Maruti Suzuki e-Vitara

Older Maruti layouts are not taken in the e-Vitara. In fact, it embraces a heavily digitised, modern setup.

Cabin Layout and Quality

• A floating centre console houses the electronic parking brake, drive mode selector, and storage cubbies.
• The traditional steering wheel is replaced by a new two-spoke design.
• The dashboard has a clean, dual-tone theme.
• Many soft-touch materials wrap around the dashboard and door armrests.

Seating Comfort

Front Row

• The driver gets a 10-way power-adjustable seat to find the exact driving position.
• Both front seats are wide and offer good side support.
• They have ventilation as well to keep occupants comfortable during hot summers.

Second Row

• The seats here can recline up to 20 degrees for added comfort on long trips.
• The long 2,700 mm wheelbase frees up a lot of legroom.
• However, the under-thigh support is lacking because the battery raises the floor height.

Features That Improve Daily Use

• A 10.1-inch touchscreen infotainment system
• A 10.25-inch fully digital instrument cluster
• An Infinity by Harman 8-speaker premium sound system
• A wireless phone charging pad
• Automatic climate control with dedicated rear AC vents

However, Bilal points out one thing,

“At a time when cars have started giving you a tablet, triple-screen setup and whatnot, the 10.1-inch infotainment system feels like a step back in comparison.”

Maruti Suzuki sells the e-Vitara with a dual pricing strategy. You can buy the vehicle at its full price, or you can go for the Battery-as-a-Service (BaaS) option to drop the initial purchase cost.

This car’s two battery capacities decide its outright range. Both battery packs get an eight-year warranty. As for charging, 10 to 80 per cent can be achieved in just 45 minutes with a DC fast charger. But home charging will take around six-and-a-half hours for the 49 kWh battery and nine hours for the 61 kWh battery.

Immediately after launch, the Maruti Suzuki e-Vitara secured a full five-star crash test rating from Bharat NCAP.

Passive Safety and Crash Protection

• The SUV uses a dedicated skateboard EV platform (HearTech-e).
• It places the battery in a strong, protective floor casing.
• Seven airbags are available on all the variants.
• It also features standard ISOFIX mounts for child seats.

Active Safety and Stability Systems

• The top-spec Alpha variant gets a full Level 2 ADAS suite
• It brings automatic emergency braking and lane-keep assist.
• Standard safety gear includes all-wheel disc brakes, ESC, and hill-hold assist.
• A 360-degree surround-view camera is also available.

Compared to Maruti’s ICE offerings, the e-Vitara has a much more updated interior. Not only does it get a few large screens, but it also adds some premium convenience features.

Infotainment and Interface

• The 10.1-inch touchscreen infotainment system occupies dashboard space.
• It supports wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
• The driver also gets a crisp 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster for range, battery status, and navigation.

Cabin Convenience and Practical Features

• The top trim offers ventilated front seats and an electrically adjustable driver's seat.
• A large panoramic glass roof is present in this car.
• There’s a wireless charging pad and an auto-dimming inside rearview mirror (IRVM), too.
• The automatic climate control uses physical buttons.

• The e-Vitara offers 310 litres of boot space.
• It is admittedly smaller than most internal combustion SUVs in the same segment.
• The given space handles a couple of soft duffel bags and daily groceries well.
• But packing hard-shell suitcases for a family vacation requires folding the rear seats.
• Unlike many EVs, there is no "frunk" (front trunk) available under the bonnet.

The e-Vitara prioritises passenger comfort first and foremost.

City Driving

• The steering wheel stays light inside the city, removing the physical strain of parallel parking.
• The suspension absorbs sharp road bumps very well; ride comfort is reasonably high.
• The predictable power delivery also stops the car from jerking forward aggressively when stuck in traffic.

Highway Driving

• On the highways, the heavy battery pack keeps the SUV firmly planted to the road.
• It effectively keeps that floating feeling away, the one we experience in lightweight cars.
• Wind noise is also well-controlled, keeping the cabin quiet.
• Body roll and heft exist, though, mostly when taking sharp corners.
• The rear suspension can feel slightly bouncy if you hit sharp expansion joints at high speeds.

Bilal says,

“It's not uncomfortable, but it isn't as pliant as some of the other EVs out there.”

Maruti keeps the variant list simple with three different personas.

The Essentials That You Don’t Get

• A massive, family-sized boot space
• Proper under-thigh support in the rear seats on long journeys
• A 'frunk' for storing charging cables

The Delta variant has the smaller 49 kWh battery pack, but it’s ex-showroom, and BaaS prices are also relatively lower. In contrast, the Zeta and Alpha trims offer the higher battery, which means more driving range.

Best for Strict Budgets: Delta

If you only drive in the city, the Delta variant with the 49 kWh battery stills makes sense. It gives you the core safety features, including seven airbags, without forcing you to pay for a larger battery you may rarely use.

Best for Long Range: Zeta

But the Zeta trim upgrades you to the massive 61 kWh battery pack, giving you genuine highway capability and over 400 km of real-world range. Also, it keeps the price lower than the top trim.

Best for Maximum Safety & Comfort: Alpha Dual Tone

If you drive on the highway frequently, or are an individual involved in frequent intercity transit, the Alpha is the one to buy. It brings the Level 2 ADAS suite for active safety, a 360-degree camera for tight parking, and ventilated seats for summer comfort.