Suzuki eVitara, we tested the new electric suv with all-wheel drive. Here's how it went.

The platform is suitable for both the Single Motor front-wheel drive version with 174 horsepower and 197 Nm of torque and the Dual Motor version with 184 horsepower and 300 Nm of torque with the Allgrip electric four-wheel drive, into which Suzuki has poured its experience in the field of pure off-road. The system distributes the drive by calling on the rear electric motor depending on driving and driving conditions, but it can also be influenced by the Trail mode, which in off-road simulates the intervention of a slip differential by braking the wheel that is slipping and transferring the drive to the one on the same axle with more grip. This mode is in addition to the classic car configurations Eco, Normal and Sport.

The eVitara is powered by a 61 kWh lithium-iron-phosphate battery that promises a range of 426 kilometres for the front-wheel drive version and 395 kilometres for the four-wheel drive version. The 11 kW on-board charger enables recharging with alternating current from 10 to 80 per cent in five and a half hours, while refuelling itself takes 45 minutes because with direct current the car accepts up to 70 kW, unlike some rivals that draw even higher peaks.

The battery can also be replenished with energy recovery when slowing down, but not with practical paddles on the steering wheel, but with a button on the tunnel that engages a default mode. However, to set the minus and plus steps (which does not give rise to a one-pedal driving mode) with the car stationary, one has to resort to the infotainment display and scroll through three submenus in a very unrational manner. Finally, the eVitara offers a very comprehensive Adas package, which generates an advanced level 2 semi-assisted driving system.

The line of the eVitara, while sharing many elements with that of its Toyota-signed twin, is reminiscent of that of the Vitara with thermal engines in some stylistic terms. The sensation is supported by the definition of the front and tail together with the relative light signatures, by the muscularity of the wheel arches even if defined by rather taut rather than rounded lines as on other Suzuki suvs and by the relationship between the sheet metal and glass surfaces. The SUV personality is emphasised both by the guards and by the lower profile of the front and tail which, together with the 18 cm ground clearance, optimises off-road driving. The end result is an SUV with a pleasing and balanced appearance 4.28 metres long, 1.80 metres wide, 1.64 metres high and with a wheelbase of 2.70 metres.

Thanks to the successful interweaving of design and body dimensions, the rather long wheelbase propitiated by the short overhangs and the floor layout, the eVitara's cabin offers a good amount of space at the front and rear. In addition, to benefit functionality it integrates a rear sofa that can slide 16 centimetres, making it possible to modulate the availability of space in favour of the passenger area or the basic cargo area, which is not very large for the size of the car. This solution allows the standard capacity of 238 litres to be shifted up to 310 litres when the sofa is moved all the way forward, while the maximum capacity always remains at 1,052 litres.

The well-crafted and pleasant-looking interior is defined by taut lines that give rise to a linear dashboard that supports a panel connecting the 12.5" configurable cockpit with the 10.1" infotainment display. The system, which has a rather unattractive but fairly intuitive graphic interface, is quite responsive, always connected, integrates wireless connectivity for smartphones and, lastly, allows certain functions of the car to be managed remotely via an app and access to Suzuki services. Between the front seats there is a 'bridge' console that houses the controls for the car's configurations and energy recovery during slowdowns and the gearbox rotor at the top, large storage compartments at the bottom and rear and, at the front, the plate for recharging smartphones and some USB-C sockets.

The system that pushes the eVitara Dual Motor up to 150 km/h and 100 km/h in 7"4 is responsive and, if necessary, capable of displaying a rather lively temperament even without resorting to Sport mode, the mass that does not break through the 1.900 kg is not excessive by electric suv standards, the well-tuned set-up for both on-road and off-road use where the eVitara always moves with ease are the factors that make Suzuki's first all-wheel drive electric suv pleasant and instinctive to drive. In essence, the man-machine interaction is always direct and of a high standard in every situation. The rather rigid set-up of the trim rewards behaviour, reliability and agility but on the more marked unevenness of the terrain it reverberates on comfort, which is otherwise good thanks also to the soundproofing of the cabin where even at motorway speeds there are no annoying hissing noises. As far as consumption is concerned, at the end of the test of 110 kilometres mainly on steep mountain roads and with brief off-road and motorway digressions, the on-board computer reported an average consumption of 21.7 instead of the 16.6 kWh/100 km declared by the manufacturer, while the battery charge went from 100% to 61% and the range from 355 to 206 kilometres.

The Single Motor version is on sale at 37,000 euro only in the Cool trim whose equipment also includes Matrix LED headlights and 18" alloy wheels, but at the same price is the entry level Dual Motor, offered at 39,000 euro in the more complete and fancy Top trim. In this case, the equipment also includes 19" wheels, the panoramic glass roof, the electrically adjustable driver's seat, the Infinty by Harman hi-fi system with subwoofer, and the front and 360° view cameras.