Suzuki e Vitara long-term test

Can you get it right first time? To find out, our content editor is running his first electric car, and he's chosen the first electric Suzuki for the task...

Updated05 June 2026

The car Suzuki e Vitara Ultra Run by Jack Mortimer, content editor

Why it’s here To see whether Suzuki’s first electric car serves as an all-rounder for a first-time electric car owner

Needs to be Easy and enjoyable to use in the city, comfortable and efficient on lengthy motorway trips

Mileage 2426 List price £32,049 Best price £20,999 Price as tested £32,999 Official range 264 miles Test range 185 miles Options Opulent Red Pearl Metallic / Bluish Black Pearl Roof (£950)

5 June 2026 – Right first time

People often say that there’s a first time for everything in life, and that’s certainly true for me. You see, not only is this the first experience I’ve had running a company car, but it’s also my first time owning an electric car.

As a result, I was keen to choose an EV that matches my circumstances: the Suzuki e Vitara. It’s the company’s very first electric car, and it’s certainly got its work cut out. Part of the ever-competitive small SUV segment, its rivals include some really impressive all-rounders, such as the Kia EV3 and Renault 4.

My needs from a car are fairly conventional. It needs to be easy enough to negotiate busy city streets during my 18-mile round trip commute into the office, but powerful and efficient enough to take on a few motorway journeys to catch up with friends and family each month. On top of that, it must be capable of carrying passengers and their luggage from time to time.

Fortunately, requirements like that are bread and butter for the latest batch of small electric SUVs, but here’s the rub: I don’t have a home EV charger, nor do I have the ability to install one. That means I’ll need to use the rich and varied array of public chargers.

That’s all to come though, so let's get back to the car. To help stand out in a crowded slice of the market, the e Vitara’s starting price of £26,249 is competitive. That includes a £3750 manufacturer’s discount, which mimics the top band of the Government’s electric car grant; something that the Renault 4 qualifies for but the e Vitara does not.

There’s a healthy number of versions to choose from, including two trim levels, a pair of battery sizes and – something practically none of its rivals offer – the option of four-wheel drive. Called the Allgrip-e, this version of the e Vitara features a number of different driving modes to boost its capabilities on slippery surfaces.

I don’t plan on climbing any mountains or fording any streams, though, so I decided to stick with the standard front-wheel drive version and choose range-topping Ultra trim. That version comes with the larger 59.8kWh (usable capacity) battery as standard for a respectable official range of 264 miles, and its single electric motor produces a healthy 172bhp.

It also has an enviable amount of standard equipment, including bigger 19in alloy wheels, a 360-degree parking camera setup, wireless phone charging, an upgraded Infinity by Harman sound system and a panoramic glass roof.

There’s so much equipment as standard, in fact, that there aren’t any paid extras available. Indeed, the only option box I could (and did) tick was for a two-tone colour scheme; Opulent Red over Bluish Black, to be exact.

Nevertheless, at £950, it’s hardly an inexpensive add-on and drives the price of my e Vitara up to a hefty £32,995. That’s not cheap, but fortunately you don’t have to pay the full price. To build up initial interest, dealers are offering some considerable discounts. PCP deals for the e Vitara also slightly undercut those for the Renault 4, too.

That price should also include peace of mind. While the e Vitara is too new to have featured in the 2025 What Car? Reliability Survey, Suzuki ranked the third most dependable brand. To back this up, Suzuki offers a warranty of up to 10 years providing you get your car serviced at a main dealer.

Jack Mortimer driving the Suzuki e Vitara

During my first few weeks of ownership, I found the e Vitara felt particularly at home around town. At lower speeds, the softly sprung suspension does an admirable job of taking the edge off potholes and speed bumps. It’s also manoeuvrable enough to fit into tight parking spaces and thread its way through narrow city streets with ease.

Leave the city and, while the e Vitara isn't exactly the most agile small electric SUV on the market, its well-weighted steering and good amount of grip mean I've yet to lack confidence on around fast bends. Speaking of speed, my e Vitara's 0-62mph acceleration time of 8.7sec won't set the world on fire, but coming from someone whose automotive history has been purely petrol-powered, it's a notable step up in pace that makes motorway overtaking effortless.

Over the coming months, I’m keen to see whether the Suzuki e Vitara continues to offer an easy transition to electric car ownership, particularly as I use it for longer trips up the motorway. However, my first impressions of my first EV are positive.

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