Looking for a fully hybrid SUV that won’t break the bank? Well, Suzuki has you covered with its new S-Cross Full Hybrid, which is now on sale in Ireland from just €31,895, writes Eoin Cuttle.
Whilst driving Suzuki’s new S-Cross model last week it was clear to see that the Japanese brand has kept things simple. In an age of overcomplicated and clustered in-car tech, the S-Cross Full Hybrid makes for a refreshing change of pace and would be a sensible choice for those looking to sample the daunting world of electric vehicle driving.
And despite the attractive price tag, Suzuki hasn’t compromised on spec or safety.
The new S-Cross Full Hybrid in its ‘Motion’ trim comes loaded with high spec as standard, including keyless entry and engine start, front and rear parking sensors, reversing camera, 17-inch painted alloy wheels, LED headlights, adaptive cruise control with speed limiter, heated front seats, 7-inch display screen, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone connectivity, AEB lane departure warning and prevention, blind spot monitor, and traffic sign recognition.
Built in Hungary, the new model is also five star Euro NCAP rated, with seven airbags fitted as standard.
It is available in six different body colours, of which five are metallic finish, with a reasonable price of €375 as an optional extra.
The S-Cross Full Hybrid is equipped as standard with Auto Gear Shift (AGS ) that automatically shifts the manual transmission with gear ratios optimised to help provide a good combination of performance and fuel economy. This enables the driver to enjoy both the direct driving experience of a manual gearbox and the shifting ease of an automatic transmission.
Another key advantage is lower component weight versus a conventional torque converter type automatic. The transmission also has a manual mode with steering wheel mounted shift paddles.
The 1.5-litre engine was initially introduced on the Vitara Full Hybrid model earlier in 2022. The higher-powered Suzuki Hybrid system consists of a 140V lithium-ion battery and inverter, Motor Generator Unit (known as MGU ), a 12V lithium-ion battery as well as a conventional 12V lead-acid battery to power components
requiring lower voltage such as lights, instruments and heating/air conditioning.
The full Hybrid system has two switchable modes which are Eco and Standard. One switch enables the driver to change between the two modes depending on conditions and also increases the frequency of EV driving.
In Standard mode operation, the MGU more frequently assists the petrol engine to allow more spirited driving enjoyment.
The new S-Cross Full Hybrid is currently only available in Ireland in the aforementioned ‘Motion’ trim, but Suzuki says it is looking at the possibility of bringing its top-of-the-range ‘Ultra Allgrip’ model to market here in the not too distant future.
