AllGrip: How Suzuki's Off-Road System Works

Suzuki is one of the leading brands in the development of all-wheel drive systems. Thanks to the ALLGRIP system, the Japanese brand remains at the forefront of its segment with a technologically advanced solution that combines Suzuki's legendary off-road experience with the most advanced electronic management.

The ALLGRIP name that accompanies much of the Suzuki range is not a conventional all-wheel drive system; it is a set of advanced technologies that manage the engine response, transmission, and systems such as stability control, traction control, and hill descent control to achieve a triple objective: traction efficiency, safety, and stability.

Thanks to Suzuki's technology, all systems become one, and this integration, ALLGRIP, allows Suzuki vehicles to perfectly adapt to terrain conditions, enhancing the stability and safety of their vehicles, thereby providing greater security to their users.

Suzuki offers different versions of the ALLGRIP system depending on the model and the type of driving the user chooses at any given time. ALLGRIP AUTO is the system available in the Suzuki Swift, the brand's most global car, with 354,000 units sold in 2023, making it the second best-selling car in its category.

The Swift, now in its fourth generation, employs an ultra-efficient engine with a mild hybrid SHVS system and an ECO label. It is offered in six versions with options for manual, automatic, 2WD, and the prestigious 4WD all-wheel drive that concerns us. This system automatically distributes engine torque between the axles when it detects a loss of grip, without the need for driver intervention. It is ideal for urban environments with adverse climates, rain, or snow.

Then there is the ALLGRIP SELECT system equipped in the Suzuki Vitara and S-Cross, which allows the driver to choose between four driving modes (Auto, Sport, Snow, and Lock) according to the demands or challenges presented by the terrain.

It is the most comprehensive system and the best for those seeking maximum versatility because the ALLGRIP SELECT system allows modifying traction according to terrain conditions. The system in Auto mode maintains two-wheel drive and activates all-wheel drive only when it detects a loss of traction in the front axle.

The Sport mode improves throttle response and reduces traction control intervention for a more dynamic, sportier drive, while in Snow mode, stability and grip on snowy or icy roads are prioritized, with very sensitive electronics that prevent traction loss on very slippery surfaces.

Finally, there is the Lock mode, which keeps all-wheel drive fixed, permanently locked, ideal for challenging terrains where it is crucial to avoid slipping. To complete Suzuki's all-wheel drive offering, the Trail Mode offered by the Suzuki A-Cross, one of the models resulting from the joint venture between Suzuki and Toyota, must be included. This system uses an electric motor on the rear axle to provide integral traction, optimizing performance on slippery surfaces.

All-wheel drive and safety are concepts perfectly associated within Suzuki's philosophy, and the ALLGRIP system is powered by all the driver assistance technologies that are now crucial for safe driving, such as traction control, hill descent control, and hill hold control.

All this represents a significant part of Suzuki's technological evolution and renowned reliability, and its ALLGRIP system only reinforces its virtues, making the Japanese brand's cars a total reference for both safe driving and off-road adventures.