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‘Swift’ is the kind of name that invites extra scrutiny, but it’s not an inappropriate moniker for Suzuki’s supermini, as the Swift is one of the more entertaining cars in this class to drive. It also happens to be great value to buy and very affordable to run, and deserves to be on your small-car shortlist.
A new Swift was introduced in 2023 but we’re focusing on the car sold between 2016 and 2023 here. Its funky styling still looks modern, and over the years it was offered with a mix of frugal petrol engines that make the Swift one of the most affordable models in its class to run. There was even a hot hatchback, the Swift Sport, which we’ve written about in detail elsewhere. Read on to find out more about the Swift below.
The Suzuki Swift has long been a likeable left-field alternative to more popular small cars like the Ford Fiesta and Volkswagen Polo, and the 2016-on Swift is a better all-rounder than ever. There are surprising numbers of them on the roads, so the car has clearly gone down well with new buyers - and that popularity works in the favour of used car buyers too.
Take a Swift for a test drive and you’ll instantly feel the benefits of it being one of the lightest cars in this class. It feels sprightly to drive, particularly the 1-litre Boosterjet models, and has the kind of nimble, responsive handling that only the Ford Fiesta and MINI hatchback really offer in this class - though like those, it does ride more firmly than some other superminis. Light weight also helps it to excellent economy figures, and long-term should mean less tyre and brake wear too.
At the same time, the Swift doesn’t feel flimsy, even though you won’t find as many soft-touch plastics or squashy surfaces in the cabin as some cars offer. Instead it just feels simple and robust, with a good driving position, decent interior space, and an adequately-sized boot. A wide range gives you plenty of choice of equipment levels too. High insurance groups let it down slightly, but other running costs should be low.
As well as the Fiesta, Polo and MINI already mentioned, other cars to consider in the Swift’s class include the Peugeot 208, Renault Clio, and Vauxhall Corsa. Japanese models with a similar reputation for reliability include the Honda Jazz, Mazda 2 and Toyota Yaris, while the Swift’s simple charms and good value are only really bettered in this class by the ultra-affordable Dacia Sandero - though the Swift is more fun to drive.
The pick of the Suzuki Swift bunch is undoubtedly the 1-litre turbocharged ‘Boosterjet’ petrol engine, which is a shame as it didn’t hang around for the entire time the Swift was on sale. It’s absurdly frugal and surprisingly refined for a three-cylinder, but in part thanks to the Swift being so light compared to its peers, it’s very peppy too - quicker and livelier than the figures in the brochure might suggest. Later models are all 1.2-litre mild hybrids, which do the job (and should be reliable) but don’t have the Boosterjet’s verve.
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All Swifts get air conditioning and even a leather-trimmed steering wheel, but we’d aim for at least an SZ-L (which adds alloy wheels and LED headlights) or better still the SZ-T with its standard, smartphone-friendly infotainment system. Oh, and don’t forget the Swift Sport, which is fun to drive, has smart looks, and still doesn’t use a great deal of fuel.
The Suzuki Swift’s exterior dimensions are:
The Suzuki Swift’s boot space is:
This is nice and simple - all models of the Swift, including the Swift Sport hot hatchback that we’ve covered elsewhere, cost the same £190 per year to tax.
The Swift’s insurance groups start a little higher than for some of its supermini rivals, sitting in groups 19 to 27 depending on the spec. An early SZ-T with the 1.2-litre Dualjet engine is at the lower end of that list, though opting for say, the Allgrip model doesn’t necessarily mean much higher bills, as some models start in group 20. An SZ5 with the Boosterjet engine and an automatic gearbox sits in group 27, while the Swift Sport is in groups 28-35. For comparison, a VW Polo starts in just group 1, while even the Polo GTI is only in groups 23-29.
£15,099
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£1,600 offWhat is the most popular colour for Suzuki Swift ?
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What is the most popular engine for Suzuki Swift ?
What is the average mileage for Suzuki Swift ?
19614
How many Suzuki Swift cars are available for sale?
88
