The Suzuki eVitara feels a bit like going back to a flip phone in a world full of iPhones.
Not because it’s bad, but because it’s simple, familiar, and doesn’t try to overwhelm you with features you never wanted or asked for.
Suzuki has taken its time bringing the eVitara to Australia and in a fast-moving EV market, that’s a risk.
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But the brand doesn’t seem to care.
Instead of carelessly rushing something out, Suzuki has leaned into simplicity.
The result is a car that feels easy to understand from the moment you get in — and honestly, that’s refreshing.
A large group of drivers will find the next generation of electric vehicles coming to Australia overwhelming and that is where the eVitara’s “flip phone” feeling really lands — remember simplicity can be a good thing.
While rivals like the BYD Atto 2 force you to swipe through iPad-style screens to change the temperature, the eVitara brings back the ‘flip phone’ era with chunky physical buttons that you can actually use without looking.
If it works, why change it, right?
The eVitara comes with a 10.25-inch driver display and a 10.1-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, though the system can stutter and lag at times. Buttons sit below the screen that offer the driver to change key features, like the fan speed, temperature and recirculating mode.
However, the car makes the most sense in day-to-day driving. It’s smooth, quiet, and easy to get comfortable with, especially if you’re coming from a petrol car. And it is that familiarity that could win over many first-time EV buyers.
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Unfortunately, the eVitara will arrive later this year.
But there will be two variants to choose: the base-spec Motion and the more premium Ultra.
Pricing for both models start from $46,990 drive-away for the Motion and $56,990 drive-away Ultra.
The difference between the two mostly comes down to battery and drivetrain. The Motion uses a 49kWh battery with up to 344km of range, while the Ultra steps up to a 61kWh battery and around 395km of range.
The Ultra also gets Suzuki’s AllGrip-e all-wheel-drive system, something you don’t often see in this segment.
Both versions share the same three driving modes, and they more or less do what you’d expect.
Eco dulls things down to stretch the car’s EV range, Normal keeps the balance, and Sport adds a little oomph to the car’s performance without pretending it has supercar ambitions.
In the Motion, that’s about as far as it goes, aside from a Snow mode which adds a bit of extra security on slippery roads.
The Ultra’s AWD system features a Trail mode that shuffles torque between the front and rear wheels, making it a capable vehicle for off-road gravel trails – as the mode implies.
Rear seat space is decent, and it’ll handle family duties better than expected. The boot is on the smaller side with 244 litres and will need extra consideration when loading up for a long weekend trip.
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If you had to consider alternative options, the eVitara goes up against the likes of BYD’s Atto 2, sitting at around $35,000 drive away, Hyundai’s electric Kona, around $46,000 drive-away, the Chery E5 EV, around $38,000 drive away and the Kia EV3, around $47,000 drive away.
VERDICT
3.5 stars
The eVitara isn’t trying to be the most advanced EV on the market. It’s built for people who don’t want to overthink the switch to electric driving while offering something simple, familiar, and easy to live with.
But in a segment that’s moving this quickly, playing it safe also means it risks falling behind.
However the case may be, Suzuki is also relying on those looking to make the switch to EVs, with a brand that has already built a solid reputation in Australia and one they can trust.
But overall, the eVitara is an easy car to drive, easy to understand, and easy to live with. Just don’t expect it to do much more than that.
