After several delays, Maruti Suzuki has finally announced the starting price of its first fully electric SUV, the e Vitara. The entry price is set at ₹10.99 lakh under a battery rental scheme. The complete variant-wise pricing is expected to be revealed soon.

The e Vitara will be sold through Maruti’s premium Nexa dealership network.

The Maruti e Vitara is offered in three variants: Delta, Zeta, and Alpha. Buyers get two battery pack options. The 49 kWh battery is available only with the base Delta variant. The larger 61 kWh battery is offered in the Zeta and Alpha variants. Both versions use a single electric motor and a Front Wheel Drive setup.

Maruti has chosen a conventional design approach for the e Vitara instead of going futuristic. Unlike the bold styling seen on the Mahindra BE 6, the e Vitara sticks to a familiar SUV shape. The SUV has a chunky and rugged stance, with muscular wheel arches and strong body lines that give it good road presence.

Key dimensions:

• Length: 4,275 mm
• Width: 1,800 mm
• Height: 1,640 mm
• Wheelbase: 2,700 mm
• Ground clearance: 185 mm
• Turning radius: 5.2 metres

While its length is close to the Grand Vitara, it is slightly lower in height.

The DRLs and tail lamps feature a matching Y shaped design theme. Rear door handles are placed on the C pillar, giving it a sporty three door style appearance. India spec models get 18 inch alloy wheels, while international versions offer 19 inch wheels.

Maruti has avoided the now common full width illuminated light bar, which helps the e Vitara maintain a clean look. The SUV is available in 10 colour options, including monotone and dual tone shades.

Step inside and the e Vitara feels very different from other Maruti models currently on sale. The cabin quality is noticeably improved, and this is easily among the best interiors Maruti has produced so far.

The black and brown theme looks premium, though it makes the cabin feel slightly less airy.

One important highlight is the presence of physical controls for key functions. Many rivals rely heavily on touch inputs, but Maruti has kept usability in mind. The screens, however, could have been larger. There is visible bezel around both displays.

The e Vitara comes with a strong list of features for daily use.

It gets a 10.25 inch digital driver display with clean graphics and a user friendly interface. The 10.1 inch touchscreen supports wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, along with connected car features.

Other highlights include:

• Ventilated front seats
• 10 way powered driver seat
• 10 speaker Infinity sound system
• Fixed glass roof
• Multi colour ambient lighting
• Automatic climate control
• Wireless phone charger
• Push button start
• Auto headlamps and rain sensing wipers

The fixed glass roof feels small by today’s standards, where many buyers expect a panoramic sunroof.

The e Vitara has already been crash tested by Bharat NCAP and has secured a 5 star safety rating. It also scored 4 stars in Euro NCAP testing.

Safety features include:

• Up to 7 airbags including a knee airbag
• Front and rear parking sensors
• 360 degree camera
• Electronic parking brake with auto hold
• Electronic stability control
• Tyre pressure monitoring system
• Level 2 ADAS features

The 49 kWh version produces 144 PS and 192.5 Nm of torque.
The 61 kWh version produces 174 PS and the same 192.5 Nm torque.

The larger battery is claimed to deliver over 500 km of range. Official figures for the smaller battery are yet to be announced.

While power output is competitive against rivals like the Tata Curvv EV and Hyundai Creta Electric, torque figures are slightly lower. International markets also get an optional all wheel drive version, but that is not confirmed for India.