Late last year, Suzuki announced that it would be introducing its flagship SUV to the South African market.
Now, it has announced that the first batch of Maruti Suzuki-built Across, or Victoris as it is known in the Indian market, is on its way to our shores at this very moment.
On Friday, Maruti Suzuki shipped over 450 of these vehicles from the Mundra and Pipavav
ports, all of which are bound for over 100 global markets, including South Africa.
The carmaker initially introduced the Victoris in its local market in September 2025, targeting younger Indian car buyers with its modern features.
The SUV was well-received on the sub-continent, becoming a popular choice amongst new car buyers, and earning itself the coveted Indian Car of the Year (ICOTY) title for 2026.
Maruti Suzuki Managing Director and CEO, Hisashi Takeuchi, said the brand’s export journey is guided by its vision, “Make in India, Make for the World”.
He added that Maruti Suzuki’s 2025 calendar year exports exceeded 390,000 units, cementing it as India’s top passenger vehicle exporter for a fifth consecutive year.
“If we look at the growth of India’s passenger vehicle exports in the past five years, Maruti Suzuki exports grew by 4.67 times.”
“The addition of Victoris (Across) will further support our export ambitions, and we are hopeful it will be well received in international markets,” he added.
Not much is known about features and pricing for the Across, as these will be made known closer to the vehicle’s official local launch.
What is known about the model is that it will become Suzuki’s local flagship SUV, claiming the title from the Grand Vitara.
Suzuki did announce that the soon-to-be-introduced SUV has demonstrated global safety credentials, earning a 5-star safety rating in both Global NCAP and Bharat NCAP.
South Africa’s next top SUV
Should the Across be an exact copy of the Victoris, it will be introduced with a choice of two motors.
The first is Maruti Suzuki’s 1.5-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine, capable of producing 76kW and 139Nm of torque, sent to its front wheels by either a five-speed manual or six-speed automatic transmission.
This version also comes with Suzuki’s AllGrip Select, allowing for four-wheel-drive capabilities.
It boasts a frugal fuel economy of 4.8l/100km in its standard drive mode, and 5.2l/100km when in all-wheel drive.
The alternative engine configuration is a Toyota-sourced 1.5-litre petrol hybrid block, which claims power outputs of 68kW and 141Nm.
The hybrid option is fitted with an eCVT gearbox and is driven through its front wheels only, and claims a fuel efficiency of around 3.4l/100km.
On the inside of the Victoris, and likely the Across as well, drivers will find a dual-tone interior, panoramic sunroof, and vibrant 64-colour customisable ambient lighting.
A 10-inch infotainment system can be found in the centre of the SUV’s three-level dashboard, with a host of apps and connectivity options to choose from.
The driver is treated to a 10-inch multi-information digital cluster behind the steering wheel.
In terms of safety, the Across will likely be fitted with the same Advanced Level 2 ADAS system found in the Victoris, as well as six airbags, front parking assist sensors, and a 360-degree camera system.
Other safety features include lane keep assist, automatic emergency braking, and blind spot monitoring.
While pricing for the Across is not yet known, the starting price for the Victoris in India is Rs 1,049,900, which amounts to just over R189,000 before taxes.
Considering local prices for the Grand Vitara start at R359,900, the Across will highly likely surpass this amount, especially for its top trim levels.
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