Written by Parkers Updated: 24 April 2024

Overview

Apparently, the new Suzuki Swift is the answer to a quarter of a million people’s upcoming problem. With a number of direct rivals either dying or going fully electric, there’s now a chunky gap in the small car market that Suzuki intends to plug.

It can’t full avoid electrification, though. The new three-cylinder engine is mild-hybrid only to improve efficiency and boost acceleration, knocking nearly a second off the old car’s 0-62mph time. Automatic versions are also available and there’s even a four-wheel drive Allgrip model.

While the supermini class may have contracted, it’s still fiercely competitive. Well-rounded competition still exists in the form of the revised Toyota Yaris and Renault Clio, plus our small car of the year, the Skoda Fabia. Needless to say, the Swift still has its work cut out if it wants to jump to the top of the class. 

What’s it like inside?

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Suzuki has updated the Swift’s interior in conjunction with a refreshed exterior look. It has a light-hearted nature to it, with several creative surface textures and bright colours on show, but hard scratchy plastics are still ever-present. It’s not a plush interior, but it’s comparable to the base-specifications of several Swift rivals – namely, the Toyota Yaris and the Vauxhall Corsa – despite the cheaper price tag.

You could argue that what the Swift lacks in plushness, it makes up for in tech. Even in Motion trim – the lower of the two on offer – the Swift includes a nine-inch infotainment display, heated front seats, a rear-view camera and wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto connectivity as standard. You even get heated front seats on all. It feels like a generous provision given the car’s sub-£20,000 price tag, and just about enough to offset some of the interior’s cheap feel.

The new Swift is still based on Suzuki’s HEARTECT platform and so its dimensions remain unchanged from the previous generation. Owing to the Swift’s boxy silhouette and relatively straight roofline, headroom is good from front to the rear. While not abundant, there’s enough room for four adult passengers to sit comfortably without their deepest thoughts scraping the cabin roof over every speedbump and pothole.

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Rear legroom is good for the class if not great in the grand scheme of things, and trying to get three across the rear bench will be a squeeze for shoulder room. It’s no surprise for the class, and the Swift still feels roomier than most other superminis. It might still be worth considering. a Skoda Fabia, though..

Safety

The new Suzuki Swift hasn’t been crash tested by Euro NCAP yet, but it’ll likely score similarly to the last generation model. As for the previous generation range, the base-level SZ-L model was awarded three stars while the mid-range SZ-T car was awarded a four-star safety rating for its increased safety kit, something that’s now standard across the board. We’ll update the safety score for the latest model when we have the relevant data.

Comfort

The front seats themselves feel as though they fulfil a basic purpose of keeping you upright and in place as you drive along – thrones of great luxury they are not. The fabric material feels akin to the type you often find in inexpensive cars like the Swift – utilitarian and coarse to the touch, but not unpleasant to look at.

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They’re adequately supportive, but the hard foam can lead to a numb bum after a while. That being said, the driving position is great, with ample adjustability and great all-round visibility.

What’s it like to drive?

The last Swift made up for some of its economy feel with a rewarding driving experience, offering cheap thrills with well-weighted steering and a slick gearbox. How does the new model stack up? Well, it’s very much the same story.

The Swift is available with just one engine – a new three-pot 1.2-litre mild hybrid engine that produces 83hp. That’s the same power output as the previous model, only it’s now more fuel-efficient and produces less CO2. Try as we might, we couldn’t get the average fuel economy below 50mpg during our testing.

With such few horsepower, the Swift doesn’t have the guts to push you back in your seat, but coupled with the car’s precise, short-throw manual gearbox and there’s a rewarding experience on offer all the same.

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For the less experience-conscious Swift owners, the car’s acceptable ride and light gearbox action will absolutely suffice for an easy daily driver. Alternatively,  a continuously variable transmission and a four-wheel drive system are available as options, though we didn’t get the chance to test them. When we do, we’ll report our findings back here.

As the car is still based on the same chassis as the previous generation, the old car’s neat and tidy handling characteristics have also been carried over. The suspension system of the new Swift has been adjusted to increase roll rigidity while for two-wheel drive models, the setup at the rear has been fettled with so the wheels can follow the road surface with greater ease.

Overall, the changes have worked. Coupled with the Swift’s low weight, it feels less leaden than the likes of the SEAT Ibiza. There’s an enjoyable chuckability and balance to the car that makes it a joy to drive hard despite a fair bit of body roll and not much power. We certainly look forward to the updated Swift Sport. The lightweight construction does have a downside – the Swift is not a fan of crosswinds.

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Which models and trims are available?

Suzuki has kept things simple with the new Swift’s trim range. It’s available either in Motion spec – the base-level trim – or Ultra, which adds a handful of extra features. As mentioned above, the Swift can also be specified with either the manual or an automatic gearbox, in two-wheel drive or with Suzuki’s ALLGRIP AWD system. Note that the latter is only available with a manual and in Ultra spec.

Starting from £18,699, a base-spec Motion trim car with a manual still feels like a lot for your money. Most of the car’s features come as standard in this trim, while Ultra adds automatic air conditioning, electrically folding door mirrors and just a handful of other components for an extra £1,100.

If you want a top of the range model in Ultra with a CVT, it’ll cost you £21,049, while an AllGrip Swift will set you back the same amount. However, before committing, read our verdict to see whether we’d recommend buying one over and above some of its very strong rivals.