Could this be a cut-price Toyota RAV4 Hybrid option? New Suzuki Across is the top-selling SUV’s twin under the skin

Suzuki has just unveiled its new Across SUV for Europe, and if its looks a little familiar, then there’s a very good reason for it.

The Across is actually a Toyota RAV4 under the skin – its a product of Suzuki’s partnership with the Japanese giant which has given it access to one of the world’s best-selling SUVs and allowed them to stick a Suzuki badge on the front.

There are some other mild exterior changes (note the headlights, grille and edited rear end), but everything else is Toyota.

And specially, the Toyota RAV4 Plug-in Hybrid (which is not yet on the cards in Australia, with executives more focused on conventional hybrid tech), which means the Suzuki makes use of Toyota’s 129kW 2.5-litre petrol engine, combined with twin electric motors – 134kW at the front axle and 40kW at the rear.

Unlike our RAV4, this Plug-In Hybrid can, well, be plugged in, with Suzuki promising the Across will deliver some 75kms of pure EV range. The brand is yet to confirm fuel use figures, but has said the Across will emit just 22g/km of C02 on the WLTP cycle.

Inside, there’s a nine-inch touchscreen that’s both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto equipped, as well as a sizeable 490-litre boot.

Like Toyotas, the Suzuki arrives with E-Four 4WD as standard – courtesy of those axle-mounted motors – with the brand promising a rear torque range of 100:00 to 20:80.

The Across gets four EV modes; an all-EV setting, a Auto EV/HV or HV setting, both of which introduce the petrol engine when required, and Battery Charger mode, calls on the engine to replenish charge when the batteries are running low.

There’s no word from Suzuki in Australia as to whether the Across will land in our market, but watch this space.