroically through the snow in Japan.

While many competitors are more interested in offering single-motor front-wheel-drive vehicles, Suzuki has gone a different route. The eVitara is primarily a front-wheel-drive vehicle, with higher-spec models having a second electric motor mounted on the rear axle for all-wheel-drive functionality. In Suzuki’s TVC, we can also see a sophisticated suspension system that has off-road advantages.

Specifications and features

In terms of dimensions, the eVitara is 4,275 mm long, 1,800 mm wide, 1,635 mm high, and has a 2,700 mm long wheelbase. There are disc brakes on all corners, and these are ventilated discs as well. Wheel sizes are up to 19 inches with 225-section tires.

Battery options include 49 kWh and 61 kWh. The lower 49 kWh model is only available with 2WD drivetrains, while the 61 kWh model is available with 2WD and 4WD drivetrains. The lower-spec 49 kWh model is sold as an electric version with 142 bhp and 189 Nm. The 61 kWh 2WD model comes with a 172 bhp and 189 Nm motor. For 4WD models, there is a second 64 bhp motor on the rear axle with a total torque of 300 Nm.

Features include a 360-degree camera, ADAS suite, panoramic sunroof, LED headlights and taillights, large infotainment and instrument screen, 2-spoke steering system, floating center console and electronic parking brake, among others. Will be launched in early 2025.