Suzuki e VITARA has finally put a number on Suzuki’s first electric SUV in Australia, and the number is not shy. The Motion opens at $46,990 drive-away for the first 100 pre-orders through Suzuki Australia, then moves to $49,990. The all-wheel-drive Ultra starts at $56,990, then settles at $58,990. Lovely, fun, nostalgic, badge. full of memories and joy, but it seems to have been priced in a vacuum.
Suzuki has arrived a long and illustrious compact SUV history, and a promise that e VITARA still carry on that practical, simple, durable thing. The problem is that the cheap EV cupboard is no longer bare. Chery has been waving E5 money in the high thirties, BYD and MG sit in the low to mid forties, and Geely EX5 has been doing the larger-car-for-similar-money routine. That makes $46,990 look rathery exy, and $58,990 look even worse.
The e VITARA Motion gets front-wheel drive, a tiny 49kWh battery, a modest 106kW, 193Nm and a claimed 344km driving range. The Ultra adds a 61kWh battery, all-wheel drive, Suzuki’s ALLGRIP-e system, 135kW, 307Nm and a claimed 395km range. Suzuki says drivers can choose Normal, Eco and Sport modes, with Snow mode for two-wheel drive cars and Trail mode for the all-wheel-drive version. Those fugures are on for 40k, but for 50k and 60k, are insufficient.
Both versions sit on Suzuki’s new HEARTECT-e platform, built for battery electric vehicles as a ground-up project. The body is 4,275mm long, 1,800mm wide and 1,635mm tall, with a 2,700mm wheelbase and 180mm of ground clearance. That keeps it in compact SUV territory with plenty of friends for company.
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ABOVE: Suzuki e VITARA images show city driving, charging and launch drive scenes.
Suzuki has also avoided making the entry car look like the one that lost a bet. Motion gets 18-inch alloys, high beam assist, rear cross traffic alert, 360-degree cameras, rain-sensing wipers, a 10.25-inch driver display, a 10.1-inch centre screen with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and Bluetooth, ambient lighting with 12 colours, single-zone climate, front and rear USB ports, and dual-tone fabric seats.
Ultra adds the frippery buyers will want if they are already writing a cheque with a five at the front. It gets adaptive high beam, front LED fog lamps, a glass roof with shade, Infinity audio with a subwoofer, wireless phone charging, premium fabric and synthetic leather seats, electric driver’s seat adjustment and heated front seats.
Charging is slow at any price, but this is approaching premium cash, and while there are current models from other brands that are also stuck with snail-charge, none are brand new releases. Suzuki quotes 10 to 100% AC charging in 6 hours 30 minutes for the Motion on a 7kW single-phase supply, or 9 hours for the Ultra. An 11kW three-phase supply cuts that to 4 hours 30 minutes and 5 hours 30 minutes respectively. 70kw max DC (sub)rapid charging from 10 to 80% is listed at 45 minutes for both. Painfully slow, and again at 40k it is ok but not for near 60grand.
The e VITARA holds a 4-star ANCAP rating shared with Euro NCAP testing. That is not dreadful, but in 2026 it is also not the sort of thing you want to bedazzle. Standard safety gear includes seven airbags, adaptive cruise control, autonomous emergency braking, lane keeping assist, lane departure prevention, forward collision warning, blind spot monitoring, stability control, ABS, multi-collision braking, and front and rear parking sensors.
There is one genuinely sweet oddity. Every e VITARA comes with a Type 2 charging cable and storage bag, with the bag made using Suzuki’s last remaining operational loom machine at Hamamatsu in Japan. In a world full of disposable nappies and plastic cups, that is a lovely little detail. It will not make the price cheaper, but it does give the design some pizzazz.
Pre-orders are open now, with deliveries expected from July 2026. The e VITARA, as we feared, is priced where reaching for just a few more shekels gets you much more car. You can buy the Suzuki or for a smidge more, the Polestar, or even the Ioniq5 and Tesla Model Y base car, ain’t nobody got time for that.
Although difficult to compare directly, we’ve included the quoted figures if available, and estimates noted with ~ for others
| Model | Variant | Price (Drive-Away NSW) | Range (WLTP) | DC Charging (OEM max) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MG4 | EV Urban (43kWh) | $31,990 | 316km | 150kW |
| BYD Dolphin | Essential | $33,275 | 340km | 60kW |
| GWM Ora 5 | Lux | $33,990 | 430km | ~120kW |
| Chery Omoda E5 | Ultimate | $37,990 | 430km | 80kW |
| BYD Dolphin | Premium | $39,990 | 427km | 80kW |
| MG4 | Excite 64 | $45,115 | 450km | 140kW |
| BYD Atto 3 | Essential | $43,118 | 345km | 70kW |
| Suzuki e Vitara | Motion | $49,990 | 344km | 70kW |
| Hyundai Kona Electric | Standard Range | $45,990 | 370km | 100kW |
| BYD Atto 3 | Premium | $49,242 | 420km | 88kW |
| MG4 | Essence 77 | $52,990 | 530km | 144kW |
| Renault Megane E-Tech | Techno | $54,990 | 454km | 130kW |
| Suzuki e Vitara | Ultra (AWD) | $58,990 | 395km | 70kW |
| Tesla Model 3 | RWD (Juniper) | $58,900 | 513km | ~175kW |
| Volvo EX30 | Single Motor | $59,990 | 344km | 153kW |
| Tesla Model Y | RWD (Juniper) | $61,691 | 466km | ~175kW |
| Polestar 2 | Long Range SM | $66,400 | 654km | 135kW |
| MG4 | XPower (AWD) | $59,990 | 385km | 150kW |
| Hyundai Ioniq 5 | 84kWh RWD | $71,990 | 570km | 350kW |
More Stories
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- e VITARA Lands Four Stars in April ANCAP Round
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Alan Zurvas is the founder and editor of Gay Car Boys, Australia's leading LGBTQI+ automotive publication. Before launching GCB in 2008, Alan's automotive writing was published in SameSame.com.au and the Star Observer. With over 16 years of hands-on car reviewing experience, Alan brings an honest, irreverent voice to every review — championing value and innovation over brand loyalty.
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