Suzuki News

Some of Australia’s most famous car brands are starting to come under significant sales pressure as Chinese brands win over local customers. According to the latest sales data that covers until the end of May, the biggest movers up the sales charts are the Chinese brands. BYD is up 120 per cent, Chery is up 84 per cent, GWM is up 23 per cent and Geely is up a remarkable 629 per cent. But given the Australian market typically remains at the 1.1-1.2 million mark in any given year, for those brands to experience sales growth, other car makers are taking a hit. And the brands that have suffered noticeable sales declines so far in 2026 are some of the biggest names. Nissan - down 32.8% The Japanese brand has slipped outside the top 10 sellers and it’s hard to pinpoint a particular reason. Nissan is down across its entire line-up, with even its stalwart X-Trail taking a 15.3 per cent sales hit in the first five months of the year. It certainly hasn’t helped that the company has dropped once-popular models, the Juke and Pathfinder, but both were already struggling to find an audience. The arrival of the new Navara may help to pick things up in the second half of the year, while the long-anticipated new-generation Patrol cannot come soon enough. The brand is also pinning a bounce back on a range of new hybrid ‘e-Power’ models due in the near-future to revitalise its line-up.  Mitsubishi - down 26.4% In many respects this is an unsurprising result given Mitsubishi culled much of its line-up in 2025, dropping the Pajero Sport and Eclipse Cross, while also changing over to a new-generation ASX. The problem is that aside from the Triton ute, every other model in the current range is in sales decline so far this year. The ASX was the brand’s key model for years, offering an affordable small SUV option to many buyers. But the new, Renault-based ASX is simply failing to have the same results, likely because affordable, small SUVs are a key area of success for the Chinese brands. Mitsubishi has sold just 695 ASX in the first five months of the year, while BYD has sold 2919 Atto 2, Jaecoo has moved 4017 J5 and Chery has found 11,309 buyers - so it’s clear what has hurt the Japanese brands sales. The good news for Mitsubishi is that one of its most beloved models is making a return. An all-new Pajero is set to go on sale by the end of the year and could be a much-needed boost for the brand. Subaru - down 22.1% It was always going to be a tricky period for Subaru, with its two most popular models (Forester and Outback) being replaced within a 12 month period. However, the Forester has been on sale for nearly a year, so the 8.4 per cent sales decline in 2026 is concerning, while the Outback has been met with mixed reviews for its radically different styling. While there is no quantifiable evidence that Subaru is losing buyers to the Chinese brands, looking at the Forester’s mid-size SUV segment it’s clear that Australian buyers have been won over by what the newer brands are offering. The Forester sits behind the BYD Sealion 7 and GWM Haval H6, while the Chery Tiggo Pro 7 and Geely EX5 are closing in. Add to that the arrival of a new Toyota RAV4 and the continued popularity of the Hyundai Tucson and Kia Sportage and it makes for a tough challenge for the Forester. Outback sales are off to a relatively slow start, despite the introduction of the more rugged Wilderness variant, but the competition in the large SUV segment is not easy either, with a diverse group that includes the Toyota Prado, Hyundai Santa Fe and BYD Sealion 8. Subaru will be hoping its new all-electric Uncharted and Trailseeker can make an impact and capitalise on the current demand for EVs, while there is a chance both Forester and Outback sales could pick-up in the second half of the year. Suzuki - down 22.0% The key problem for Suzuki is its legacy is also built on offering affordable small models, so the arrival of so many Chinese brands offering similar (or better) products for similar (or less) money has made life hard for the brand. Sales are down across the board, with even its stalwart Jimny taking a 12 per cent hit in the first five months of the year. The arrival of the new Fronx has helped add new sales, but with so much decline it hasn’t helped the brand’s ultimate sales numbers. Suzuki is hoping that the Jimny Rhino, a new special edition of its beloved compact off-roader can help boost interest. But it will need more than that to reverse its current sales situation, which will be difficult as the competition is only going to get more intense. Volkswagen - down 17.0% It has been a mixed performance for the German brand so far in 2026. Overall sales are down and there have been big drops for some key models, but there has also been some important sales growth. The bad news is the Amarok ute has dropped more than 33 per cent, while its core SUV line-up has also been hit, with the T-Roc down 55.9 per cent, the T-Cross down 49 per cent and the Tiguan down 13 per cent. The good news is the brand is getting some traction with its electric offerings and its updated commercial vehicle line-up. Sales of the ID.4 are up over 455 per cent (only 171 sales behind the Tiguan), the ID.5 is also more popular as is the ID.Buzz van.  The new Crafter (up 277%), new Transporter (up 78.1%) and the ID.Buzz Cargo (up 33.7%) are all enjoying a successful start to the year. But VW will need to get the Tiguan and Tayron really firing in the second half of the year - which is possible with the arrival of new hybrid options) if they don’t want to finish in its current position.

Suzuki Australia is teasing a new, special edition version of the Jimny off-roader. The Japanese carmaker has opened a register your interest portal for the car on its local website, confirming it will be called the Jimny Rhino. This Australian-specific Jimny Rhino follows a number of special-edition Rhino versions in other markets, including Malaysia and South Africa, among others. They have all been versions equipped with a smattering of genuine accessories, plus some unique Rhino badging. At this stage Suzuki Australia hasn’t fully detailed what is unique about the Australian-specification Jimny Rhino. The teaser images show it features a unique decal on the side, as well as the genuine accessory wheels and mud flaps. It clearly shows it will be offered in the five-door XL body style. It’s unclear whether it will also be offered in three-door guise. This isn’t the first time that Suzuki has done a special-edition version of the current Jimny. It has previously launched Heritage Edition versions of both the Jimny three-door and Jimny XL. “The Jimny community in Australia is thriving so yes, news of any new Jimny is hugely exciting,” said Suzuki Australia General Manager – Automotive, Michael Pachota. The current-generation Suzuki Jimny first launched in Australia in 2019 in three-door guise and was joined by the Jimny XL five-door in 2023. An update for the Jimny three-door launched in Australia earlier this year, now mirroring what’s on offer in the Jimny XL. There’s now an updated autonomous emergency braking (AEB) system, traffic sign recognition, adaptive cruise control, as well as front and rear parking sensors across the line-up. Pricing for the 2026 Suzuki Jimny line-up currently starts at $31,990 before on-roads for the Lite three-door manual and extends to $37,490 before on-roads for the XL five-door automatic.

Suzuki has released the pricing and specifications for its new e Vitara electric compact SUV in Australia. This will be the first electric version of the popular Suzuki put on sale in Australia, starting from $46,990 (drive-away) as part of a limited-time deal. The all-wheel drive version of the car is $10,000 more under the deal. Prices will rise by $3000 on the Motion grade and $2000 on the Ultra grade after the pre-order pricing expires on the 1st of July this year, with this deal also only applicable to the first 100 customers.  The cheapest automatic petrol variant of the Vitara in Australia has a starting price of $31,990 (before on-road costs), so going electric incurs a substantial premium for buyers.  The e Vitara will tackle other electric compact SUVs in its segment, such as the strong-selling Kia EV3, which starts from $47,600 (before on-road costs).  It will also take on cheaper Chinese rivals, including the BYD Atto 2 and the MG S5. The car is offered with either a single electric motor, producing 106kW and 193Nm, or a dual motor pumping out 135kW and 307Nm.  The base Motion variant gets 344km of WLTP driving range from its 49kWh battery, while the 61kWh unit in the AWD offers 395km.  DC fast charging from 10-80 per cent takes 45 minutes, courtesy of a newly-developed platform from Suzuki.  On the inside, there is a single display spanning the dashboard made of a 10.1-inch central touchscreen and a 10.25-inch digital driver display. The Ultra grade of the car receives a glass roof with a shade and a wireless phone charger, along with a premium sound system.  2026 Suzuki e Vitara pricing Australia   2026 Suzuki e Vitara electric motor and efficiency   2026 Suzuki e Vitara standard features   Other standard features include:  Rain-sensing wipers Synthetic leather steering wheel Front and rear USB ports Ambient lighting Ultra grade adds Glass roof with shade Wireless phone charger Fabric and synthetic leather seats Electrically adjustable driver seat Heated front seats Infinity sound system with subwoofer   2026 Suzuki e Vitara safety The Suzuki e-Vitara has a four-star ANCAP safety rating.    Standard safety features include:  7 airbags Adaptive cruise control Auto emergency braking Lane keep assist Lane departure prevention Forward collision warning High beam assist Blind spot monitor Front and rear parking sensors 360-degree camera Multi-collision braking    2026 Suzuki e Vitara dimensions    2026 Suzuki e Vitara warranty and servicing The e-Vitara comes with a five-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty as well as an eight-year/160,000-kilometre battery warranty.  The car is also available with a five-year capped-price servicing plan. 

The Nissan Qashqai is among several models to learn their safety fate as part of the latest batch of Australasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP) ratings. The updated Qashqai family SUV has received a four-star rating, down from the five-star rating awarded in 2017. The Qashqai maintained a high child protection rating of 91 per cent, but it saw substantial drops in the Adult Protection, Vulnerable User Protection as well as Safety Assist categories. The 78 per cent Adult Protection rating was in significant part due the front structure of the car presenting a moderate risk to occupants of oncoming vehicles in the frontal offset test. Its Vulnerable Road User Protection rating was at 68 per cent, while its Safety Assist rating was 62 per cent. The incoming Suzuki e-Vitara was also hit with a four-star rating. The e-Vitara was the first Suzuki to be tested by ANCAP since the Fronx compact SUV. The Fronx was subject to a major recall following its one-star rating, with ANCAP urging people to not travel in the rear seats of the car. With a 77 per cent Adult Protection rating, the e-Vitara had marginal protection for the driver’s chest and adequate protection for the passenger’s chest, with good protection elsewhere. The car was also marked down due to the lack of a centre airbag, according to ANCAP. The safety regulator’s Chief Executive Officer Carla Hoorweg acknowledged the safety improvement from Suzuki. “It’s encouraging to see improvements in safety performance across the market, this latest rating achieved by the e-Vitara is evidence Suzuki can produce a model that offers sound levels of safety performance,” Hoorweg said. There were new five-star ratings for the revamped Audi A3 hatchback and the Q3 compact SUV. The A3 was awarded 86 per cent for Adult Protection and 80 per cent for Child Occupant Protection, while the Q3 got 87 per cent and 86 per cent, respectively. The other car to earn a five-star rating was the updated Cupra Leon hatchback. It received 88 per cent for Adult Protection and 86 per cent for Child Protection, with 82 per cent each for Vulnerable Road User Protection and Safety Assist.

The Suzuki Vitara will go down in history as one of the true pioneers of the modern automotive history. The 1988 original sparked the SUV era with its urban off-road chic, prompting Toyota to refine and greatly capitalise on the concept for the seminal, first RAV4 of 1994, that instantly became the template for others to follow. Strangely, Vitara wouldn’t go full SUV until the fourth-generation arrived in mid-2015, after years of holding on to Suzuki’s proper 4x4 roots in the same way that the ultra-successful Jimny still does today. That Vitara, known as the LY series, remains current to this day, helped by great design and superb proportions that have helped keep the Japanese SUV from The Grim Reaper all this time. It’s also a sporty and even fun drive, with direct steering, predictable handling and an actual, torque-converter automatic transmission, instead of the continuous variable transmission (CVT) alternative favoured by many, far-more mundane rivals. But there-in lays the problem with the latest, Series III facelift, released earlier this year and now dubbed the Vitara Hybrid. Its age plus a lack of real change are really starting to show. Take, for instance, the Hybrid badge emblazoned on the (completely unchanged since 2019 Series II facelift) tailgate. Today’s small SUV buyers expecting an advanced, series-parallel hybrid petrol-electric powertrain as (again) trailblazed by Toyota nearly 30 years ago will, instead, be met with a mild-hybrid system with a 48-volt integrated starter motor generator acting as an electric motor, and small 48V 8Ah lithium-ion battery. Admittedly, that’s more than what Mazda’s so-called “M Hybrid” system provides, but that’s not saying a lot. Though Suzuki’s hybrid does add an additional 12kW/50Nm of power and torque respectively, adding 15Nm more torque overall than before, the ageing 1.4-litre four-cylinder turbo ‘Boosterjet’ engine it is paired to is 21 per cent less powerful than the proceeding non-electrified version. That would be OK if there was a corresponding 21 per cent drop in fuel consumption, but the ADR 81/02 consumption figures have only edged down incrementally, by 0.1 and 0.3 litres per 100km depending on grade compared to before. The best average figure is 5.8L/100m, which is only in the region of a 1.7 to four per cent slide. If you’re seeking a Vitara Hybrid with Toyota-hybrid levels of fuel economy, you may be disappointed, as the larger Corolla Cross hybrid returns 4.2L/100km while the smaller Yaris Cross hybrid is at just 3.8L/100km. Especially as the Suzuki also prefers to sip from the more-expensive premium unleaded petrol bowser. And speaking of prices, there’s the $39,990 drive-away pricing for the base Vitara Hybrid 2WD, extending to $45,990 for the (albeit better-equipped) AWD version. That’s a lot more than what the preceding non-Hybrid 1.6-litre model started at (from $31,990 before on-road costs), though – in fairness to the company – reflects the huge increase in the cost of shipping from the Hungary plant that provides Australia with its Vitaras. But that’s somewhat more than the Yaris Cross GX hybrid’s $31,790 and just a bit under the larger Corolla Cross GX hybrid’s $37,440 (both before on-road costs), and exactly the same as the Honda HR-V e:HEV starts at (returning 4.3L/100km), which, like the Toyotas, is newer, more-modern and technically-advanced than the Suzuki. Surely 11 years of production have amortised the development costs of the fourth-gen Vitara. Shouldn’t it be cheaper as a result? The last point about modernity is also obvious inside, as the Vitara continues with much the same dashboard design, layout and hardware as the 2015 original. Again, back then, Suzuki’s stylists were clearly ahead of the game, as the basics remain sound and the whole thing is well built, but there is very little for current owners to trade-up to the 2026 model when, trim changes, digital speedo, updated multimedia set-up and removal of the analogue clock in the centre air vent aside, the cabin feels nearly identical. And, in contrast, every rival seems at least one-generation newer inside. What we’re saying is that the Vitara remains a good car, but one that cannot compete on value for money, fuel economy or performance compared to its many, fierce strong-hybrid competitors from Japan, South Korea, China and Europe. Expectations must be tempered. Throw in a now-void five-star ANCAP crash-test rating (it expired years ago due to age), as well as a very average five-year warranty against some others’ seven and even conditional 10-year schemes, and we reckon we deserve a newer, better Suzuki small SUV. Luckily, the e-Vitara all-electric small SUV looks very, very promising, so don’t dismiss Suzuki yet. Let’s just hope the pricing is as sharp as the styling and packaging are. Watch this space.

In a press conference the Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association has declared the country’s once-dominant national car industry is “on the brink of survival”. The body said collaboration between Japan’s automakers was becoming more important than competition amongst each other, as it faces never-before-seen external challenges. It admitted that the “international competitiveness” of its members had to be brought into question. Speaking as part of a panel, JAMA Vice President and CEO of Honda Toshihiro Mibe said: “The global competition environment is becoming more fierce every day. Against this backdrop, the automotive industry in Japan is now posed with the question of whether we will be able to survive or not.” “Looking back, the structure of the automotive industry has worked well. There was the structure of Keiretsu which indeed worked for the last few decades against that environment. But we believe the existing areas of collaboration are not enough.” The Japanese term “Keiretsu” refers to the unique connection between Japanese companies, with cross shareholdings and shared business goals, which promotes stability and financial resilience, as well as faster and more efficient supply chains. It allows companies in these networks to engage in long-term planning and keeps money in Japan. A result of this interdependence means a brand like Toyota (widely recognised as the head of one of the largest Keiretsu networks) has vast shareholdings in brands which would normally be its competitors, as well as deep ties with Japanese parts suppliers. But it seems this system is struggling to be competitive in an environment of aggressive and often state-backed Chinese automakers making technological leaps and bounds and sales progress across the world. “So, the area of collaboration is required with a sense of speed. I think it is going to be key.” Mibe said.  “We need to dismantle the old structure or else we will not be able to create new areas of collaboration.”  Some areas earmarked by the organisation for focus were hiring more “software-related personnel” with Japanese automakers focusing too much on the “hardware part in our history.” according to Mibe. The group also earmarked the future use of artificial intelligence and more robotics in order to address what is expected to be a 20 per cent shortfall in the number of available workers to staff manufacturing plants in Japan. However, the JAMA members also re-committed to a “multi-pathway” strategy as the “winning pathway” in order to stay on the right side of both tightening emissions regulations, and a tough tariff environment in Europe and the US in the face of a surge of electrified Chinese models. “This is not just about how we compete with China, but how Japan can make a contribution to each country in a way which is suited to the local community,” said JAMA Chairman and CEO of Toyota Motor, Koji Sato. As to the recent Middle East crisis, Sato said 800,000 vehicles were currently exported to the region, and that would be the bare minimum economic impact, but also some shipping costs would double as routes remained closed around the Middle East. A larger concern is the sourcing of aluminium and raw materials required for plastics. “About 70 per cent of it comes from the Middle East, so if the issue is prolonged, needless to say we’re going to have a procurement problem.” Sato said. Locally, a Toyota spokesperson said it is not anticipating any impact from the war in Iran on supply or costs for Australian-delivered vehicles at this time. Meanwhile a seismic shift has taken place in the Australian sales charts, with Japan being unseated as the top country-of-origin by China. This is against a backdrop of BYD, GWM, MG and Chery all occupying spots in the top-10 best-selling automakers in Australia, unseating old favourites from Japan such as Nissan, Subaru and Isuzu. Mitsubishi, which is clinging to eighth position, is expecting to drop out of the top-10 this year as it faces a reduced range of vehicles, and more expensive new-generation offerings soured from Europe.

$19,990 drive-away is back! The sub-$20,000 barrier has been breached by a popular new model in Australia, bucking a long-term trend of continuous price hikes. More importantly, and in a first since the Suzuki Swift jumped well beyond $21,000 at the beginning of this decade, the car in question is not based on an older or outmoded design nearing the end of its lifecycle, but something released relatively recently as an all-new proposition. That model, inevitably, is the latest iteration of the second-generation MG3, which has already seen a couple of price cuts since the entry-level Vibe CVT automatic grade arrived in Australia during the second half of last year. Initially set at $21,990 drive-away, it dropped by $1000 last month, but is now retailing at $19,990 drive-away until the end of March. However, this latest price is conditional, since it comes with the proviso that is highly unusual at a national retail level - that a member of the buyer’s family must be, or have been, an owner of an MG vehicle. Snappily branded as the “MG Family $1,000 Off” campaign, an MG dealer told CarsGuide that it “includes existing and previous owners and their immediate families, taking in spouses, children (including step/adopted ones) and parents.” Whether previous family ownership extends to the pre-Chinese ownership era of MG Rover models from before 2005, like the ZT, ZS and ZR, as well as the TF and MGF roadsters of the ‘90s, could not be confirmed. In some cases, proof may also be required before the $19,990 drive-away price can be applied at the point of sale – otherwise the Vibe CVT grade returns to the standard $20,990 drive-away. Furthermore, the sub-$20K pricing applies only to new (so not demonstrator) MY25.5 MG3s (so already built and presumably landed in Australia), and in white or black and with a black interior, and while stocks last. They must be sold and delivered to the customer by March 31, 2026, and excludes fleet, government and rental buyers. The real significance of this is the fact that, unlike the previous first-generation MG3 that first entered production all the way back in 2011, the newer (ZP22) version only dates back to 2024. This means it has significantly more safety features, including autonomous emergency braking (AEB) and some advanced driver-assist system (ADAS) technologies. As we said earlier, this hasn’t been the case since the contemporary Swift jumped in price during 2021. And while the MG3 currently has a four-star crash-test rating with ANCAP, its nearest competitor on price, the one-segment-size-down Kia Picanto, remains untested. Note, too, that, even at $20,990 drive-away, the MG3 Vibe CVT is by some margin currently the cheapest new vehicle in Australia, undercutting the base Picanto Sport manual at $22,140 drive-away by over $1100, and $2250 for the auto version that is the more-appropriate point of comparison. Well specified, the Vibe CVT is powered by an 81kW/142Nm 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine, driving the front wheels via a CVT continuously variable transmission. Standard features include 15-inch steel wheels, cloth upholstery, a reversing camera, a 10.25-inch touchscreen display, Apple CarPlay/Android Auto connectivity, adaptive cruise control, AEB, blind spot monitoring, lane departure warning/assist, rear cross-traffic alert, speed sign recognition and a seven-year/unlimited kilometre warranty (like Kia’s), but increased to a 10-year/250,000km conditional guarantee of serviced at an MG dealer.

The new Suzuki Vitara hybrid has been priced in Australia, as it looks to take on popular competitors in the compact SUV segment.

Road rage is such an ugly part of driving, but the type of car you own could be a magnet for bullies. Having driven thousands of cars over 15 years of testing, here are three of the best cars I think will help you avoid the wrath of other drivers and three that might attract more hate when on the road. Your guess is as good as mine as to why whenever I drive a D-Max ute I get treated with so much respect despite probably doing things that’d get me honked at in other cars.  Honestly, all utes command respect, patience and better treatment from other motorists, but maybe it’s the less glitzy and more down to earth rural appeal of the D-Max that makes it one of the best cars to drive if you want others to cut you a bit more slack. On the flip side its ute drivers I find to be the most aggressive out there — this is all anecdotal of course, but I’m sure there are many out there who will back me up. So perhaps a wariness of utes drivers and not a respect for hardworking tradies is why they’re treated better. Perhaps it's because police forces all over Australia use the Kia Sorento to chase baddies or it could be that this large SUV just looks tough. Whatever the reason, if you want other drivers to let you merge into their lane this is your car. The Sorento is large and pretty menacing looking from the front and back. But then so too are lots of SUVs, but what I think what wins over other drivers is the Kia badge. It's a brand that’s established itself at a grass roots level in Australian sport and community. It’s more aspirational than Toyota, but still not pretentious. I should point out that Toyota Klugers also command respect, so too do other large SUVs, like the Mazda CX-90 and the Ford Everest.   The Volkswagen Multivan looks like a toaster, only five metres long and two metres tall.  And while the sheer size of it makes other road users think twice about cutting one off in traffic, it's more than that. I think it's actually connected to the iconic Kombi van and the good feelings that van conjures. You know we grow up excited to see Kombis as kids, which still hits us with a sense of “awww” even now as adults when we see a van with a VW badge.  The good treatment isn’t restricted to Volkswagen Multivans, all vans are treated incredibly well despite many of them carrying out manoeuvres that defy logic, like double parking, spontaneous U-turns and driving slow while searching for an address. And that’s because we know most vans are delivery trucks on a mission and the bad driving is not down to incompetence … most of the time. I’ve picked the Porsche 911 mainly because it’s one of the cars I’ve received the worst treatment in continually but I’ve found this goes for any high-end sports car. Perhaps it’s the sight of an expensive sports car that brings out some jealousy in other drivers but I’ve never been tailgated more by other drivers than when in an expensive sports car. As for being let into traffic — that’s also a problem. This behaviour, like all road rage, is dangerous and does nothing more than reduce safety and cause stress, unnecessarily. The Suzuki Swift is great in many ways — just not how some people treat you when you’re driving it. This seems to be a problem with most small cars and I can’t help but think that there are some drivers who assume the person in the Swift is young and inexperienced.  Yep there is definitely some kind of automotive pecking order out there on the road and I can be in a ute I’m testing and then move into a small car and suddenly be honked for not moving the instant a traffic light turns green. If other motorists are ‘punching down’ on young drivers then this is a huge concern that could put the inexperienced under too much pressure and lead to a life-threatening mistake. Car reviewers joke that the answer to, “what car should I buy?”, is always “Toyota Camry’ because the value for money, reliability and comfort equation is almost impossible to match. But when behind the wheel of a Camry I’ve found I’m treated in much the same way as a small car, with other drivers seemingly becoming impatient and wanting to overtake rather than sit behind me. I can only speculate as to the reason but perhaps other drivers might think Camry drivers are older and in less of a hurry, or maybe that the person behind the wheel is a rideshare driver that could stop suddenly to let a fare out. Whatever the reason, road ragers should beware that  Australia’s police forces use unmarked Camrys and so the next one you bully, could land you a ticket.   

With local arrival on track for June this year, Suzuki Australia has confirmed details of the brand’s first-ever pure electric vehicle, the e Vitara. Underpinned by Suzuki’s ‘Heartect-e’ EV-specific platform, the compact SUV will be powered by a single electric motor producing 106kW/193Nm in the two-wheel-drive Motion grade, while the dual-motor set-up in the top-spec, all-wheel-drive Ultra produces 135kW/307Nm. A 49kWh LFP battery in the Motion delivers a claimed range of 344km, while the Ultra’s 61kWh pack extends that distance to 395km. Outright charging capacities are yet to be confirmed but Suzuki said charging times under initial development for both models have been targeted at 45 minutes for a 10-80 per cent DC top up, 5.5 hours for 10-100 on 11kW AC three-phase power and nine hours from 10-100 per cent on a 7.0kW AC single-phase outlet.  An integrated heat pump battery thermal management system, aimed at optimising battery performance, driving range and charging efficiency, is standard.  Pricing will be released closer to the car’s launch but the e Vitara will be lining up against competitors like the BYD Atto 2 (from $31,990, before on-road costs), Chery E5 (from $38,990, drive-away), Leapmotor B10 (from $38,990 drive-away) and MG S5 EV (from $40,490, drive-away). Local specification has been set with standard feature highlights for the entry-grade Motion including 18-inch alloys, LED headlights (with auto high-beam), multiple drive modes, rain-sensing wipers, a 10.25-inch digital instrument display, 10.1-inch centre multimedia display (with Android Auto, Apple CarPlay and Bluetooth connectivity), a leather-trimmed steering wheel, climate-control air, 12-colour interior ambient lighting, fabric seats and four-speaker audio. As well as additional power and AWD capability, the Ultra adds adaptive high beam, front (LED) fog lights, a glass roof (with shade), Infinity audio (with subwoofer), wireless charging, fabric and synthetic leather seat trim, heated front seats and electric seat adjustment for the driver. ADAS crash-avoidance tech is extensive, including adaptive cruise control, auto emergency braking (AEB), lane keeping assist and lane departure prevention, forward collision warning, ‘High Beam Assist’, blind spot monitoring, a 360-degree camera view plus front and rear parking sensors and rear cross-traffic alert. If all that isn’t enough to avoid a sheet metal interface there are seven airbags onboard and multi-collision brake is fitted to minimise the chances of subsequent impacts after an initial crash. In announcing the e Vitara details, Suzuki Australia General Manager - Automobile Michael Pachota said, “Ahead of its Australian introduction, the e Vitara has already received strong interest and positive reception across global markets, reinforcing confidence in Suzuki’s electric vehicle strategy.”