Maruti Suzuki eVitara First Drive: India-Made EV Shows Strong Potential Ahead of Launch
The India-built Maruti Suzuki eVitara is set for launch soon. First UK drive reveals its design, cabin quality, range, performance and real-world appeal.
The all-new Suzuki eVitara, which will soon enter the Indian market as the Maruti Suzuki eVitara, is gearing up for one of the most anticipated EV launches of the year.
What makes this SUV particularly special is its origin story: it is built in India, shipped to international markets like the UK, and now assessed on British roads ahead of its domestic debut.
During an early test drive in the UK, we explored the SUV’s design, cabin experience, performance credentials and how well it stands as a ground-up electric offering.
The verdict so far? This EV has been engineered with balance in mind & that might be exactly what Indian buyers need.
A Design That Aims for Acceptance, Not Shock Value
Maruti Suzuki hasn’t tried to reinvent the wheel with the eVitara’s styling. Instead, it has gone for a modern, sharp and universally acceptable design that avoids extremes something that works well in India’s diverse market.Being a born-electric vehicle, its exterior is new from the ground up. The front end features a sculpted bonnet with dynamic lines, giving the SUV a confident stance.
Sharp creases dominate the face, while the sleek LED DRLs provide a wider visual signature.
Lower down, the bumper has a sporty character without being overly aggressive.
Move to the side and the 18-inch aero-styled alloy wheels stand out. Their purpose is functional: reducing drag and enhancing efficiency.
A clean belt line runs along the profile with a mild slope toward the rear, topped off by a compact spoiler.
At the back, the SUV sports stylish tail lamps that echo the design language of the front DRLs. The rear hatch is clean and uncluttered, adding to the SUV’s mature look.
Overall, the eVitara manages to be eye-friendly, contemporary and ready for wide market acceptance without leaning into polarizing design trends.
A Cabin Focused on Practicality and Quality
Step inside, and you’ll find a cabin designed around practicality, comfort, and user-friendliness. The interior you see in the UK-spec model is almost exactly what Indian buyers will get, aside from possible differences in textures and color themes.The dashboard has a neat, premium feel thanks to its soft-touch materials, textured inserts and well-placed air vents. It stays away from flashy gimmicks and instead aims for long-term usability.
A connected dual-screen layout serves both the instrument cluster and the infotainment unit. Unlike many modern EVs with massive, tablet-like displays, the eVitara sticks to a moderately sized screen.
What it lacks in size, it makes up for with sharp clarity, quick touch response, and an easy-to-navigate interface. The digital instrument cluster is clean, customizable and well-organized.
The square-ish steering wheel deserves a mention for its premium feel and comfort, especially during long drives.
Material quality is good overall, though buyers may notice some hard plastics on the lower sectionsm, something common in the segment. Storage spaces are abundant, including deep door pockets, a spacious center console and useful cubby holes.
Seating comfort is impressive. The front seats offer good side bolstering and ample headroom. The rear seats provide generous knee room and legroom, making the SUV a comfortable family vehicle.
A 40:20:20 split rear seat layout further enhances the cabin’s practicality, working well with the well-sized boot.
In terms of features, the eVitara checks all the essentials:
- Wireless charging
- ADAS for active safety
- Standard passive safety features
- A clean, intuitive infotainment system
Performance: Smooth, Confident and Surprisingly Fun
Driving in the UK meant coping with classic British weather — damp roads, dark skies and slippery surfaces. Even in these conditions, the eVitara showcased a confident and capable character.The model tested carried the 61 kWh battery pack, which claims a range of about 420 km. For Indian buyers, Maruti Suzuki will also offer a more affordable 49 kWh version. For most urban users, even the larger pack should easily deliver a week’s worth of driving on a single charge.
The electric motor produces 174 hp and 193 Nm of torque, and the SUV feels lively from the moment you tap the accelerator. There’s no lag, and it picks up speed with a clean, predictable surge - exactly what EV buyers appreciate.
Different drive modes allow drivers to tailor the performance, and even on wet B-roads, the eVitara stayed planted and composed. At speeds around 70–80 kmph through flowing bends, it showed no nervousness or twitchiness.
The suspension is slightly firm, an understandable choice given the weight of the battery. This firmness, combined with the EV’s low center of gravity, gives the SUV excellent straight-line stability.
Confidence behind the wheel is high, which will matter a lot to Indian buyers navigating highway traffic or uneven surfaces.
Visibility, both front and rear, is strong- a crucial factor for Indian driving conditions.
Although the Indian version may get minor tweaks in suspension tuning or ground clearance, over 90% of the driving feel is expected to remain the same.
Should You Wait for the Maruti Suzuki eVitara?
The upcoming eVitara is not trying to be the fastest, flashiest or most futuristic EV in the segment. Instead, it aims to deliver what most practical EV buyers genuinely want:- A balanced design
- A comfortable, spacious cabin
- Strong stability and confident performance
- Useful features without unnecessary gimmicks
- A well-engineered EV platform designed from scratch
In short, it’s definitely a model worth keeping on your radar.