BORN ELECTRIC SOLID FUNDAMENTALS

The Maruti Suzuki eVitara

- Srini Swaminathan

₹TBA, onwards, nexaexperience.com

Maruti Suzuki has built its reputation on making sensible, affordable and dependable small cars, but the eVITARA marks a major turning point. This is Maruti Suzuki's first fully electric vehicle, and instead of playing it safe with a tiny city EV, Maruti Suzuki has gone straight into the competitive small SUV segment. Carrying the Vitara name that dates back to 1988 (Vitara comes from the root word vita or vitality), the eVITARA blends familiarity with a clear shift in direction.

At first glance, the eVITARA looks like a proper compact SUV rather than a tall hatchback. The proportions are upright, the stance is confident, and it feels more substantial than Suzuki's smaller cars like the Swift or Ignis. While it is compact by SUV standards, it has enough visual presence to feel credible in a crowded segment. From the driver's seat, the eVITARA immediately feels like an SUV because of the high seating position and good forward visibility. You can see the bonnet clearly, and the wide glass area gives a reassuring sense of space. It doesn't try to feel sporty or aggressive; instead, it gives off a calm, easygoing character that will appeal to confident Urban buyers moving into an EV for the first time who want the Suzuki assurance.

Exterior and Interior Design