Suzuki is expanding its utility line in Europe with the addition of the new Across plug-in hybrid SUV. Basically a modified version of Toyota’s RAV4 Prime PHEV, the model becomes the first fruit of the cooperation between the Japanese firm and Toyota announced last year.
Visually, you certainly can’t confuse Toyota’s underbody bases, but at least the Across does get some visual overhauls to differentiate it from the original. These include a fitted front fascia with a larger grille and sleeker LED headlights. The side profile remains almost unchanged and the situation is similar at the rear. When sales in Europe begin this fall, the eco-friendly SUV will be offered with a choice of six colors.
Under the familiar look, the Across is based on a plug-in hybrid system consisting of a 2.5-liter gasoline engine, supported by two electric motors, one for each axle, and a floor-mounted 18.1 kWh battery. The four-cylinder combustion engine generates 173 horsepower (129 kilowatts), while electric motors add 180 and 54 hp (134 and 40 kW), respectively. Combined production has not been announced, but the RAV4 Prime PHEV offers 302 hp (225 kW) and we expect the Across to have the same maximum power.
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Suzuki promises a 46-mile (75-kilometer) range with purely electric power before the 2.5-liter engine starts with combined CO2 emissions of 22 grams per kilometer measured by WLTP standards. The maximum speed is 112 miles per hour (180 kilometers per hour).
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Depending on the condition, the powertrain can provide a variation of the rear torque that ranges from 100:00 to 20:80. The Across also comes equipped with Trail Mode, which acts as a limited slip automatic differential control that ensures “the best grip and control possible on slippery surfaces.” It is a system that applies the brakes to the wheels that begin to lose grip and redirects the torque to the wheels that maintain the grip.
