Suzuki Australia is launching two electrified Vitara fashions in 2026. However whereas they share the identical identify, they’re fully totally different autos.
The Vitara Hybrid enters as an upgraded model of the long-running fourth-generation small SUV that’s been round for over a decade, and now options 48V mild-hybrid tech and enhanced tools ranges.
In the meantime, the 2026 Suzuki e Vitara you see right here is an all-new devoted electrical car (EV) constructed by the Japanese model’s Maruti Suzuki affiliate in India and exported across the globe. Toyota is even getting in on the motion, growing its personal badge-engineered model named the City Cruiser, which is already on sale abroad.
Due on sale right here round June or July of 2026, the e Vitara can be Suzuki’s first EV in Australia, and all indicators level to its touchdown on the extra attainable finish of the Australian EV market, probably posing as a brand new rival for the rising variety of low cost Chinese language electrical crossovers.
Pricing for Australia gained’t be introduced for a bit, however Japanese-market positioning factors to the e Vitara being higher worth than initially thought, given it begins in Suzuki’s dwelling marketplace for the equal of $35,000.
Forward of its official Australian market arrival later this yr, Suzuki Australia invited us to a quick pre-launch drive in Sydney alongside the Vitara Hybrid and rejigged MY26 Jimny vary.
Our pals within the UK, who drove the e Vitara in November, mentioned it’s a “stable” first effort, however they had been considerably uninspired given the worth positioning in Europe towards rival autos. So, what did we take into consideration the pre-production model for Australia?
How a lot does the Suzuki e Vitara price?
We don’t know the way a lot it’ll price right here simply but, although Suzuki Australia hinted at it being “aggressive”.
| Mannequin | Worth earlier than on-road prices |
|---|---|
| 2026 Suzuki e Vitara Movement | $TBC |
| 2026 Suzuki e Vitara Extremely AllGrip | $TBC |
“The rationale we will’t speak about it in the present day is we’re very, very early within the phases of the launch part of that automotive,” mentioned Michael Pachota, normal supervisor for Suzuki Australia. “However as soon as pricing comes out, you’ll see that it’ll have a aggressive nature.”
The Indian-made Suzuki e Vitara is already on sale in abroad markets like Japan and Europe, and can also be out there overseas because the rebadged Toyota City Cruiser.
Whereas the e Vitara’s UK beginning value of £26,249 (A$49,255) factors to an area entry value nearer to one thing just like the bigger Kia EV3, which has a considerably longer WLTP-tested driving vary, the e Vitara’s value in Japan may very well be a extra correct and promising indicator of the brand new EV’s positioning Down Beneath.
The entry-level variant in Japan with a smaller 49kWh battery begins from 3,993,000 yen together with the Japanese consumption tax, which converts to A$35,210. The flagship AWD model with a bigger 61kWh battery, in the meantime, is listed in Suzuki’s dwelling market at 4,928,000 yen, or A$43,455.
Different key opponents for Suzuki’s first electrical car in Australia might embrace the Chery E5 (from $38,990 drive-away), Leapmotor B10 (from $38,990 drive-away), MG S5 EV (from $40,990 drive-away), and Jaecoo J5 (from $36,990 drive-away).
The upper-spec e Vitara Extremely is one in all few compact EVs at this finish of the market to be out there with dual-motor all-wheel drive, which none of its aforementioned Chinese language rivals provide at this cut-off date.
To see how the Suzuki e Vitara traces up towards the competitors, try our comparability software
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What’s the Suzuki e Vitara like on the within?
The place the ageing Vitara is feeling a bit low cost and dated inside, the e Vitara feels considerably extra refined in its cabin presentation.
You’ll discover some Toyota hyperlinks on the centre console, which seems prefer it was nicked from a bZ4X or Subaru Solterra, whereas the twin 10-inch driver and infotainment shows have a way more fashionable look than different Suzuki techniques.
There’s a superb mixture of soft-touch surfaces combined in with fascinating particulars just like the brown trim accents and piano-black plastic on the centre console – which has shiny showroom enchantment however will simply scratch and smudge.
It’s additionally good to see an array of bodily switchgear in a brand new EV, specifically for the local weather controls and drive modes. As is typical Suzuki fare, the buttons have a pleasant, stable motion when pressed, and really feel of stable high quality.
Forward of the e-shifter is a pair of cupholders and a shelf to your telephone, which within the Extremely includes a wi-fi telephone charging pad. The bottom mannequin simply has a mildly rubberised platform to cease your telephone flying round when driving.
The conjoined 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster and 10.1-inch central media system are standardised throughout each variants, and have a brand new interface in comparison with different fashions within the Suzuki secure.
My temporary time with the automotive didn’t enable me to actually flesh out the options and check their normal usability, however the digital instrument cluster provides a number of views and appears comparatively upmarket, and the infotainment system provides wi-fi smartphone mirroring.
Fortunately, Suzuki has retained bodily toggles for the local weather management system on the dashboard, that means you don’t should dive via the touchscreen to regulate the temperature when you don’t need to.
Whereas not as fast to load or animate as among the shows in Chinese language-branded rivals, the software program and interface is clear, enticing, and works high quality – in our very restricted expertise.
A comparatively lengthy 2700mm wheelbase means the very compact 4275mm-long e Vitara has first rate rear passenger lodging for such a small automotive.
I’m 6’1″ tall and will simply squeeze in behind my most popular driving place, in order a metropolis runabout or grocery-getter it can make loads of sense you probably have smaller youngsters or common passengers which might be of common peak.
That mentioned, headroom will get tight at my peak (although my hair provides about two inches!), and there are sadly no rear air vents behind the centre console like in some rivals.
Behind the sliding and reclining rear bench seat is a boot that measures between 244-310 litres relying on the rear seat place, and all variations include a tyre restore package in lieu of a spare wheel.
| Dimensions | Suzuki e Vitara |
|---|---|
| Size | 4275mm |
| Width | 1800mm |
| Top | 1635mm |
| Wheelbase | 2700mm |
| Cargo capability | 244-310L – 2nd row up |
To see how the Suzuki e Vitara traces up towards the competitors, try our comparability software
What’s below the bonnet?
The e Vitara will provide two powertrain variants for many of Australia, whereas Suzuki Queensland will provide a complete of three – learn extra on that right here.
| Specs | e Vitara Movement | e Vitara Extremely AllGrip |
|---|---|---|
| Drivetrain | Single-motor electrical | Twin-motor electrical |
| Battery | 49kWh LFP | 61kWh LFP |
| Energy | 106kW | 135kW |
| Torque | 193Nm | 307Nm |
| Drive kind | FWD | AWD |
| Weight – kerb | 1700kg | 1860kg |
| 0-100km/h (claimed) | 9.6 seconds | 7.4 seconds |
| Power consumption (claimed) | 14.9kWh/100km | 16.6kWh/100km |
| Claimed vary – WLTP | 344km | 395km |
| Max AC cost fee | 11kW | 11kW |
| Max DC cost fee | – | – |
| Cost time 10-80% – DC | 45 minutes | 45 minutes |
Whereas simply two variations can be out there for many of Australia, Suzuki Queensland (which distributes automobiles within the Sunshine State and the Northern Rivers area of NSW) can even provide an Extremely FWD model with the 61kWh battery.
Powered by the 106kW/193Nm motor and bigger LFP battery, the QLD-market’s e Vitara Extremely FWD provides a claimed 426km of vary primarily based on WLTP testing.
Suzuki Australia says it’s open to including this variant additional down the monitor pending demand, however has no agency plans at this cut-off date.
To see how the Suzuki e Vitara traces up towards the competitors, try our comparability software
How does the Suzuki e Vitara drive?
After we say “fast drive”, we actually imply it was a fast drive.
The preview drive for the e Vitara was held along with the Vitara Hybrid we drove on the identical occasion, and whereas there have been two variants of the (delicate) ‘Hybrid’ to drive on-road, there was only one model of the e Vitara, restricted to 2 autos for some eight journalists.
In consequence, I solely bought a few 15-minute stint behind the wheel of the e Vitara Movement on public roads, forward of some soft-roading, acceleration and slalom checks within the AllGrip mannequin – which is why my first impressions are pretty light-on.
What I can inform you is the little electrical Suzuki feels stable, easy and comparatively refined, in a Toyota-like means, befitting the e Vitara’s shared DNA with the Toyota City Cruiser bought abroad.
Pushed back-to-back with the Vitara Hybrid, the e Vitara feels stronger off the road, is extra refined by way of street and powertrain noise insulation, and feels a bit of extra stable by way of normal road-holding and dynamics.
It’s certainly not a firecracker nor a revelation on this area, nevertheless it’s competent and assured in the best way it drives, which at this finish of the market is greater than sufficient – value pending.
The journey is usually fairly supple, although the steering is a contact sluggish and barely obscure feeling at instances. As soon as once more, nevertheless, the goal purchaser is unlikely to be all that fussed by that, given the driving character of many rival fashions.
Effectivity and vary are arduous to gauge from such a brief drive, although with an indicated 90 per cent cost on a scorching day with the air-con working, the e Vitara had already dipped beneath 300km of indicated driving vary.
The ‘one-pedal’ driving mode wasn’t a lot to jot down dwelling about both, as a result of it is successfully a max regen mode that also requires brake pedal inputs in most eventualities, together with if you wish to sluggish the automotive to a cease. Once more, it simply feels old-gen.
Suzuki claims about 345km on the WLTP cycle for the FWD 49kWh drivetrain, so it’ll be fascinating to get a greater thought of its real-world effectivity once we get it via the CarExpert storage.
Within the spirit of a ‘fast’ drive, we additionally bought to do some temporary light-duty off-roading within the e Vitara AllGrip, over some gravel trails and dust mounds.
Whereas it’s not going to be chasing a Jimny up a rocky slope, the e Vitara’s AllGrip-e dual-motor 4WD system provides good traction – given the damp and slippery sections after rain – and its first rate 180mm of floor clearance means it needs to be high quality for fundamental tenting trails and unsealed roads.
After that we did some acceleration runs towards the Vitara Hybrid, and a few runs via a slalom course to get a really feel for its dealing with and physique management when pushed.
Suzuki claims a 0-100km/h acceleration time of seven.4 seconds, and it feels faster than that as much as 60 or 80km/h earlier than truly fizzling out in direction of triple figures. In all honesty, it’s as quick because it must be for this type of car.
It was faster than the 80.9kW Vitara Hybrid, and its efficiency within the slalom was first rate. As with different Suzuki autos, there’s a manageable quantity of lean that makes it a bit of playful, although you possibly can really feel its weight shift laterally via fast modifications of course at velocity.
At just below 1.8 tonnes (based on EU/UK specs), the e Vitara AllGrip is lardy relative to its featherweight Vitara Hybrid stablemate (1275kg in AllGrip guise), and that’s felt within the bends regardless that it’s competent sufficient.
That’s about as a lot as I can say for now, as we didn’t have any freeway stretches on which to check any of its driver help options like adaptive cruise management – although it’s price noting all variants come totally outfitted.
I did respect the usual encompass digital camera system, although its high quality pales compared to the wonderful stay feeds present in most Chinese language opponents.
To see how the Suzuki e Vitara traces up towards the competitors, try our comparability software
What do you get?
Suzuki Australia will provide the e Vitara in ‘Movement’ and ‘Extremely’ trim ranges, whereas Suzuki Queensland will promote the Extremely in each FWD and AWD variations with the longer-range 61kWh battery pack.
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2026 Suzuki e Vitara Movement tools highlights:
- 18-inch alloy wheels
- Auto LED headlights
- Auto high-beam
- Rain-sensing wipers
- 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster
- 10.1-inch touchscreen infotainment system
- Apple CarPlay, Android Auto
- Material upholstery
- Leather-based-wrapped steering wheel
- Single-zone local weather management
- 12-colour ambient lighting
The e Vitara Extremely provides:
- LED fog lights
- Adaptive high-beam
- Glass roof with shade
- Premium cloth and leather-based upholstery
- Energy-adjustable driver’s seat
- Heated entrance seats
- Wi-fi telephone charging
- Infinity sound system
To see how the Suzuki e Vitara traces up towards the competitors, try our comparability software
Is the Suzuki e Vitara secure?
The e Vitara doesn’t have an ANCAP score but, nevertheless it’s anticipated the Australian mannequin will carry out much like its European sister mannequin, which achieved 4 stars in impartial crash testing.
Customary security tools throughout the vary contains:
- 7 airbags
- Adaptive cruise management
- Autonomous emergency braking
- Blind-spot monitoring
- Lane-keep help
- Multi-collision braking
- Parking sensors – entrance, rear
- Rear cross-traffic alert
- Encompass-view digital camera
To see how the Suzuki e Vitara traces up towards the competitors, try our comparability software
How a lot does the Suzuki e Vitara price to run?
Whereas full particulars are nonetheless to be confirmed, the e Vitara can be coated by Suzuki Australia’s five-year, unlimited-kilometre new car guarantee, however battery protection remains to be TBC given that is the model’s first EV in Australia.
| Servicing and Guarantee | Suzuki e Vitara |
|---|---|
| Guarantee | 5 years, limitless kilometres |
| Roadside help | 5 years |
| Service intervals | TBC |
| Capped-price servicing | TBC |
To see how the Suzuki e Vitara traces up towards the competitors, try our comparability software
CarExpert’s Tackle the Suzuki e Vitara
Given value positioning is such a key piece of the puzzle that’s at present lacking right here, it’s a bit of early to foretell whether or not the e Vitara can be a powerful competitor for the slew of Chinese language entrants within the inexpensive EV market.
If Suzuki can land the bottom mannequin with a price ticket beginning with a ‘3’, the e Vitara might make a superb case for itself as an inexpensive and attainable electrical SUV that’s inside a stone’s throw of the likes of BYD.
Nevertheless, if the e Vitara is priced extra in keeping with its positioning within the UK, the Japanese model could have shot itself within the foot earlier than it touches down. Hyundai Inster 2.0, anybody?
First impressions are stable primarily based on our temporary first native drive, however our eventual verdict hinges on Suzuki’s means to carry its first EV right here with a aggressive price ticket, conserving in thoughts that almost all rivals at this finish of the market aren’t all that inspiring both.
Watch this area.
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