2026 Suzuki e Vitara Review

TL;DR: Available in both 2WD and 4WD, Suzuki’s first electric Vitara surprises in a good way with confident handling, handy tech like the front‑facing camera, quick charging (20–80% in around 34 minutes on DC fast charging), and strong real‑world usability. With a launch price of $54,990 for the entry-level model, it feels genuinely competitive in the electric SUV space.

When the opportunity came up to go on a car launch, I was excited to get out of the office and into some fresh air. Then I found out it was electric 4WD, and I had my reservations. However, given the current pressure on fuel supplies, this might have worked in Suzuki’s favour and could be good timing for a new electric vehicle.

When you mention 4WD, I think about mud, snow, and water – and electricity and water generally don’t mix. This is one area where Suzuki is going to have to prove to me that the new e Vitara is safe in all environments. So, let’s see how it goes.

The Suzuki Vitara is a hidden gem when it comes to a well price, versatile, and very capable all-rounder. From its first creation, the Vitara has continued to evolve, but never have we seen an electric option until now.

With a pending weather front that was predicted to bring 45 hours of rain to the North Island later that day I boarded a flight to Wellington – this was going to an adventure. On arrival to Wellington, we were met by some of the Suzuki NZ team and shuttled out to Boomrock where the adventure would begin.

First on the program was a short drive up to a small section of tar-sealed track where we had the opportunity to experience the 2WD e Vitara and to put it through its paces – which was quite exciting to drive and managed very well for a front-wheel drive.

Then we embarked to the next leg, which is where it got really interesting. We swapped out of the two-wheel drive into the 4WD version and got partnered up with a member of the Suzuki team to put the vehicles and employees to the test.

Both were pushed to the limit, and I can say that the vehicle performed well (the Suzuki team also managed well). The front camera came in particularly useful to see over some of the drop offs and small overhangs.

So, what is it like on the inside? The Infotainment system includes a 10.1-inch touchscreen, seven speaker Infinity sound system with subwoofer, inbuilt WiFi, Bluetooth connectivity with Android Auto and Apply CarPlay, and USB input.

The e Vitara features a detailed 10.25-inch customisable digital instrument cluster, which was easy to view and to navigate through the menus.

The driver sits in luxury with a 10-way power adjustable seat that allows lumbar support, recline, slide, and height. The passenger seat is left feeling like the poor cousin with limited adjustments – not even height adjustment which is annoying for the taller passenger. Even the rear seats recline and slide over a range of 160mm.

Price wise, the two-wheel drive version arrives with a special introductory price of $54,990 (plus on road costs), while the all-wheel drive ALLGRIP e variant will initially retail for a limited time at $62,990 (plus on road costs).

As far as charging goes, the e Vitara supports both AC and DC charging. It offers a maximum on-board AC charging rate of 7kW and DC fast charging of up to 65kW. Charging from 20–80% via DC rapid charging takes approximately 34 minutes which is just enough time to grab a coffee and a pie.

The new e Vitara proves that electricity and off-road capability can get along. It delivers solid performance, useful features, and genuine versatility that the Vitara is known for.