Hybrid power for all Suzukis

SUZUKI has set out its stall to be the first mainstream auto brand to offer a completely electrified car line up in the UK. Come October the company will be launching its first plug-in hybrid model – the Across SUV – which will join its range of mild hybrid vehicles which include the Ignis, Swift, S-Cross and Vitara.

The Jimny 4x4 – the only nonhybridised model in its manifest – is becoming a commercial offering only and will no longer be sold as a private vehicle.

The company, which is the world’s eight largest car maker, is also pressing ahead with its collaborative venture with Toyota which will see a Suzuki derivative of the British-built Corolla Estate hybrid on sale in the coming months.

While there is currently no zero emission pure electric car in its line up, Suzuki has now fitted mild-hybrid powertrains to all of its vehicles on sale in Britain.

The Across is the first model from its link-up with Toyota and is a plug-in version of the RAV4 with a 47 mile zero emission range and emissions of just 22g/ km.

Suzuki is currently celebrating 100th anniversary and with trading difficulties caused by the Covid pandemic it says British sales this year will likely be around the 23,000 mark – some 7,000 down on its target for the year.

To combat the projected shortfall a facelifted version of the Swift – which with the Ignis account for some 60 per cent of the brand’s British sales – is to be released with a new look front and more standard equipment.

A new SZ-L grade is being introduced priced from £14,749 – some £1,700 more than the current entry level SZ-T model – and comes with air conditioning, a rear view camera, radar brake support with adaptive cruise control, smartphone link display audio with DAB radio, leather steering wheel, privacy glass, LED headlamps, LED rear combination lamps, front fog lamps, polished 16-inch alloy wheels and front electric windows as standard fit.

All versions except the Swift Sport are now powered by a 1.2litre 12-volt four cylinder hybrid engine developing 83ps which results in emissions of 111g/km and an official fuel return of 57.2mpg.

The 1.0-litre three cylinder engine is being dropped from the line up.

The SZ-T model is now priced from £16,249 while the range tops out at £18,749 for the Swift ALLGRIP Auto in SZ5 specification which has fuel economy of 51.7mpg and CO2 emissions of 123g/km.

The Swift Sport has a 1.4-litre 48-volt hybrid engine and costs from £18,999.