In a very early statement, Suzuki NZ has said that from the second quarter 2026, the fan-favourite Vitara is turning electric with the arrival of the Suzuki e VITARA. Completely new from the ground up, it is Suzuki Global’s first full-electric vehicle, and the start of an exciting new chapter in New Zealand, says the company.
Hot off the production line from the state-of-the-art plant in Gujarat, India, the e VITARA is already making its way to over 100 countries and has been named as a candidate for the prestigious 2026 World Car of the Year.
While this completely new SUV breaks away from the traditional Suzuki mould visually, the company claims this is still very much a driver-centric vehicle made to fit easily into everyday life.
So, what can we expect? The e VITARA will come in two options — a 61 kWh two-wheel-drive with an estimated range of up to 430 km on a full charge (official WLTP combined cycle) and a 61 kWh ALLGRIP all-wheel-drive with a range up to396 km.
Built on Suzuki’s HEARTECT-e platform, the e VITARA features autonomous emergency braking, rear cross traffic alert, traffic sign recognition, and parking sensors to name a few. Suzuki is saying the safety alert sound pedestrians hear as it approaches is of a jet taking off, “symbolising the thrill of starting a new journey”.
There are heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, wireless charging, and customisable ambient lighting on the front door panels and centre console. Its smart climate control heat pump system recycles heat efficiently to warm the cabin while conserving the battery for driving range.
“We’re really looking forward to the arrival of the e VITARA and there’s no doubt this outstanding new SUV will appeal to New Zealanders and their sense of adventure.” says Aaron Wales, National Sales Manager of Suzuki New Zealand. “It will be an excellent addition to our range of affordable and fun small cars and SUVs.”
Final specification is yet to be confirmed for the New Zealand market. To find out more about this exceptional new EV, keep an eye out on facebook.com/SuzukiNZ or watch Suzuki Global’s video playlist.
