Suzuki e Vitara (2026) Review

Introduction

There’s no denying it’s been a long time coming, but Suzuki has finally launched its first fully electric vehicle and it has a very familiar name. It’s called the e Vitara and is a five-door compact crossover that is sold with the choice of two well-equipped trims called Motion and Ultra.

Customers can specify Motion models with either a 49kWh or 61kWh battery, whereas Ultra cars are offered solely with the 61kWh pack. Additionally, there is the choice between front-wheel or all-wheel drive.

The smaller unit can deliver a combined 213 miles of range between charges, increasing to 264 miles for the larger 61kWh unit – this is slightly less at 245 for the AWD cars.

Prices start from £26,249 and rise to £34,049, but this includes a generous Suzuki discount of £3,750 instead of any Electric Car Grant.

We opted for the high-end e Vitara Ultra ALLGRIP-e AWD model, which automatically comes with the larger battery, for our test drive.

What are the Pros and Cons of the Suzuki e Vitara?

Pros: 

• Easy on the eye and spacious interior
• Simple to drive with decent range
• Optional extended warranty offer
• Great for ‘gentler’ off-roading, okay-ish EV range
• Competitively priced
• Heat pump as standard

Cons: 

• So much consumer choice in this sector
• Some rivals offer more boot space 
• Infotainment system stuttered a little 
• Not particularly engaging to drive

What are the first impressions of the Suzuki e Vitara?

The five-door, five-seat e Vitara boasts chunky styling cues to emphasise its rugged character and is very easy on the eye. It’s not as flashy as some of the newcomers on the scene, so there’s no enormous grille or quirky features, but it looks more adventurous than many traditional family crossovers.

There are sculpted lines, LED headlights with high-beam assist on Ultra models, plus distinctive signature daytime running lights. Other design cues include chunky black wheel arch extensions and side skirts, rear privacy glass, an upper rear spoiler, LED rear combination lamps, body-coloured door handles and mirrors, plus 19-inch alloy wheels. Both Motion and Ultra models are almost identical to look at apart from the former getting slightly smaller 18-inch alloy wheels and the Ultra trim gaining front fog lights.

The lower grille features a shutter that remains closed to improve aerodynamic performance, but automatically opens to assist airflow to components when necessary.

Our test car also featured Opulent Red Pearl metallic paint with a black contrast roof, which added £950 to the final asking price.

What are the Suzuki e Vitara’s key features?

Suzuki has an excellent reputation for offering well-equipped vehicles as standard with optional extras kept to a minimum. That means customers simply choose the trim that best suits their needs and budget and that will be the check-out price without any hidden charges.

For example, both the Motion and Ultra models boast a 10.1-inch multi-media infotainment touchscreen with sat nav, DAB radio, Bluetooth, a wireless smartphone link with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and a radio.

There is automatic air conditioning with a pollen filter, rear heaters (on the 61kWh models), a 10.25-inch driver display and plenty of steering wheel-mounted paddles.

The e Vitara Ultra gains some additional kit, including a 360-degree view camera, wireless phone charger, 10-way powered adjustable driver’s seat with powered lumbar support, upgraded fabric and synthetic leather seat upholstery, a glass roof with sunshade, automatic headlamp levelling, adaptive high beam system, LED front fog lights, Infinity premium speakers featuring an instrument panel speaker and subwoofer, plus larger 19-inch alloys.

What’s the EV driving range of the Suzuki e Vitara?

The smaller capacity 49kWh battery, which can only be paired to the e Vitara Motion trim, can deliver up to 213 miles of range between charges, increasing to 299 miles for city driving where there is the opportunity for extra regenerative braking to capture energy whilst slowing down.

The two-wheel drive model featuring the 61kWh battery can deliver a combined 264 miles or 361 miles of city-based miles, while the AWD version has slightly less range at 245 miles (326 for city).

How does the Suzuki e Vitara drive and handle?

Powering our Suzuki e Vitara Ultra test car was the 61kWh battery unit with two electric motors for all-wheel drive, or as Suzuki calls it, ALLGRIP-e.

With a total output of 183hp and 307Nm of torque, it can reach 62mph from a standing start in 7.4 seconds. This is the fastest model in the line-up as it gains extra power from the added electric motor on the rear axle. The e Vitara Motion with the smaller battery takes 9.6 seconds to complete the 0-62mph dash and the Ultra model with 2WD and the 61kWh pack is timed at 8.7 seconds. All versions have a top speed of 93mph.

While driving on long stretches of dual carriageways or motorways, the e Vitara will sit comfortably at 70mph. There is a noticeable increase in wind and road surface noise at higher speeds and, similarly to all EVs, the range takes quite a hit too.

When faced with the open road, the e Vitara is well balanced and composed through twists and turns. It’s not the most engaging EV to drive and you will feel the full force of poor road surfaces, but generally the acceleration through the single-speed automatic gearbox is smooth and responsive, the steering is well weighted and the vehicle is very easy to handle.

The elevated seating results in excellent driver visibility which is good news for parents running the school drop-off gauntlet on a daily basis, and the 360-degree camera is handy when squeezing into a tight parking space.

Drive modes called ECO, Normal and Sport alter the driving characteristics of the car with 2WD models also featuring a Snow mode to help reduce wheel slippage on snow-covered roads. Our ALLGRIP-e model gained Auto and Trail modes – when in Auto, the front and rear torque is automatically controlled according to the road conditions to maximise stability and manoeuvrability on rough roads. When Trail mode is activated and wheel slippage is detected, braking force is applied to wheels that have lost traction and added torque is applied to the other wheels to help combat slippery road surfaces.

Although we stuck firmly to the Tarmac on this test drive, we have previously driven the e Vitara Ultra ALLGRIP-e off-road and it coped really well when faced with slippery slalom obstacle runs, boggy ascents and descents as well as rutted tracks. So, quite the all-rounder then.

How fast can the Suzuki e Vitara charge?

Charging the Suzuki e Vitara is a simple enough process with the smaller 49kWh battery boosted from 10 to 100 per cent in 6 hours, 30 mins via a 7kW home wallbox, or in 4 hours, 30 minutes using an 11kW unit. Alternatively a 10 to 80 per cent boost is achievable in 45 minutes via a rapid charger.

The larger 61kWh unit takes 9 hours from a 7kW charger or 5 hours, 30 minutes via an 11kW outlet. It also takes 45 minutes if using a fast charger.

What are the day-to-day running costs with the Suzuki e Vitara?

The e Vitara line-up starts from £26,249 for the Motion specification with the smaller 49kWh battery. The same Motion trim with the 61kWh battery is £29,249. Add ALLGRIP-e to the mix and the cost increases to £31,249. The Ultra trim is only sold with the larger battery unit and costs £32,049 in two-wheel drive guise or £34,049 with ALLGRIP-e.

These prices include a £3,750 ‘Suzuki Granted’ Customer Saving instead of the Electric Car Grant that has been applied by Suzuki. As no models exceed the government’s new £50k Expensive Car Supplement threshold there will be no added charges, but EV owners do have to pay road tax now. The first year cost is heavily discounted at just £10, but that will increase to the standard fee of £200 after 12 months.

Owners can further reduce day-to-day running costs by optimising their use of regenerative braking whilst driving and also being strategic about where and when they charge the vehicle. While it’s easy enough to use a public charger, it can prove costly, so a home or work-based wallbox will be far kinder on the pocket.

And any business driver considering the e Vitara as a company car will be rewarded with a generous four per cent Benefit in Kind tax rating.

The vehicle is sold with a standard three-year warranty, but this can be extended to 10 years or 100,000 miles if it is serviced at a Suzuki-recognised garage.

What is the interior of the Suzuki e Vitara like?

The interior of the e Vitara is modest rather than attention-grabbing, but it certainly does the job. Our range-topping Ultra test car featured fabric and synthetic leather upholstery (fabric on Motion models) and the driver’s seat was powered for added convenience. The front seats, along with the steering wheel, can also be heated.

With ease of use rather than flashy gadgetry in mind, there is a straightforward 10.1-inch touchscreen that offers access to the on-board features, including smartphone connectivity via Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a DAB radio, Bluetooth, sat nav and an Infinity premium sound system.

Elsewhere, there is a 10.25-inch driver information panel behind the steering wheel, where details such as existing range, battery charge levels and current speed are clearly displayed.

A wireless charging pad is an added feature on the Ultra model and everything is driver-focused making it easy to operate on the move. The cabin’s simple, intuitive design should make the transition from petrol-powered Vitara to an EV a seamless one for existing Suzuki owners.

Our only slight gripe was the occasionally slow reaction speed of the touchscreen as you flicked through the menus, but otherwise everything worked really efficiently.

How practical is the Suzuki e Vitara?

The Vitara has always been viewed as a perfectly formed compact SUV that copes well with the everyday demands of an active family. And the electric model continues in the same vein thanks its well-sized cabin and relatively generous levels of storage space.

It stretches 4,275mm in length, is 1,800mm across, 1,635mm tall and has a 2,700mm wheelbase. The cabin offers ample space for two adults – of the taller variety to sit comfortably up front and, in the back there is room for two more grown-ups to fit with ease, or three at a bit of a squeeze. The middle seat is quite narrow and also raised, making it better suited to a youngster.

But the slightly elevated seating does offer easy access to a child seat and there are Isofix anchors to the outer rear seats.

Open the manually-operated tailgate and the boot can swallow 306 litres of kit, a limit that increases to 562 with the 40:20:40 split-folding rear seats lowered, with the addition of a compact underfloor compartment which is ideal for storing charging cables. Some rivals offer more storage space, which could be an issue if you carry a lot of luggage around.

Elsewhere, there are plenty of convenient storage options throughout the cabin, including a glovebox, a large area beneath the centre console, front and rear cup holders, door bins, a single seat back pocket, a central cubby and wireless charging pad.

How safe is the Suzuki e Vitara?

The Suzuki e Vitara was tested for its Euro NCAP safety rating last year and was awarded four out of a maximum of five stars. It gained a score of 77 per cent for Adult Safety, 85 per cent for Child Occupant, 79 per cent for Vulnerable Road Users and 72 per cent for Safety Assist.

Both Motion and Ultra models feature lane keep assist with lane departure prevention, traffic sign recognition, intelligent speed assistance, rear cross traffic alert, blind spot monitor, multiple collision braking, hill hold control, hill descent control, an automated emergency braking system, driver monitoring system, eCall, a tyre pressure monitor, a full suite of airbags, childproof rear door locks and Isofix child seat anchors.

The vehicles with ALLGRIP-e, such as our test car, also gain a Trail mode to assist with smooth exiting from slippery areas while the 2WD cars have a Snow mode offering moderate torque delivery to help reduce wheels from slipping.

Can I choose optional extras with the Suzuki e Vitara?

Suzuki makes a point of equipping its vehicles to the max, so there is little scope for customers to personalise models further via optional extras. And that’s good news as it keeps the costs down.

However, there are optional paint upgrades with a range of snazzy colours, including two-tone varieties. The single tone paint is £650 extra while the dual tone is slightly more expensive at £950.

What are the Suzuki e Vitara’s main rivals?

The Suzuki e Vitara is entering a highly competitive electrified arena with some strong opposition from the likes of the Kia EV3, Peugeot E-2008, Ford Puma Gen-E, Renault 4 and Jeep Avenger Electric amongst others.

What’s the final verdict on the Suzuki e Vitara?

Brand loyalty is one of Suzuki’s greatest strengths, with seven out of ten existing customers choosing another Suzuki when it’s time to replace their car. With that in mind, the option to move from Vitara ICE to e Vitara EV needs to be a simple, smooth transition. And it is exactly that.

Prior to the new car’s arrival in showrooms, there has been extensive work in the background to prepare dealerships so they can assist with any customer concerns, be it range anxiety, charging questions or anything else EV-related.

The e Vitara has plenty to like and will be very familiar to anyone already driving a standard Vitara. It’s easy on the eye, packed with tech and simple to drive. But it will need to work hard to get noticed in an ever-growing sector.

And if you spot a vehicle looking very similar to the e Vitara but carrying Toyota badging, that’s because there is shared technology on certain models between both brands. But unlike the Across and Swace (which were based on Toyota cars) Suzuki took the lead on the e Vitara and shared its platform so Toyota could develop the Urban Cruiser.

Where to next?

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**Score based on Select’s unique meta score analysis, taking into account the UK’s top leading independent car website reviews of the Suzuki e Vitara

**Correct as of 23/06/2026 . Based on 12  months initial payment, 5,000 miles annually, over a 48 month lease. Initial payment equivalent to 12 monthly payments, or £2,950.56 (Plus admin fee) Ts and Cs apply. Credit is subject to status.

Every lease deal is a fixed monthly cost for the whole of your contract, apart from changes to government costs, e.g. VAT changes or road fund license cost changes and in certain specific cases where the funder changes the price. Electric range quoted is WLTP.

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