Suzuki e Vitara vs Ford Puma Gen-E: new EV aims to tame Ford’s big cat
The e Vitara is Suzuki’s first EV. How does the newcomer shape up against the electric version of Ford’s best-selling Puma?
Ever-tightening legislation means that every car maker will eventually have to bite the bullet and introduce an all-electric model to its line-up to help cut its overall fleet emissions. Some companies have been faster to launch EVs than others, and one firm that has been a little late to the party is Suzuki. However, this has been rectified with the arrival of the e Vitara small SUV.
Although it carries the Vitara name, this new model has more in common with Toyota’s forthcoming Urban Cruiser than the existing model. It uses a bespoke EV platform, but as with the petrol-powered model, front and four-wheel drive are both available, which is a rarity in the small electric SUV sector.
Another big selling point for the e Vitara is its price tag. It starts at just £29,999 before you factor in Suzuki’s grant-matching £3,750 discount, and that puts the newcomer in direct competition with one of our favourite small electric SUVs, the Ford Puma Gen-E.
The Ford came a close second to the Renault 4 when we tested the pair in the summer, and with the full £3,750 EV grant now making it even more attractive, it will be a tough rival for Suzuki’s newcomer to overcome.
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Suzuki e Vitara
| Model: | Suzuki e Vitara Allgrip-e Ultra |
| Price: | £34,049 |
| Powertrain: | 61kWh battery, 2x e-motors, 181bhp |
| 0-62mph: | 7.4 seconds |
| Test efficiency: | 2.8 miles/kWh |
| Official range: | 245 miles |
| Annual VED: | £195 |
The all-electric e Vitara has been developed in conjunction with Toyota, although the launch information confirms that Suzuki was the lead developer of the project. It’s based on an electrified version of Suzuki’s Heartect platform, with front and four-wheel-drive configurations are available.
There are two battery options and two trim levels to choose from, although the smaller battery only comes in Motion guise. That model currently has a £29,999 starting price before Suzuki’s £3,750 discount.
Tester’s notes
The Vitara, and Suzuki as a whole, has a reputation for off-road capability, and that hasn’t been ignored with the all-electric model. The car’s ride height isn’t particularly tall, but the Dual Motor model features hill descent control to help with slippery slopes, while a bespoke Trail mode – selected via a button on the centre console – helps to send power to the axle and tyres with the most grip. We reckon with a set of knobbly off-road tyres the e Vitara might show up some much larger and more expensive 4x4s on the rough stuff.
The Suzuki e Vitara’s basic design is quite neat. It looks stocky thanks to its narrow windows, short overhangs and squared-off wheelarches, although fitting the rear doors with handles located in the C-pillars seems like a styling cue that’s been cribbed straight from the early 2000s.
These will be retained for the platform-sharing Toyota Urban Cruiser, too. In fact the only difference between the two cars will be the addition of a C-HR-style front end to the Toyota, because the cabin will be carried over.
Ford Puma Gen-E
| Model: | Ford Puma Gen-E Select |
| Price: | £29,995 (before £3,750 Govt. grant) |
| Powertrain: | 53kWh battery, 1x e-motor, 166bhp |
| 0-62mph: | 8.0 seconds |
| Test efficiency: | 4.4 miles/kWh |
| Official range: | 234 miles |
| Annual VED: | £195 |
It’s been on sale for less than a year, but the Ford Puma Gen-E is already being updated. Order a new Puma Gen-E now and you’ll get a 2026 model-year car with improved battery range and Ford’s BlueCruise semi-autonomous motorway driving tech as standard.
We’re testing the 2025 model here, but that’s no hardship because the Ford’s Government discount means it matches the Suzuki on price and offers a similar amount of equipment and space inside.
Tester’s notes
We can’t try BlueCruise in the Puma Gen-E until the 2026 model year cars arrive, but I’ve tasted it in a Mustang Mach-E SUV. My route included busy sections of the M6 and M42 around the West Midlands, but the system proved to be effective even when having to deal with narrow lanes through roadworks, offering a smooth drive and sticking to its lane without any jerky steering inputs.
At the moment the system is limited to use on the UK’s motorway network, but it is a welcome addition to the roster of safety kit on the Puma Gen-E.
Ford is very keen to get buyers behind the wheel of the Puma Gen-E. As well as including five years of complimentary servicing, roadside assistance and online services with each car, not to mention the full Government EV Grant qualification, the firm is also offering the Ford Power Promise.
This is available to any buyer of a Ford EV, and means you can arrange for either a free home wallbox charger with standard installation or 10,000 miles of free electricity, courtesy of provider Octopus Energy.
Head-to-head
on the road
Soft suspension sees the e Vitara bob and wallow on country lanes, although that does translate into decent comfort around town. At higher speeds there is plenty of road and wind noise to contend with.
The Puma Gen-E is a sprightly performer in contrast, with sharp steering and a lighter feel in bends. Overall comfort is nearly as good as in the Suzuki in town, and the Ford is ahead on the motorway.
Tech highlights
Suzuki’s infotainment system is quite frustrating, with plenty of menus and pointless animations slowing things down. The 360-degree camera system is also disappointing, because of the poor quality of its images.
Ford’s large central touchscreen is a lot easier to use, with clear graphics and useful shortcuts, including a full set of climate controls on permanent display across the bottom of the screen.
Price and running
Discounted prices mean that both of these cars start at around £27,000, although you have to pay an extra £3,000 to get the Suzuki with a larger battery that can more closely match the Puma Gen-E for range.
On test, the big-battery, four-wheel- drive e Vitara couldn’t match the front-wheel-drive Ford for efficiency, with the Suzuki’s trip returning 2.7 miles per kWh, compared with 4.4mi/kWh for the Gen-E.
Practicality
The battery impacts on the Suzuki’s boot space, with a miserly 306 litres on offer with the rear bench slid all the way forward. There isn’t much space under the floor, either. The Puma Gen-E is a masterclass in packaging, because the battery position doesn’t affect the MegaBox under-floor storage, and there’s 556 litres of space available. However, for passenger carrying, the e Vitara is a better option.
Safety
Both cars feature a long list of safety kit, although if you want to set the systems up the way you like, it can be frustrating. The Suzuki has numerous sub-menus to negotiate, all of which come with slow animations that don’t really contribute anything. The Ford has a single page with all the functions on it, and some settings, such as the speed-limit warning can be deactivated via a steering-wheel button.
Ownership
There’s a basic three-year/60,000-mile warranty offered on both cars, but Suzuki has followed Toyota’s lead by offering a service-activated warranty that can cover a car for up to 10 years or 100,000 miles.
You have to pay for extra warranty cover on the Puma Gen-E, but the first two services are complimentary, courtesy of the five-year Ford Protect service plan that’s included with every retail purchase.
Verdict
Winner: Ford Puma Gen-E
Even without the enhanced driving range and added autonomous motorway driving tech of the 2026 model year, the Ford Puma Gen-E is well ahead of the Suzuki in most respects. The only issue that potential buyers might have is with its limited rear passenger space.
In every other respect the Gen-E is a great small EV. Efficiency is excellent, the powertrain is responsive, the tech on board is easy to use, and the compromise between ride and handling delivers an enjoyable drive that doesn’t come at the expense of comfort.
Runner-up: Suzuki e Vitara
For a first effort, the Suzuki e Vitara is a pretty good small electric SUV. But it has arrived at a time when some big hitters have landed in the market, so we feel that it’ll struggle to make an impact. To that end, its competitive pricing will stand it in good stead, while the option of four-wheel drive will please Suzuki fans.
But there are one or two flaws that hold it back. The infotainment system is frustrating to use, and the driving position won’t suit everyone, while the small boot will be an issue for buyers looking for family transport.
Prices and specs
| Our choice | Suzuki e Vitara Allgrip-e Ultra | Ford Puma Gen-E Select |
| Price from/price as tested | £29,999/£34,049 | £29,995/£26,245 |
| Powertrain and performance | ||
| Powertrain | 2x electric motors | 1x electric motor |
| Power | 181bhp | 166bhp |
| Torque | 307Nm | 290Nm |
| Transmission | Single-speed/4WD | Single-speed/FWD |
| 0-62mph/top speed | 7.4 seconds/93mph | 8.0 seconds/99mph |
| Battery capacity/usable | 61/61kWh | 53/43kWh |
| Official range | 245 miles | 234 miles |
| Charging | 150kW (10-80% in 45 mins) | 100kW (10-80% in 23 mins) |
| Dimensions | ||
| Length/wheelbase | 4,275/2,700mm | 4,313/2,588mm |
| Width/height | 1,800/1,640mm | 1,805/1,555mm |
| Rear knee room | 620-870mm | 605-855mm |
| Rear headroom/elbow room | 920/1,445mm | 848/1,381mm |
| Boot space (front/seats up/down) | N/A/238-306/562 litres | 43/556/1,283 litres |
| Boot length/width | 670/985mm | 725/1,000mm |
| Boot lip height | 790mm | 765mm |
| Kerbweight/payload/towing weight | 1,899/451/750kg | 1,563/452/750kg |
| Turning circle | 10.4 metres | 10.5 metres |
| Costs/ownership | ||
| Residual value (after 3yrs/36,000 miles) | £14,811/43.5% | £10,944/41.7% |
| Depreciation | £11,438 | £15,301 |
| Insurance group/quote/VED | 28/N/A/£195 | 19/£663/£195 |
| Three-year service cost | TBC | £0 (Five years) |
| Annual tax liability std/higher rate | £226/£453 | £180/£359 |
| Annual electricity cost (10k miles) | £943 | £600 |
| Basic warranty/recovery | 3yrs (60,000 miles)/1yr | 3yrs (60,000 miles)/3yrs |
| Driver Power manufacturer position | 9th | 23rd |
| NCAP Adult/child/ped./assist/stars | 77/85/79/72/4_ (2025) | 75/84/70/69/4_ (2022) |
| Equipment | ||
| Metallic paint/wheel size | £650-£950/19 inches | £800/17 inches |
| Parking sensors/camera | Front & rear/360 degrees | Rear/yes |
| Spare wheel/Isofix points | Repair kit/two | Repair kit/two |
| Keyless entry & go/powered tailgate | Yes/no | Keyless go/no |
| Leather/heated seats/wheel | Part-artificial/yes/yes | No/£350 pack/£350 pack |
| Screen size/digital dashboard | 10.1/10.25 inches | 12.0/12.8 inches |
| Climate control/panoramic sunroof | Yes/yes | Yes/£1,100 |
| USBs/wireless charging | Four/yes | Four/yes |
| Wireless CarPlay/Android Auto | Yes/yes | Yes/yes |
| Blind-spot warning/head-up display | Yes/no | £950 pack/yes |
| Adaptive cruise/steering assist | Yes/yes | £950 pack/no |
What we would choose
Suzuki e Vitara
The only options on the e Vitara are cosmetic, with metallic paint available across the range. Ultra spec can be had in dual-tone colours (ie, adding a contrast black roof), while tan upholstery is standard with silver or green paint.
Ford Puma Gen-E
A panoramic roof is £1,000, while the £350 Winter Pack adds a heated steering wheel and seats. The Driver Assist Pack (£950) has 360-degree cameras, blind-spot detection, front assist, lane-change warning and more.
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