We knew this crossover looked familiar. Take a look at it from any other angle other than up front and it’s unmistakable—this is the Toyota RAV4 sporting a different face and the badge of fellow Japanese carmaker Suzuki.
This is the new Suzuki Across and it’s set to hit European showrooms later this year. Essentially, this is a rebadged RAV4 hybrid with smaller and less-angular headlights joined together by Suzuki’s signature minimalist grille, rounded-out facial features, different wheels, more plastic bits in the front, and, well, a Suzuki badge.
Aesthetically, almost everything in the Across is carried over from the RAV4. This includes the interior, which is practically identical to the Toyota crossover it’s based on. The brand has gotten a little more playful with its use of color in the cabin, though, with some nice red contrast stitching on the dashboard, seats, and door panels.
Underneath the hood of the Across is Toyota’s 2.5-liter A25A-FXS Dynamic Force gasoline engine paired with electric motors powered by a 18.1kWh lithium-ion battery. While the company hasn’t revealed the vehicle’s total output, its electric power alone produces 134kw and 270Nm of torque. This crossover is a 4x4, and it also features a handful of advanced safety tech like Dynamic Radar Cruise Control, a Pre-Collision System, and Lane Tracing Assist.
Toyota and Suzuki have been collaborating for quite a while now. The two carmakers announced a partnership way back in 2016, saying the brands would explore ideas together. Three years later in 2019, the two companies began joint product development. Are you excited to see what other collaborations these brands can come up with?
