Suzuki Across

The 2026 South African Suzuki Across is not the older European plug-in hybrid that used the same name. Suzuki Auto South Africa launched this all-new Across in March 2026 as a five-seat, front-wheel-drive family SUV. Prices start at R349,900. Every derivative uses the same 1.5-litre K15C petrol engine and a small 12-volt SHVS mild-hybrid system. In simple terms, the petrol engine does most of the work and a small electric helper gives it a gentle push when the car pulls away or accelerates. Braking puts some energy back into the battery. You do not plug this car into a wall, and it cannot drive for a normal journey on electricity alone. That distinction matters because “mild hybrid” and “plug-in hybrid” describe very different cars and ownership routines. The engine produces 75.8 kW at 6,000 r/min and 136.8 Nm at 4,400 r/min. Suzuki rounds those figures to 76 kW and 137 Nm in its launch story. A five-speed manual gearbox is offered only on the entry GL, while a six-speed automatic is available in GL and GLX form. All three derivatives drive the front wheels. The claimed combined fuel-consumption figure is 5.3 litres per 100 km, with CO2 emissions of 121 g/km. That is a comparison number measured in controlled conditions, not a promise for every driver. Traffic, hills, speed, load, tyre pressure and air-conditioning can all change what appears on the trip computer. Size is easy to picture. At 4,360 mm long, the Across is longer than a small hatchback but still short enough for a normal shopping-centre parking bay. It is 1,795 mm wide and 1,655 mm high, with a 2,600 mm wheelbase and 210 mm ground clearance. That clearance helps with tall speed humps and maintained gravel roads, but two-wheel drive and road tyres do not turn it into a Jimny. The GL versions have a 347-litre boot. The GLX has 333 litres, so the most expensive version actually gives away 14 litres of quoted luggage room. Families should still test their own pram, wheelchair or holiday cases before buying because a litre figure cannot show whether an awkward object fits. The range has three clear jobs. The R349,900 GL 5MT is for buyers who want the lowest price and are comfortable using a clutch in traffic. The R372,900 GL 6AT adds automatic convenience for R23,000 without changing the engine or the main GL cabin specification. The R464,900 GLX 6AT costs R92,000 more than the GL automatic. It does not add power. Instead, it buys the advanced safety and luxury package: autonomous emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, lane support, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, front parking sensors, a 360-degree camera, a panoramic sunroof, synthetic-leather trim, an eight-way powered driver's seat, ventilated front seats, a head-up display, 64-colour ambient lighting, machined alloy wheels and an eight-speaker Infinity audio system. Two-tone paint is a further R4,500 on GLX. GL is not a stripped shell. Both GL derivatives still receive six airbags, ABS with electronic brake-force distribution, electronic stability control, hill-hold control, ISOFIX points, rear parking sensors, a reversing camera, automatic air-conditioning with rear vents, keyless entry and start, wireless phone charging, a 10.25-inch digital information display, a 10.1-inch touchscreen, smartphone connectivity, four USB-C charging ports and a smart powered tailgate. The important safety difference is that GL has the core crash-protection equipment but not the GLX driver-assistance sensors. A buyer should not assume that six airbags and adaptive cruise are the same thing: airbags help after a serious impact begins, while systems such as AEB try to warn the driver or reduce the chance and force of a collision. Ownership cover is unusually clear. Suzuki includes a five-year/200,000 km promotional warranty, a four-year/60,000 km service plan, a six-year body corrosion warranty and five years of roadside assistance. Services are due every 15,000 km or one year, whichever comes first. The service plan includes listed scheduled items but excludes tyres, brakes and other wear items. A buyer should therefore budget for insurance, tyres, fuel and wear parts as well as the monthly instalment. The Across can be good value, but the right derivative depends on whether the household values a lower purchase price, automatic convenience, or the GLX safety technology most.