Suzuki ACross unveiled, derived from Toyota RAV4 hybrid
The Suzuki-Toyota partnership has led to Toyota gaining a stronger presence in the lower segments of the Indian car market. This collaboration, though, is on a global scale. In Europe, this has allowed Suzuki access to Toyota's products in the higher reaches of the SUV segment.
The Suzuki ACross is a result of this. This hybrid SUV is a badge-engineered fifth-gen Toyota RAV4 although the ACross gets a reworked front-end. This is reminiscent of the Swift with its large hexagonal grille and the upright fog lamp housings. The LED headlamp clusters are a slimmer unit than the RAV4 and are connected by a slim air inlet. The ACross also gets new-look alloy-wheels, although the rear-end styling remains largely unchanged.
The interiors of the ACross are largely identical to the RAV4. The only difference is a Suzuki-badged steering wheel and different colours for the interior trim. Notable features here are the dual-zone air-conditioning, nine-inch infotainment with Apple Carplay/Android Auto, wireless charging, among others.
The ACross also carries over the RAV4's hybrid powertrain as is. This pairs a 2.5-litre four-cylinder petrol to an electric motor on each axle, giving the ACross AWD capabilities. The petrol motor makes 185PS/227 Nm. The electric motor on the front axle makes 182PS and 270 Nm while the one at the back puts out 54PS/121 Nm. An 18.1 kWh battery feeds the electric motors while a CVT puts this power down on the road. The ACross will do 75 km of EV-only driving and has a top speed of 180 kmph.
The Suzuki ACross is unlikely to be sold in India. The next product of the Toyota-Suzuki partnership will be the rebadged Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza, rumoured to be called the Toyota Urban Cruiser. Like the ACross, this SUV is also expected to feature a unique Toyota-styled front end.