If you’ve been here awhile and that Déjà vu is kicking in strong, don’t worry, you’re not imagining things. I have indeed briefly reviewed the Suzuki Across PHEV before, and it’s even in the same-ish maroon colour that you’re seeing here now, also photographed in the pristine backdrop of a lovely summer’s day in England. However, when I first reviewed and drove Suzuki’s then-new Across in plug-in hybrid form, it was only a quick 30 minute drive and 3 whole years ago. So, now I got a good opportunity to spend a lot more time with the car and rack up some miles.
Crucially, has Suzuki made any improvements in all those years since I first came across this hugely compelling, and underrated plug-in SUV? Right out of the gate, there is already one rather unpleasant change between this new, updated Across and the old one – the price. With how the world is today, this updated Suzuki Across is even more expensive than the one I drove 3 years ago, starting at £49,529. At that price, it’s not just Suzuki’s most expensive model here in the UK, but it’s also now dangerously close to plenty more upmarket rivals. So, let’s see if this updated Across PHEV could still compete.
What Is The Suzuki Across PHEV About?
For the eagle-eyed among you, you might’ve noticed that the silhouette and overall design of the Suzuki Across PHEV seem quite familiar. Well, that’s because the Across is a badge-engineered and slightly redesigned variant of another, very popular SUV – the iconic Toyota RAV4. This is part of a deal between Suzuki and Toyota, where they would share cars and platforms between the two brands. Moreover, the Across isn’t the only Toyota-made car in Suzuki’s line-up today, though it’s still a pretty curious case, nonetheless. Granted, the Across doesn’t just have a Toyota badge slapped on it and call it a day, there’s more to it than that.
There are some hints of Suzuki-ness with the Across, such as the front fascia and grille. It’s more subtle and back to basics compared to the RAV4’s comparatively posher and blingier face. You might also have subtle differences with its headlight design, tiny bits of chrome trim on the outside, and a few other bits of detail that separate the Across from the RAV4. Although, let’s not kid ourselves here, they both look pretty much identical, inside and out. More on the interior later, but it’s worth discussing how it drives. After all, if the Suzuki Across PHEV at least drives like its RAV4 sibling, then it’s still worth considering it over most of the competition, anyway.
How Does It Drive?
During my time with this test car from Suzuki UK, I spent around 700 miles behind the wheel, with a good chunk of it doing what the Across PHEV is meant to be – a practical, versatile, commuter car. That said, I’ve spent a lot of time with it on the motorway, getting about the countryside, and just using it for more practical stuff, like carrying a bunch of people and cargo inside. I’m pretty sure this just about fits the common use case for SUVs just like the Suzuki Across PHEV anyway, so it’s a great test for what it could do. Unsurprisingly, the Suzuki Across PHEV excelled with flying colours, and it makes for a fantastically utilitarian runabout.
One thing I noticed right away is that the Across came with a really chunky set of rubber. It’s great for absorbing the many potholes and imperfections that British roads tend to spring up ahead of you by surprise, which makes the Across PHEV a supremely comfortable SUV. This squishy ride quality is way better for its target demographic than a lot of “sporty” crossovers and SUVs at this price point. Remember, there’s no need to compromise on your comfort for some pretence of performance. As a whole, the Suzuki Across PHEV drives well, with a lot of comfort, smoothness, and refinement with its handling and driving experience.
Speaking of, there’s the Across PHEV’s crown jewel, that plug-in hybrid powertrain. At the very front is a 2.5-litre inline-4 petrol engine, which mainly does two things… Drive the wheels and also charge up the battery for that hybrid system. The Suzuki Across PHEV has two electric motors, not just one. Most of the time, though, you’ll mostly be using the front motor, with its peak output of 134kW and 270Nm of torque, rendering the plug-in hybrid powertrain (mostly) front-wheel drive.
However, if and when you need that 4-wheel traction, the rear motors will kick in, with its peak output of 40kW and 121Nm of torque. What you get is a whole lot of torque, fuel savings, 4WD capability, and impressively low tailpipe emissions, at just 22g/km. On top of that, there is a drive mode button to slightly alter how your Across PHEV delivers power, allowing you to switch between Sport, Eco, and Normal. There’s even a Trail Mode button that automatically manages the limited-slip diff to give you a better grip over slippery surfaces. The Across’ 4WD management system does this by simply applying brakes to the wheels that are slipping.
It’ll then direct all that extra torque to the wheels that have traction. It’ll even help to manage your throttle and CVT gear shifts. With that in mind, this very urban-focused SUV does handle tougher terrain decently well. When you’re driving in tough weather or if you get yourself stuck between a rock and a hard place, this might give you the upper hand. The torque split is predominantly frontward most of the time, at 100:00 (front:rear), but if needed, 80% of that torque could be shoved through the back wheels.
What Is It Like Inside?
One thing the Suzuki Across PHEV gets absolutely right is packaging, and just how great Toyota’s and Suzuki’s engineers are when it comes to maximising its use of space. The Across, just like the RAV4, doesn’t appear huge from the outside. Nevertheless, once you step inside it, there’s an abundance of room. Further in the back, for example, there’s a vast boot to store loads of stuff and some buyers will find comfort knowing the fact that there’s a spare wheel under the boot floor. If you look around back here, you’ll even find a 220V mains outlet and a 12V socket, should you need to power any electronics or electrical devices.
Furthermore, while the boxy styling of the Across PHEV might go against the modern-day convention of athletic, coupe-like rooflines in some other SUVs, this means that the Across affords rear passengers a lot of space, too. Even for someone with my taller stature, headroom, knee room, and legroom in the back is not an issue. At the front, you get a voluminous set of cupholders, and huge cubby spaces for all your smaller cargo, and overall, it’s a superbly practical and usable SUV. Aside from that, one other aspect of Suzuki cabins that doesn’t get enough mention is the upholstery that they use here.
They look sporty and feel good, but more importantly, they are the sort of hard-wearing materials that’ll handily take on years of use and abuse. Plus, it won’t show a lot of wear and tear, unlike more exotic materials like plush leather or Alcantara. I do like it, particularly for a more utilitarian, somewhat more family-focused SUV. Another old-fashioned bit of interior design with the Suzuki Across PHEV that I adore is that Suzuki has continued to keep physical controls in the cabin. All those analogue switches, buttons, and knobs sure beat having to faff about with the infotainment system.
One nice attention to detail is how Suzuki uses rocker switches for the heated seat controls. This makes it so that once you’ve already set it, you don’t have to turn it back on every time you step inside. On the techy side of things, this refreshed Suzuki Across PHEV gets an updated set of displays. This includes a huge 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster and a generous 10.5-inch infotainment system. The latter features Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and MirrorLink. It’s a pretty intuitive and easy-to-use system, and for all you audiophiles out there, the sound system is shockingly good, too.
The Experience
If you’ve never driven or owned a plug-in hybrid vehicle before, make sure you remember that there are two filler flaps on the Across PHEV. There’s one for filling it up with petrol, and the other to top it up with electricity. On the bright side, the good news here is that compared to most other PHEVs in its class, the Suzuki Across PHEV offers you a handy amount of charge to keep driving, without worrying too much about range. Courtesy of its 18.1kWh battery, the Across PHEV has a best-in-class electric-only range, with a range of around 46 miles. In short, you can actually, realistically drive it in EV-only mode, without once touching the engine for quite some distance.
Of course, that’s assuming your day-to-day commute and driving isn’t too mileage-heavy. From what I’ve been able to figure out, most UK motorists stay within that range in their day-to-day commutes anyway. Moreover, if you have the option to charge up your Across PHEV at home overnight, you’ve just saved yourself a lot in petrol station visits and fuel bills. And even if you do have to fall back on the engine, I’ve averaged about 55 MPG with mixed driving in this Across PHEV, which is mightily impressive. Bear in mind, that average only goes higher the more you plug the battery in and rely less on the ICE engine.
While most PHEVs today are really clever with automatically deploying electric power when needed, you have some manual controls. In that spirit, you can adjust the Across PHEV’s hybrid powertrain, either driving it only on electric power or as a hybrid. With the latter mode, you’re basically letting the car decide by itself how to best exploit the hybrid, like when you’re pressing hard on the accelerator. There’s also a charging mode, which puts a greater emphasis on the Across ICE engine to more rapidly charge up the battery pack. This option is nice when the battery’s near enough or is already dead, and you’d like it topped up in a jiffy.
Suzuki Across PHEV Cost
It has to be said just how effective running a plug-in hybrid vehicle (PHEV) is in keeping all your running costs down as you go through your ownership period with it. Between all those fuel savings, the Suzuki Across PHEV is a superb option for budget motorists, even if the upfront cost of buying one has gone up since I last drove it. So, while it does cost nearly £50,000, you do get a lot of ‘car’ with it, and all the bits and bobs that go with the Across as a complete package – the hybrid system, the interior, the build quality, its practicality, etc. – feel quite right for the money, too. And hey, at least the optional extras list isn’t too taxing on your wallet.
It’s also awesome to see that Suzuki has thrown in quite a lot of useful and handy safety systems and driving aids with the Across PHEV as standard. This includes their Intelligent Speed Assistance (ISA) system, which combines adaptive cruise control while also keeping you within the speed limit. Additionally, you get automated emergency braking, lane-keep assist, traffic sign recognition, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alerts, brake hold, and more. Here in the UK at least, the Across PHEV is only offered by Suzuki as a single-spec model with all the bells and whistles attached, so it should make choosing and spec’ing one a bit easier.
Verdict
In summary, this updated Suzuki Across PHEV is mostly just like the old one, which is no bad thing, really. If you already own the Across PHEV that I drove 3 years ago (or since its initial unveiling in 2020), there’s no need to upgrade to this facelifted model. But, if you’re looking to get a brand-new car and you’re keen on hybridisation, this refreshed Suzuki Across PHEV is still one of the best options for the money. This is especially so if maximum practicality, versatility, and usability are what you’re after. The Suzuki Across PHEV is such an easy car to live with, made a lot more appealing given Suzuki’s strong track record for reliability.
That, and their extensive warranty coverage should cover the higher starting price. Plus, it’s a great family car! For parents who need to drive their kids around or have pets with them, the interior is large, comfy, and crucially, it’s easy to clean when things get messy. You can get a lot of stuff in the Across, and when you’re still using it day in and day out a decade from now, the Suzuki Across PHEV is way more durable and hard-wearing than some of the posher SUVs in this price bracket. Sure, it’s pricier now, more than ever, but Suzuki’s Across remains a hugely attractive plug-in SUV for what you’re getting, so I can’t recommend it enough.
Specification
Suzuki Across PHEV Specs
- Price: £49,529
- Engine: 2.5-litre inline-4 PHEV
- Power: 302PS
- Torque: 270Nm (front) + 121Nm (rear)
- Transmission: E-CVT
- 0-62mph: 6.0 seconds
- Top speed: 112mph
- Weight: 1,940kg
- Economy combined: 42.9mpg
- CO2: 22g/km