Used Suzuki Across (Mk1, 2020-date) buyer's guide: a Toyota RAV4 in disguise

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With the narrowest possible model range and a high asking price, the Suzuki Across was never going to be a big hit with buyers. But while the Across has never been all that alluring as a new purchase, as a used buy it's more enticing. The entry cost makes more sense, and with all Acrosses being so well equipped, as a £25k buy it's easy to be tempted. We wouldn't try to dissuade you from making the leap, but before you do, bear in mind that the more expensive RAV4 comes with an extra two years of warranty as standard, and 90 litres of extra boot space thanks to its smaller battery pack. Advertisement - Article continues below
When is a Toyota RAV4 not a Toyota RAV4? Answer: when it's a Suzuki Across (pronounced A-Cross). As soon as Toyota bought a 4.9 per cent stake in Suzuki in 2019, it was inevitable that the two companies would share resources. But Suzuki went way beyond that with the Across: it simply stuck its own badges onto Toyota's popular mid-size SUV, and it's none the worse for that.
The RAV4 is a great car, but many Suzuki owners are very loyal to their local dealer, so by offering a rebadged RAV4 it opened up a new market for Suzuki. But not a very big one...
The Suzuki Across arrived in the UK in November 2020. There was just one model available: a 302bhp plug-in hybrid with a 2.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine and two electric motors. An 18.1kWh battery was fitted, while every Across came with four-wheel drive and a continuously variable automatic transmission. Skip advert Advertisement - Article continues below View Across View Across View Across
Just one high-spec trim level was offered, priced at £45,599. From summer 2022 the on-board AC charger was increased from 3kW to 6kW, to bring charging times down (at home and when using public chargers), while much of the interior lighting was upgraded to LED, and some of the minor switchgear gained illumination. You can tell the updated cars by their USB-C charging ports inside; earlier cars had type A ports.
The Across is big and heavy (it weighs 1,940kg), but Toyota has done a pretty good job of disguising that bulk because the handling is tidy and grip levels are high. The transmission is super-slick, refinement is superb and the performance is also strong; 0-62mph takes just six seconds on the way to an electronically limited top speed of 112mph. What lets the Across down is the ride, which isn't as composed as it should be.
All you have to decide is what colour you want and what mileage suits you best. Having said that, there are very few high-mileage Acrosses, with most examples yet to go beyond the 30,000-mile mark. Advertisement - Article continues below
Equipment levels are generous, with all examples coming with heating for the front and rear seats as well as the steering wheel, synthetic leather trim, dual-zone climate control, an electric tailgate, a nine-inch touchscreen with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, front and rear parking sensors plus a rear camera, and (unusually) a spare wheel. Also on the standard kit list were 19-inch alloy wheels and LED headlights; there were no options available, but dealers do offer a range of accessories.
Toyota's RAV4 is the most obvious alternative; it's far more readily available than the Suzuki and there's a wider model range. If a plug-in hybrid powertrain is important to you, we'd also suggest you take a look at the Hyundai Tucson, Peugeot 3008 and Vauxhall Grandland, all of which come as a PHEV. You should also shortlist the Ford Kuga, while BMW offers the X1, X2 and X3 in plug-in form. Skip advert Advertisement - Article continues below
The Honda CR-V Mk6 (from 2023) is a seven-seat alternative, while the Jaguar E-Pace and F-Pace are less obvious choices. Or you could buy a Range Rover Evoque, Mazda CX-60, Mercedes GLC or Renault Rafale – and don't forget the Volkswagen Tiguan or the Volvo XC60. All of these came as plug-in hybrids.
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The Across is able to tow any caravan or trailer weighing up to 1,500kg; the limit for anything unbraked is half this, at 750kg.
Safety
Euro NCAP has tested the RAV4 but not the Across. The Toyota earned five stars thanks to a huge array of standard safety kit, which is also offered in the Suzuki.
Economy
Suzuki claims a 46-mile range on electric power and up to 282mpg. It's not hard to achieve that EV range in everyday use, while 50mpg is a realistic average.
Peace of mind
The Across comes with a three-year warranty with a 60,000-mile cap. But have your Across serviced by an official dealer and this can be extended to as much as 10 years or 100,000 miles.
We like the Across's cabin because it's well laid out and features high-quality materials, so there's a premium feel. Impressive infotainment systems are now the norm, but the Across's set-up disappoints with its lack of sharpness and slightly small size. The dashboard layout is easy to get on with, thanks to well placed switchgear and generally clear instruments, although the latter is a bit busier than it needs to be.
There's lots of space around the cabin for oddments, while fully grown adults can easily get comfy in the back seats thanks to decent head and leg room. Boot space is good at 490 litres, or 1,168 litres with the back seats folded; that's 90 litres less than in the RAV4.
There are probably more Acrosses up for sale than you might think, although the classifieds are bolstered by brand-new cars in stock at dealers. Discounts of £2,000 aren't hard to find, but at this level you'll still have to stomach a lot of depreciation. Black and white are the most popular colours, but not far behind are blue, grey and silver. Red is the least common hue. Advertisement - Article continues below Skip advert Advertisement - Article continues below
Check the price of a Suuzki Across with our free car valuation tool...
The Across needs to be serviced every 12 months or 12,500 miles, with the first two services priced at £241 and £407. From year three, discounted maintenance kicks in and the schedule runs Minor (oil and filter change for £149), Intermediate (Minor plus fresh brake and clutch fluid for £219), Minor again, then Major (Interim plus new air and pollen filters for £299).
The engine is chain-driven so there's no cambelt to change. Insurance is group 40 (the RAV4 is groups 34-37), and because all Acrosses cost more than £40,000 when new, the annual road tax bill (at current rates) is a hefty £620 until the car's sixth birthday.
Suzuki has issued two recalls for the Across so far. The first one came in March 2023 and it affected 234 cars made in the 12 months from June 2020; the RAV4 had the same recall. The problem centred on the hybrid drive system, which could shut down in low temperatures, potentially leading to a crash. The solution was to reprogramme the system's ECU with fresh software.
Faulty circuit boards were fitted to 362 Acrosses made up to May 2022, and this led to the second recall, in August 2023. To see if any Suzuki that you're thinking of buying is subject to any recalls, just type its VIN into https://cars.suzuki.co.uk/owners/recall-repair.
The Across has never appeared in a Driver Power survey, but the RAV4 came a very impressive fourth out of 50 in our 2024 poll. There were lots of top-five scores including for the powertrain, safety, practicality, reliability, all-round visibility, gearbox smoothness, fuel economy and the number of standard safety features – among many others. The infotainment is the only significant black mark.
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