Suzuki Across plug-in hybrid review
The Suzuki Across is the Toyota RAV4 plug-in hybrid's identical twin. It has a high list price, but hits the right numbers for the company-car market
Pros
- Smooth and powerful drive
- Great electric range and CO2
- Practical and high-quality interior
Cons
- Very expensive
- Ride is a touch firm
- Shorter warranty than Toyota
| Car type | Electric range | Fuel economy | CO2 emissions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plug-in hybrid | 46 miles | 282mpg | 22g/km |
Right off the bat, we can tell you the Suzuki Across plug-in hybrid SUV is a Toyota RAV4 plug-in hybrid with a few styling tweaks and a different badge. The partnership between the two brands also spawned the Suzuki Swace estate, derived from the Corolla Touring Sports. Regardless, Suzuki’s access to Toyota's hybrid technology has allowed it to produce a rival to other plug-in hybrid SUVs like the Ford Kuga, Kia Niro and even the Volvo XC40 Recharge due to their similar prices.
The Across actually beat its RAV4 twin to the UK market by a couple of weeks, and is offered in one trim level at a pretty chunky list price of more than £45,000. But while that's undeniably a lot to pay for a Suzuki, which has traditionally been a value-focused brand, private buyers are not the Across' target market. Like all plug-in hybrids, it's primarily aimed at company-car user-choosers, seeking out the rock-bottom Benefit-in-Kind (BiK) rates these low-CO2 models attract.
There’s a lot to recommend the Across beyond just tax benefits, though. With a 46-mile electric range, it should cover most buyers’ daily trips without sipping a drop of fuel, and will comfortably charge overnight on a standard home wallbox. An update in April 2022 saw the Suzuki's on-board charger upgraded from 3kW to 6kW, slashing the charge time from five-and-a-half hours to two hours and 45 minutes.
The brawny Toyota hybrid setup delivers unexpected performance, too – the Across could give several proper hot hatchbacks a run for their money in a straight line, while it doesn’t fall apart in corners, either. Throw in the same practicality and reliability as the near-identical Toyota, and the Across will likely prove an easy car to own.
The Across is a pretty appealing package, but since cheaper variants of the Toyota RAV4 Plug-In launched, it's harder to justify the Suzuki on list price alone. There are, of course, cheaper plug-in hybrid family SUVs available, such as the Ford Kuga, Vauxhall Grandland, Peugeot 3008 and Citroen C5 Aircross, although none of them can match the Suzuki's pure-electric range.
Another factor to consider is that the Across' price puts it close to more desirable alternatives from premium brands, such as the Mercedes GLA 250 e and Land Rover Discovery Sport PHEV, so it's likely to remain a niche choice. For a more detailed look at the Across, read on for the rest of our in-depth review...
