Toyota, in alignment with its heightened focus on electrification, is reportedly working on an upcoming ‘baby’ SUV in collaboration with Suzuki. While specific details remain limited, this electric vehicle (EV) is rumored to make its debut in 2025 and may potentially be based on the Toyota bZ Small Crossover Concept, a part of Toyota’s broader electrification strategy.
The close partnership between Toyota and Suzuki has involved mutual vehicle rebadging and technology sharing to meet market demands across the globe. Numerous collaborative projects between the two automakers are already available in regions spanning Europe, India, South Africa, and Southeast Asia.
According to reports from Japanese outlet Best Car, Toyota intends to leverage the success of compact EVs in the domestic market, with plans to offer this new model globally, including in Europe. Suzuki was reportedly chosen as the ideal partner for collaborative development due to its expertise in manufacturing small vehicles.
The bZ Small Crossover Concept was unveiled as part of a special event in December 2021, alongside 14 other Toyota and Lexus concepts. The concept was presented through digital renderings and as a static, full-size prototype with obscured windows, hinting at its forthcoming role as the smallest member within Toyota’s fully electric bZ (beyond zero) lineup.
At the time of its unveiling, Toyota disclosed that the bZ Small Crossover was designed with a specific focus on the European and Japanese markets, aligning with the latest reports. Although detailed specifications were not revealed, Toyota did confirm that the vehicle was built on the eTNGA architecture and targeted a power consumption rate of 125 Wh/km. In terms of size, the concept appears to fall between the dimensions of the Toyota Aygo X (3,700 mm or 145.7 inches) and the Toyota Yaris Cross (4,180 mm or 164.6 inches), but precise dimensions are yet to be confirmed.
The reported 2025 debut of Toyota’s compact electric SUV coincides with the anticipated introduction of the production version of Suzuki’s eVX. It’s worth noting that the Suzuki eVX is likely to be larger in size, given its reported length of 4,300 mm (169.3 inches) in its concept form. Suzuki is expected to benefit from this joint development and manufacture its own version of the EV, not only for the Japanese market but also for global markets such as India. Potential rivals in this segment may include the Hyundai Casper-based EV and the highly anticipated VW ID.1, which is confirmed for a 2026 debut.
