This is Suzuki’s first ever electric car: the new e-Vitara

No, the Suzuki Vitara hasn’t been offered as a two-door convertible SUV for ages. Yes, we still weirdly miss it. Come on Suzuki, do the honourable thing and make this a cabrio.

Oh, right. ‘This’ is the brand-new Suzuki Vitara – sorry, e-Vitara – and it is Suzuki’s first ever electric car. A proper electric car. With batteries and everything. When the Jimny and Swace and Swift Sport and so on made way, it’s for the likes of, well, ‘this’.

Looks… baffled about something, though it’s got a decent, chunky outline, featuring flared arches, lots of creases, and that weirdly bemused light signature. Maybe it too longs to be a cabrio.

There are two battery options: a 49kWh, 2WD e-Vitara, and a 61kWh available with either 2WD or 4WD. The 41kWh battery powers a 106kW motor, while the beefier battery is available in either 128kW (2WD) or with a twin-motor 135kW output. That 4WD version comes with a ‘Trail’ mode, too.

Apparently, this new e-Vitara deploys what Suzuki calls ‘HEARTECT-e’ and no, we don’t know why it’s so shouty. But it’s a catch-all term for the new electric platform underpinning the car, said to be lightweight, with high-voltage protection and allowing for a spacious interior. An interior that can fit five humans.

Though, it’s a smol SUV, so think Ford Puma size (4.2m long, 1.8m wide, 1.6m tall). Heavy, of course, because batteries aren’t light, the 2WD version weighing in at 1,702kg, the 4WD one 1,899kg.

“The e-Vitara is our first BEV, developed through repeated trial and error to create an easy-to-use BEV for our customers,” said the president of Suzuki, Toshihiro Suzuki. “Introduction of the e-Vitara represents a significant milestone in achieving carbon neutrality.

“Following the launch of the e-Vitara, we will continue to expand our BEV line-up and propose mobility solutions tailored to the needs of specific countries and regions.”

Speaking of regions, it’ll be built in India (in Gujarat), and will be offered in Europe, India and Japan around summer 2025. Summer, you say? Why, that’s the perfect time to roll out a cabrio…