Steve Rogers previews Suzuki’s first electric car
All
wheel drive is alive and well at Suzuki and there are no plans to change
direction.
On the
55th anniversary of the first 4x4 to arrive in the UK Suzuki has revealed its
first battery electric car will have Allgrip technology. Fittingly it will take
the Vitara name, the model that has been Suzuki’s bedrock since it was launched
37 years ago.
Suzuki
paraded its off-road heritage at Monster Mountain, a motocross centre
overlooking Merthyr Tydfil where we were reminded how good cars like the 1988
Vitara and even the little Swift are at tackling challenging terrains with a
minimum of fuss.
But all
eyes are on the e Vitara which arrives here in the autumn with a new look, lots
of technology and competitive pricing.
Suzuki
is partnered with Toyota and has rebadged a couple of its hybrid models but e
Vitara is a Suzuki from the ground up, built on a purpose built electric
platform and with styling that at last brings Vitara right up to date.
The new
model is 100mm longer, closer to the old Grand Vitara, and promises more cabin
space thanks to an extra 200mm on the wheelbase.
The
range follows the regular two model line-up with Motion and Ultra, both offered
with Allgrip and a choice of 49kWh or 61kWh battery capacity giving the base
model a range of 214 miles rising to 264 miles with the larger unit.
A full
charge from a home wall charger is around eight hours but it can be charged at
a 150kW public charging point although the 45 minutes for a 10-80 percent top
up is slower than most of Vitara’s rivals.
An
important addition is a heat pump to reduce strain on the battery so drivers
will not see the range tumbling down as soon as the heating is turned on which
can be quite a shock without one in cold conditions.
* Suzuki's off-road heritage.
Performance
looks to be on par with most of its rivals, a sprint to 62mph covered in 7.4
seconds with the larger battery. It dips a couple of seconds with the smaller
battery but is still a good bit quicker than the current petrol Vitara.
As is
Suzuki’s way the entry level Motion is packed with kit and more than enough to
avoid upgrading if budget is an important factor. Expect to get keyless entry,
integrated navigation, heated front driver’s seat (61kWh model) electric
parking brake, auto dipping headlights, slide and reclining rear seat.
Driver
safety aids are pretty much the same on both models with front collision
braking and rear cross traffic alert the stand out features.
Moving
up to Ultra adds a powered driver seat, better sound system, 360 degree view
camera, synthetic leather upholstery and a glass roof. Allgrip models get hill
descent control and trail mode.
According
to Suzuki, demand for four wheel drive is still strong and with so few rivals
offering the same they expect 30 per cent of sales to go to Allgrip which only
loses a minimal amount of economy over the two wheel drive models.
Early
pictures show the sort of cabin we have been waiting for from Suzuki. Different
textures and colours, digital driver’s display and a thoroughly modern centre
console have completely changed the face of Vitara.
A big
move by Suzuki is a 10 year car and battery warranty linked to a dealer
servicing contract, and as a customer sweetener you can get zero interest
finance and a free home charger.
Fast
facts
e
Vitara Motion/Ultra
Prices
2WD: £29,999-£35,799
Allgrip:
£34,999-£37,799
0-62mph
7.4secs-9.6secs; 93mph
Battery
capacity: 49/kWh-61kWh
Range:
214-265 miles
Zero emissions
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