Suzuki celebrates 55 years of Allgrip 4WD (sort of)

David Linklater

28 Jul 2025

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First Suzuki 4WD (LJ) and the most recent (e Vitara).

Groundbreaking OG Jimny, the LJ10, launched in 1970.
'Allgrip' name introduced in 2016, in 3 different forms.
e Vitara is Suzuki's first-ever pure-electric AWD model.

Audi is celebrating 45 years of quattro all-wheel drive this year. Big deal, Suzuki might sa y, because it's claiming 55 years of its Allgrip technology in 2025.

Suzuki Allgrip AWD celebrates 55 years. — There are now four different types of Suzuki Allgrip AWD/4WD.

However, a bit like quattro, Allgrip isn't just one thing. It's a blanket term for different kinds of AWD/4WD used across many different applications; and unlike Audi's quattro, the "Allgrip" brand is relatively new. The terminology was only introduced at the 2016 Paris Motor Show, where it was announced as a "new direction for [Suzuki's]... four-wheel drive technology".

At that time Suzuki differentiated between types of Allgrip. "Auto" was a simple viscous coupling system optimimsed for on-road driving, "Select" offered different modes including a 50/50 lock for off-tarmac driving, and "Pro" was a traditional heavy-duty 4WD system that ran in 2WD for on-road driving but locked into 4WD for off-roading, including low-range transfer.

All three are in use today by the brand, although they're all just referred to as simply... Allgrip.

Suzuki's Allgrip models: Jimny

The original concept of the Jimny series was to develop a 4WD mini car - a unique idea at the time. The first of the series, LJ10, was born in 1970.

Suzuki celebrates 55 of Allgrip 4WD. — LJ was the OG for Suzuki 4WD (and always known as 'Jimny' in Japan, BTW).

LJ evolved to meet various market demands, becoming more powerful and better-equipped, but always retaining its 4x4 credentials. The 1977 LJ80 utilised Suzuki’s first four-stroke engine and the LJ series were sold in a total of 109 countries.

In 1981, Jimny went through the first full model change after 11 years. The SJ410 was developed for the global market. In 1998, the third generation Jimny made its debut. The new part-time 4WD system allowed switching between 2WD and 4WD while driving.

The 4th-generation Jimny (2018) inherited the previous model's ladder frame construction, part-time 4WD and 3-link rigid axle suspension, but went big on retro style. It was also the first Jimny to be badged Allgrip (technically the Allgrip pro system).

Suzuki X-90

The X-90 model was first shown as a concept at the Tokyo Motor Show in 1993, with production running between 1995-1997. It was derived from the Vitara and powered by a 1.6-litre engine, had a length of 3700mm and weighed just 1100kg.

Formerly a figure of fun, the quirky X-90 has become something of a cult model in the years since.

Suzuki Vitara

The 1988 Vitara was arguably the first fashion-conscious "lifestyle" SUV, although it retained hard-core 4x4 underpinnings.

In 1998 came the first Grand Vitara, with a larger family-oriented design. The Grand Vitara second-series made its debut in 2005 - still with a built-in-ladder-frame structure.

In April 2015, Suzuki returned to the Vitara name with a brand-new model. It moved to a more passenger car-like monocoque construction and employed Allgrip select technology (although the new branding had not yet been launched) that had also been introduced in the SX4 S-Cross in 2013.

Suzuki e Vitara

The e Vitara is Suzuki's first pure-electric model - so technically yet another iteration of Allgrip, using dual motors. The company is calling it "Allgrip-e".

The electric Vitara is destined for New Zealand next year.

Suzuki SX4

Launched in 2006, Suzuki’s SX4 was a 5-door hatchback with high ground clearance and the Allgrip select AWD system.

It later moved towards a more conventional family-hatch configuration for the NZ market, with more of an emphasis on the front-drive models.

Suzuki Kizashi

Ciritcally acclaimed but short-lived (2009-2015), Kizashi was a foray by Suzuki into a larger family-sized sedan.

It was optionally available with Allgrip auto technology, also known as "i-AWD".

Suzuki Swift

The Swift has always been FWD-only as a NZ-new car, but it's been available with AWD in overseas markets (including Europe) with AWD since 2011. There's heritage here, too: the earlier Cultus small-car was available with AWD in Japan from 1988 and the Swift GTi was only available with AWD in Japan from 1988-91.

Suzuki Ignis

Another FWD-only Suzuki in NZ, Ignis was launched globally alongside the new Allgrip brand in 2016.

Like Swift, it's been available in various markets with Allgrip auto ever since and later models even featured improved off-tarmac technology like hill descent control and enhanced-grip traction control.