Suzuki ACross PHEV closing in on its first anniversary

Introduced on 1 July 2020, the Suzuki ACross is nearly a year old. Look at what Suzuki offers in its most powerful car in the European market and how it differs from the Toyota RAV4.

Suzuki ACross design & features

The Suzuki ACross is essentially a fifth-gen Toyota RAV4 with a unique front-end. Interestingly, the headlights on the Suzuki-badged SUV resemble that of the Toyota Wildlander, the China-only version of the RAV4.

Suzuki has performed substantial changes to the fascia of the Toyota, but that’s where the differences end as the side, rear, and interior show no apparent changes. At the front is a large open grille and new LED headlights with a bi-beam projector and LED DRLs for a sporty look. The ACross is hoisted on 19-inch wheels and comes in 6 colours – Sensual Red Mica, Attitude Black Mica, White Pearl Crystal Shine, Grey Metallic, Dark Blue Mica and Silver Metallic.

The interior environment, Suzuki says, is designed to evoke driving confidence, comfort and luxury. Soft padding in the door trims and dashboard, a 9-inch touchscreen compatible with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and MirrorLink kick off the features. The car has 490 litres of boot space and comes with an electrical outlet and a socket to charge smartphones. The car’s practical storage spaces include side trays on both sides of the car, centre tray, console box, and cupholders.

The Suzuki ACross could be the brand’s safest vehicle as it downloads all of Toyota’s technologies such Pre-Collision System (PCS), Lane Tracing Assist (LTA), Road Sign Assist (RSA), Dynamic Radar Cruise Control (DRCC), Blind Spot Monitor (BSM), Rear Crossing Traffic Alert (RCTA), eCall and Brake Hold.

Suzuki ACross specs

Electric motors at the front and rear combine with a 2.5-litre petrol ‘A25A-FXS Dynamic Force’ engine tuned to churn out 136 kW and 270 Nm. With a maximum power output of 134 kW and 270 Nm of torque, the powerful front electric motor is wired to an 18.1kWh (50.9 Ah) Lithium-ion battery pack mounted beneath the floor. The motor at the rear develops 40 kW and 121 Nm.

The Plug-in Hybrid system has 4 modes – the default EV mode, Auto EV/HV mode, HV mode, and battery charger mode, which is up to the driver to choose based on outside conditions and the battery charge level. In the EV Mode, the vehicle is completely driven by the electric motor up to an impressive range of 75 km (WLTP), much above the 50 km mandatory in the EU to be classified as a low-emission vehicle.

Suzuki explains the E-Four electronic 4WD system as offering “genuine 4×4 performance while maintaining superior fuel efficiency.” The rear motor works in tandem with the front motor to vary the torque ratio from 100:00 to 20:80 that gives the car improved stability when setting off on slippery surfaces and improved handling on a variety of surfaces. The AWD Integrated Management controls functions like transmission shift scheduling, drive force distribution, engine throttle control Electric Power Steering (EPS) assistance and braking. The Trail Mode is an automatic limited-slip differential control feature that leads to the best possible control and grip on slippery surfaces.

The vehicle has earned positive praise from the European media.

Suzuki ACross SpecificationsFigures
SteeringLHD / RHD
Number of doors5
Engine2.5 litre Petrol Plug-in Hybrid
Drive systemE-four system
DimensionsFigures
Length4635 mm
Width1855 mm
Height1690 mm
Wheelbase2690 mm
TreadFront – 1600 mm
Rear – 1630 mm
Minimum turning radius5.7 m
Minimum ground clearance190 mm
CapacityFigures
Seating capacity5 persons
Luggage capacityMax volume – 1604 litres
Rear seat folded – 1168 litres
Rear seat raised – 490 litres
Fuel tank capacity55 litres
Battery capacity18.1 kWh
EngineSpecifications
TypeA25A-FXS
Number of cylinders4
Number of valves16
Piston displacement2487 cm3
Bore x Stroke87.5 x 103.4 mm
Compression ratio14 : 0 : 1
Maximum output136 kW/rpm
Maximum Torque227 Nm/rpm
Fuel distributionPort injection + Direct injection
TransmissionE-CVT (Automatic)
Electric Motor Figures
FrontMaximum output : 134 kW
Maximum torque : 270 Nm
RearMaximum output : 40 kW
Maximum torque : 121 Nm
ChassisType
SteeringRack and pinion
BrakesFront : Ventilated disc
Rear : Ventilated disc
SuspensionsFront : MacPherson strut
Rear : Double wishbone
Tyre size235 / 55 R 19
WeightsFigures
Kerb weight1940 kg
Gross vehicle weight2510 kg
PerformanceFigures
Maximum speed180 km/h
EV mode driving range75 km
Environmental performanceFigures
Emission standard complianceEuro 6D
CO2 emissions (NEDC)26 g/km
CO2 emissions (WLTP)22 g/km

Suzuki ACross production

Suzuki’s version of the RAV4 plug-in hybrid is produced at Toyota’s Nagusaka factory in Japan. The ACross is the first model supplied by Toyota for Suzuki’s European business, made possible because of the companies’ collaboration firmed up in 2019. Suzuki gets access to the world’s best-selling SUV to meet CO2 targets. It can also introduce it to customers upgrading from the Vitara and strengthen its base in the C-Segment. Following this first Suzuki plug-in hybrid electric vehicle in Europe, there’s also a Swace full-hybrid electric vehicle in the Old Continent. The latter is a rebadged Toyota Corolla Touring Sports (Japan: Toyota Corolla Touring Sport).

Suzuki ACross in Norway

The Suzuki ACross is available in Norway in only a GLX variant for NOK 5,49,900. Suzuki is throwing in a First Edition package worth NOK 45,000 free to provide attractive savings for the first customers. The First Edition package includes 19-inch alloy wheels, black roof rails, gesture tailgate, darkened windows, 8-way electric driver’s seat, heated steering wheel and rear seats, and electric parking brake.

Image Source 1: facebook.com/Bilfokus
Image Source 2: facebook.com/ØMV Bilsenter

Suzuki ACross in Italy

In Italy, Suzuki launched the ACross plug-in hybrid along with a Yoru edition in October 2020. Available exclusively through Suzuki’s web store, the Suzuki Across Yoru Edition was limited to 12 units. Yoru is a Japanese term for the night and its elegance, which this limited-edition ACross portrays with its special exterior. The roof and mirror caps are painted in silver for a contrasting look with the body paint, for which there are three options: White, Black and Blue.

The Suzuki ACross Yoru features exclusive 19-inch alloy wheels in a gloss black finish, which matches the colour of its wheel arches and roof bars. The interior is no different from the regular Suzuki ACross. The price of this online-only special edition plug-in hybrid electric car was EUR 47,900.

Why Suzuki borrowed the RAV4 plug-in hybrid

Though Toyota sells the RAV4 powered with a gasoline engine, it is only the plug-in hybrid with a 22g/km CO2 rating that Suzuki repurposes. It would help Suzuki reduce its average CO2 emissions and meet the target given by the EU and keep away from fines. Suzuki has a lower CO2 emissions target than other automakers in the region because sales are less than 300,000 cars annually. The company is achieving its goal using mild-hybrid technology for existing vehicles and including Suzuki’s strong hybrids at the upper end of the range.

Sales of the Suzuki ACross

While Suzuki hasn’t made announcements on the bookings or the car’s performance, data published by carsalesbase.com doesn’t paint a good picture of the company’s plug-in hybrid SUV.

The Suzuki ACross was scheduled to go on sale in the first markets, one of which was Norway, in September 2020. That month, 220 units were shipped. In October 2020, the sales improved by only 10 units – 230 units. In November 2020, the sales shot up to 738 units, and then in December 2020, 765 units were sold, as per the site.

2020 ended with 1,950+ units (1,958 cars as per JATO Dynamics, reported by AutoNews.com), which was a reasonable start for the ACross that is sold in limited regions and is a premium product for Suzuki. This year, monthly sales have dropped into low, double-digit figures. Production issues owing to the ongoing semiconductor shortage could be part of the reason. In January, February, and March, Suzuki was able to sell only 2, 12, and 32 units, respectively, as per CarSalesBase.

Featured Image Source: Suzuki