Maruti Suzuki has officially launched the e Vitara in India, its first full electric SUV. The headline number is an introductory Battery as a Service price of Rs 10.99 lakh, with battery usage charged at Rs 3.99 per km. Standard ex-showroom prices will follow. More importantly, the numbers finally tell the full story.
Two battery packs, up to 543km range
The e Vitara is offered with two Lithium Ferro Phosphate battery options.
- 49kWh battery
- 61kWh battery
The 61kWh version delivers an ARAI-certified range of 543km, while the 49kWh version is rated at 440km.
Both versions are Front Wheel Drive and use a Single Speed Transmission.
Motor outputs are as follows:
- 49kWh version
- 142bhp
- 193Nm
- 61kWh version
- 172 bhp
- 193 Nm
Charging times are competitive. Using a 7.4kW AC wall box, the 61kWh battery takes about 9 hours from 10 to 100 percent, while the 49kWh unit takes around 6.5 hours. DC fast charging can take both batteries from 10 to 80 percent in approximately 45 minutes.
The battery carries an 8-year or 1,60,000 km warranty
The competition
The Maruti Suzuki eVitara will go up against a fair bit of competition from across the board, but the big rival will be the MG Windsor, which has been a surprise hit in the EV space and also offers a BaaS package. The entry-level Windsor is priced at Rs 9.99 lakh (ex-showroom) + Rs 3.9 per km, while the higher-spec Windsor EV Pro is priced at Rs 12.25 lakh (ex-showroom) + Rs 4.5 per km, with the effective battery rental included.
That said, the base model Windsor only offers a 38kWh battery pack, while Pro offersa 52.9 kWh pack, while at Rs 1 lakh extra, the eVitara offers a larger 49kWh battery pack - which is a massive 25% more! For individuals seeking a no-nonsense package for their electric mobility needs, Maruti Suzuki makes much more sense, especially given the extensive charging network it provides immediate access to.
New HEARTECT e platform
The e Vitara sits on the new HEARTECT e architecture. It uses more than 60 percent high tensile and ultra high tensile steel. The wheelbase stands at 2700mm and the minimum turning radius is 5.2 metres.
Suspension setup includes MacPherson struts at the front and a multi-link rear, which is notable in this segment. Kerb weight ranges between 1725kg and 1815kg, depending on the variant.
Safety and ADAS
The e Vitara comes with 7 airbags, including a driver knee airbag. It also gets Electronic Stability Program, all-wheel disc brakes, electronic parking brake, hill hold control and TPMS.
The top Alpha variant adds Level 2 ADAS with:
- Adaptive cruise control
- Lane keep assist
- Lane departure prevention
- Blind spot monitoring
- Rear cross traffic alert
- Forward collision warning
- Automatic emergency braking
- A 360-degree camera is also offered on the top trim.
- Maruti has confirmed a 5-star Bharat NCAP rating.
Interior and features
The cabin features a dual-screen layout comprising a 10.1-inch infotainment screen and a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster.
Other key features include:
- Ventilated front seat
- 10-way power adjustable driver seat
- Sliding and reclining rear seats
- 40-20-40 split rear backrest
- Infinity by Harman sound system on the top trim
- Fixed glass sunroof
- Wireless charger
- Wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay
- Next Gen Suzuki Connect with remote charging control
Charging ecosystem
Maruti claims over 2,000 exclusive dealer charging points and access to more than 10,000 partner chargers nationwide through the e For Me app. Customers also receive a 7.4kW wallbox charger and a portable 3kW charging cable.
Variants
- Delta
- Zeta
- Alpha
The 49kWh battery is available on Delta, while Zeta and Alpha get the 61kWh pack.
The takeaway
We finally have a price attached to the Maruti Suzuki e Vitara. Sort of. The Rs 10.99 lakh figure is under the Battery as a Service plan, with battery usage billed at Rs 3.99 per km. Full outright prices are still awaited.
