- Suzuki New Zealand has confirmed that the company's first global production EV will be coming here.
- The Suzuki e Vitara will land in New Zealand in the second quarter of next year.
- Developed by Suzuki and Toyota, the e Vitara uses batteries supplied by Chinese EV giant BYD.
Let's be honest, Suzuki isn't the first name that springs to mind in the EV race in New Zealand. But that's about to change as the Japanese brand's first global production EV, the e Vitara, is about to land here.
The e Vitara is a big deal for Suzuki, carrying its global electric ambitions on its newly bevelled shoulders. As Suzuki Global's inaugural full-electric vehicle, it’s being produced in a state-of-the-art plant in Gujarat, India, for sale in more than 100 countries.
Slated to land here in the second quarter of 2026, the e Vitara will be available to Kiwi buyers in two variants: a 61kWh two-wheel-drive model and a 61kWh all-wheel-drive version. The 2WD model offers an estimated WLTP range of up to 430km, while the AWD is rated for up to 396km.
The e Vitara uses Blade batteries supplied by BYD, a sign of the collaboration between the Chinese company and Toyota, who co-developed the e Vitara's 'Heartect e' platform with Suzuki via its Daihatsu subsidiary. Toyota will sell a rebadged version of the e Vitara called the Urban Cruiser.
Visually, Suzuki says the e Vitara is a deliberate departure from the Suzuki we know and the company is leaning heavily on a "future-forward design," describing the interior as feeling like a "spaceship about to time warp."
Inside, the e Vitara will feature heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, wireless device charging and customisable ambient lighting on the front door panels and centre console, as well as a smart climate control heat pump system that recycles heat efficiently to warm the cabin while conserving the battery for driving range.
Suzuki has also loaded the e Vitara with a full suite of advanced safety technology, including autonomous emergency braking, rear cross traffic alert, traffic sign recognition, and parking sensors—essentials for any new car competing in this space.
In a quirky, forward-looking touch, the pedestrian safety alert is a synthesised 'jet taking off' sound - a detail Suzuki says symbolises "a new journey", because nothing symbolises a new journey like startling the neighbour's dog.
Suzuki New Zealand says the e Vitara is being positioned as a fresh, practical option from a trusted brand for Kiwis who have been curious about making the switch to electric, with Aaron Wales, National Sales Manager of Suzuki New Zealand, saying “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. It will be an excellent addition to our range of affordable and fun small cars and SUVs."
The e Vitara looks promising on paper, ticking boxes for range, tech, and all-wheel-drive capability. But in a market being flooded with affordable electric SUVs, its success will hinge on one crucial, as-yet-unannounced detail: the price. Suzuki built its New Zealand reputation on value, and with the final spec still to be confirmed, the e Vitara will need to deliver exactly that.