Small car expert—that’s what people all over the world have called Suzuki because they make small cars that are memorable to drive. Remember the aptly named Swift? The very efficient Celerio? Or their current entry-level S-Presso? These cars are the reason why I was expecting a small car to be their first EV. Earlier this year, it was revealed to be something bigger.
Suzuki launched the e Vitara at the 10th Philippine International Motor Show. This subcompact crossover is very unlike Suzuki - it’s buffed, larger, and expensive at P 2,020,000. Still, I was keeping an open mind. I’m a Suzuki Celerio owner, I’ve driven and adored the Swift, and I liked the Fronx enough to give their first EV a chance.
They invited us over for a ‘track day’ with their first EV. Since there are many of us, we only had around four laps with the car around the Batangas Racing Circuit. It was enough to show that the e Vitara is Suzuki’s reinvention.
The muscular body that Suzuki started with the Fronx has continued here in the e Vitara. They complemented that buffness with an angular approach, resulting in geometrical patterns all over the car. It also looks more cohesive than a Subaru despite its similar approach to plastic fairings on all sides.
While the exterior looks to be a step forward from a previous Suzuki, the e Vitara’s cabin is where the deviation starts. It has a twin-panoramic screen layout, a high center console, push-down rotary shifter, squarish vents, and *gasp* a 2-spoke steering wheel! It’s not exactly ugly. I just wish the design from the exterior carried over to the dashboard for a more cohesive look. It’s also odd that there’s no rear air vents here.
As for space, things are snug for a wide boy like me. I am betting it has more room for the average Filipino build. Headroom is respectable despite the sleek shape, and legroom is plenty even for the backseats.
Now to the exciting part. On the track, the e Vitara felt like a culmination of Suzuki’s small car expertise laid on a bigger platform.
Being an EV, the car didn’t have a problem pulling the equivalent of five adults on the track. Two Filipinos of average size, while me and my media brother were bigger than average, resulting in a weight of three people combined. Still, the e Vitara was accelerating like there’s only one person in the car. We were just in Normal mode and yet it had no problem gliding through the digital speedometer. The response of the throttle in this mode was also pleasant in that it doesn’t over-deliver the power at every blip of the pedal resulting in a nice drive if your foot isn’t heavy.
What made me say the e Vitara is the culmination of the brand’s small car experience is the way this EV drives on the track. The steering perfectly complements the turning capability that results in a crossover that’s too nimble for its size. It’s even arcade-ish in a way. Just point, press deeper on the throttle, and then watch as the car doesn’t have a problem making that turn. It’s not the most precise thing there is, but there’s minimal correction needed once you’re on the turn. The body roll is managed well considering we were making tight turns at more than 60 kph, and there’s virtually no understeer or oversteering. If there is, then I didn’t notice it at all.
Ride comfort was another pleasant surprise. Even on the aging track surface at Batangas Racing Circuit, the suspension felt supple, keeping the ride composed over the imperfections we encountered. While a proper road test will be necessary to see how it handles the potholes, broken pavement, and uneven surfaces of everyday Philippine driving, its initial showing was encouraging.
I remember many of my colleagues like using the term (small car) on stilts before the pandemic to describe a bigger car from a brand. That is a very suitable way to convey the Suzuki e Vitara’s prowess - it’s like a Swift on stilts. It’s fun, zippy, has the right amount of space, and is more than ready to be your everyday ride. I’d go as far as saying it needs a brighter color to match its driving attitude.
Of course, a few laps around Batangas Racing Circuit are not enough to determine how well the e Vitara performs as an everyday partner. Still, Suzuki’s first BEV has already given me plenty of reasons to be optimistic. I went into the drive expecting a small electric crossover that would simply get the job done. I went home smiling after driving it a handful of times.
Words and Photos by Vincent Villa
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