Introduced in 2000 as the Suzuki Ignis, the Swift was redesigned in 2004 and again in 2010 when the familiar third-generation model was launched. In 2017, the Swift passed into its fourth generation and received the company’s brand-new design language, which debuted on the Baleno hatchback. The redesigned Swift was launched in Japan in late December 2016 and made its European debut at the 2017 Geneva Motor Show.

Much like the Baleno, the new Swift is a big step forward in terms of styling. Unlike the third-gen car, which was a mildly revised version of the second-gen model, the new Swift boasts a new design language. In short, Suzuki finally dropped the styling cues it introduced all the way back in 2004 and moved the hatchback into the 21st century design-wise. The new Swift also rides on new underpinnings. Shared with the Baleno, the platform is about 15 percent lighter and increases body rigidity by about ten percent. The new platform should provide better driving dynamics and help the hatchback return improved fuel economy, a decisive factor in this highly contested niche.

Continue reading to learn more about the 2017 Suzuki Swift.

2017 Suzuki Swift

Specifications
  • Make: Array
  • Model: 2017 Suzuki Swift
  • [do not use] Vehicle Model: Array
Pros
Cons

Exterior

As previewed by our spy shot-based rendering -- which turned out to be pretty accurate -- the new Swift retains the shape and size of the outgoing model, but brings fresh, modern details and a sportier stance to the table. The first detail that catches the eye is the new headlamp design. Not only smaller than the previous model, the new light units also have a more angular shape similar to the Baleno’s. The grille is also new, now featuring a hexagonal shape that is wider than the previous unit. As a result, the lower grille is much thinner, acting as transition between the redesigned foglamp housings, which are mounted in deeper openings in the bumper. Suzuki also redesigned the engine hood. While the previous element extended across the nose to the grille, the new panel ends a few inches above.

The photos also reveal two different grille designs. While some models have vertical slats, others have an upper honeycomb mesh section and a red stripe. This suggests that Suzuki offers a sportier looking trim.

Around back, Suzuki ditched the curved design of the previous taillights in favor of a more angular shape as seen on the Baleno. However, while the latter comes with a hockey stick-like pattern, the Swift has a C-shaped LED layout around the stop, reverse, and turn signal lights. The redesigned taillights also made way for a new tailgate, which is now wider at the bottom, thus allowing larger items to be loaded easier into the trunk. Another big change compared to the outgoing model is the bumper, which now includes the license plate recess, previously seen on the tailgate. The bumper also has a sportier design and a diffuser like element with a Formula One-style red light in the middle.

More changes are visible from the side. Although the overall shape and proportions are similar, the new Swift stands out by means of a slightly lower roofline, a more muscular beltline over the wheel arches (which are also beefier), a feature borrowed from the Baleno, and a revised character line above the side skirts. The previous Swift's blacked-out pillars have been retained for a floating roof design, but the C-pillar now incorporates the rear door handle.

Overall, the new Swift is more modern, sportier, and I'd say cuter than the outgoing model.

COMPETING DESIGNS

One of the most popular offerings in this niche, the Volkswagen Polo (left) was redesigned most recently in 2017. The German hatchback was actually eight years old when the Swift arrived, but the new Polo arrived only a few months later. The new design is as evolutionary as Germans cars get, with the overall styling being rather familiar when compared to the previous Polo. That's not to say that it doesn't feel modern, but the Swift feels like a complete overhaul by comparison. And while it boasts a solid premium feel compared to the outgoing Swift, the current Polo doesn’t shine that much compared to the redesigned Suzuki.

Moving over to the Fiesta (right), Ford's little hatchback is fresh off the drawing board, having been launched as a redesigned model for the 2017 model year. Although the differences aren't exactly wild compared to the outgoing version, the new hatchback looks fresh and a bit exotic due to its redesigned grille, three-piece front bumper and squared off rear end. Unlike the previous model, the new Fiesta features horizontal taillights, which set it apart from the Focus and make it more similar to the larger Fusion (Mondeo in Europe).. All told, design is really a matter of taste, but in this niche it's usually also a matter of badge. In the past, drivers had to make a compromise and go with the less appealing Swift in order to get a more affordable car, but this is no longer the case. The Swift looks modern and sporty and has everything it takes to give its rivals a run for their money styling-wise.

Volkswagen Polo

Ford Fiesta

Suzuki Swift

Wheelbase (Inches)

100.94

98.0

96.45

Length (Inches)

159.56

159.7

151.18

Width (Inches)

68.93

67.8

68.30

Height (Inches)

56.92

58.1

58.85

Track front/rear (Inches)

59.01/58.42

57.7/57.0

59.84/60.03


Interior

The interior was redesigned from the ground up, featuring a new dashboard with a V-shaped layout and revised A/C vents. Below we can spot the biggest change inside the cabin, with a seven-inch touchscreen replacing the radio unit and numerous buttons and knobs in the old model. The HVAC control area just above the center console is also new, now including modern buttons with new graphics.

The instrument cluster is a massive improvement, now featuring separate covers for the speedo and rev counter and a new digital display in the center. The steering wheel has a round center section with chrome detailing, controls on both side spokes, sporty grip areas, and a flat-bottom lower section. Granted, this steering wheel is likely offered with the performance-oriented version only and it’s an option on more expensive trims, but I have to give Suzuki credit for stepping into the 21st century.

Standard equipment for all models in the range is comprehensive and the SZ3 model includes six airbags, air conditioning, leather steering wheel, DAB radio with Bluetooth and four speakers, and rear privacy glass. The SZ-T model adds a rear view camera and Smartphone link display audio, while the SZ5 version comes with auto air conditioning, satellite navigation, Advanced forward detection system, keyless entry and start, and rear electric windows.

The new Swift SZ5 is also Suzuki’s first car using an advanced forward detection system that combines a monocular camera and a laser sensor for advanced safety functions, including autonomous emergency braking, lane departure warning and high beam assist. It also uses millimeter-wave radar to enable adaptive cruise control. The advanced forward detection system monocular camera provides mid to long distance detection and also recognition of traffic elements including pedestrians and lane markers.

The SZ5 model is also equipped with a 4.2-inch high-definition colour LCD display that shows a range of data including engine output and torque, fuel consumption, average speed, acceleration, and brake operation. For the SHVS model an energy flow diagram is also included. Additionally, the audio system for both SZ-T and SZ5 models has a Smartphone Linkage Display Audio that enables intuitive operation and can also be used when wearing gloves. A three dimensional navigation map makes landmarks easy to distinguish.

Equipment aside, Suzuki also repackaged most of the interior, lowering the seating positions to ensure sufficient head clearance and added 23mm (0.9 inches) vertical and lateral space for the rear seating positions. The front seats have been moved outwards by 10mm (0.4 inches), which has increased the centre-on-centre distance between them by 20mm (0.8 inches). The 20mm longer wheelbase also created more legroom for rear passengers, as well as 25-percent more luggage capacity. The new Swift can take up to 254 liters (nine cubic feet) of luggage room, which accounts for an additional 54 liters (1.9 cubic feet) compared to the outgoing model.

THE COMPETITION

While the Polo feels somewhat mundane on the outside, the interior of the redesigned model plays in a completely superior league. Cleaner and more modern, the new cabin also has that high-tech look that many automakers are gunning for these days. And to find such an upscale look in a such a small, yet still affordable car is a fantastic thing. What's more, it's not just about the looks. The Polo actually is a high-tech hatchback, featuring the second-generation of Volkswagen's Active Info Display and features like Front Assist area monitoring, City Emergency Braking, and Pedestrian Monitoring as standard. It's also among the roomiest vehicles in this class.

Moving over to the Fiesta (right), it can brag about several improvements and a neat interior that can be ordered in a variety of colors and a solid technology package. It comes with a revised infotainment system, a new 4.2-inch TFT instrument cluster, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and 50-percent fewer buttons for a cleaner look. Not as fancy as the Polo, but on par with the Swift in terms of design and a bit superior in certain tech areas.

Volkswagen Polo

Ford Fiesta

Suzuki Swift

Headroom front/rear (inches)

38.34/37.12

39.1/37.2 (est.)

TBA

Legroom front/rear (inches)

41.02/32.44

43.6/31.2 (est.)

TBA

Shoulder room front/rear (inches)

54.56/54.48

52.7/49 (est.)

TBA


Drivetrain

The outgoing Swift was available with two gasoline engines in most European markets and this didn't change with the new-generation hatchback. The compact now uses a revised version of the 1.2-liter Dualjet four-cylinder engine, which cranks out 89 horsepower and 120 Nm (89 pound-feet) of torque, just like in the Baleno. That’s slightly less than the previous engine, but performance should remain similar given the lighter, sportier platform. The mild hybrid SHVS system based on the same powerplant is offered too.

If you're not familiar with the system, it incorporates an Integrated Starter Generator (known as ISG) which acts as both a generator and starter motor. The ISG is belt driven and assists the engine during vehicle take off and acceleration and also generates electricity through regenerative braking. The energy assistance provided during acceleration enables the SHVS to work as a mild hybrid system.

The second engine choice is the recently launched 1.0-liter Boosterjet. The turbocharged three-cylinder unit is rated at 109 horsepower and 170 Nm (125 pound-feet) of twist and comes standard in the more expensive trims. For the first time, the Boosterjet can be had with the SHVS hybrid system.

Transmission-wise, look for a standard five-speed for the 1.2-liter, an optional CVT, and a new six-speed automatic for the 1.0-liter turbo.

The new Swift also adopts Suzuki’s ALLGRIP AUTO four-wheel drive system, which is available as an option on the SZ5 model with the 1.2-litre engine. First introduced in the previous generation Swift in 2014, the permanent four-wheel drive layout transfers additional torque to the rear wheels when required via a viscous coupling.

Suzuki is also offering a Sport version with enhanced, more aggressive looks and a more powerful engine. This hatchback gets its juice from a 1.4-liter Boosterjet engine rated at 138 horsepower and 170 pound-feet of twist.

Suzuki Swift 1.2

Suzuki Swift 1.0

Engine

1.2-litre four cylinder Dualjet

1.0-litre three cylinder Boosterjet turbo

Horsepower

89 HP

109 HP

Torque

89 LB-FT

125 LB-FT

Transmission

five-speed manual

six-speed automatic

CO2 emissions

98g/km

104g/km

Fuel economy

65.7mpg

61.4mpg


COMPETING PERFORMANCE

Drivetrain-wise, both the Polo and Fiesta come with plenty of options to choose from. The Polo range includes no fewer than eight engines besides the beefed-up GTi. The gasoline lineup begins with the 1.0-liter MPI, which is available with either 64 or 74 horsepower. The 1.0-liter TSI brings more power under the hood at 94 and 113 horses. The range-topping model uses a 1.5-liter TSI that's good for 148 horsepower. As far as diesels go, the 1.6-liter TDI cranks out 79 and 94 horsepower, but there's also a natural gas 1.0-liter that delivers 89 horses and enhanced fuel economy.

A similar diversity comes with the Fiesta, even though the hatchback was recently redesigned and some of the engines updated. The lineup starts off with a 1.0-liter three-pot good for either 98, 123, or 138 horsepower. Previously not available with a diesel rated at more than 100 horses, the new Fiesta benefits from a redesigned 1.5-liter four-cylinder that delivers 118 horsepower. Naturally, Ford also offers an 82-horsepower version of the same engine, while the brand-new 1.1-liter gasoline mill can be had with either 69 or 83 horses. The 1.0-liter can be had with a six-speed manual transmission or a six-speed automatic. The diesel is only available with the six-speed manual, and the 1.1-liter engine gets a new five-speed manual gearbox.

Volkswagen Polo

Volkswagen Polo S

Volkswagen Polo Match

Volkswagen Polo Match

Volkswagen Polo BlueMotion

Volkswagen Polo R-Line

Volkswagen Polo BlueGT

Engine

1.0-liter Bluemotion

1.4 TDI BlueMotion

1.2 TSI BlueMotion

1.0-liter Bluemotion

1.0-liter Bluemotion

1.4 TSI BlueMotion

Horsepower

59 HP @ 5,000 RPM

73 HP @ 3,000 RPM

88 HP @ 4,800 RPM

93 HP @ 5,000 RPM

108 HP @ 5,500 RPM

147 HP @ 5,000 RPM

Torque

70 LB-FT @ 3,000 RPM

155 LB-FT @ 1,500 RPM

118 LB-FT @ 1,400 RPM

118 LB-FT @ 1,500 RPM

147 LB-FT @ 3,500 RPM

185 LB-FT @ 1,500 RPM

Transmission

5-speed manual

5-speed manual

5-speed manual

5-speed manual

6-speed manual

6-speed manual

Engine

15.5 seconds

12.9 seconds

10.8 seconds

10.5 seconds

9.3 seconds

7.8 seconds

Horsepower

100 mph

107 mph

114 mph

119 mph

122 mph

137 mph

Torque

2,325 Lbs

2,539 Lbs

2,440 Lbs

2,449 Lbs

2,502 Lbs

2,698 Lbs


Ford Fiesta

Ford Fiesta 1.1

Ford Fiesta 1.1

Ford Fiesta 1.0

Ford Fiesta 1.0

Ford Fiesta 1.0

Ford Fiesta 1.5

Ford Fiesta 1.5

Engine

1.1 liter three-cylinder

1.1 liter three-cylinder

1.0-litreEcoBoost

1.0-litreEcoBoost

1.0-litreEcoBoost

1.5-litre TDCi

1.5-litre TDCi

Horsepower

69 HP

83 HP

98 HP

123 HP

138 HP

83 HP

118 HP

Torque

TBA

TBA

TBA

TBA

TBA

TBA

TBA

Transmission

5-speed manual

5-speed manual

6-speed manual

6-speed manual

6-speed manual

6-speed manual

6-speed manual

Engine

TBA

TBA

TBA

TBA

TBA

TBA

TBA

Horsepower

TBA

TBA

TBA

TBA

TBA

TBA

TBA

Torque

TBA

TBA

TBA

TBA

TBA

TBA

TBA


Prices

Pricing for the new Suzuki Swift starts from £10,999, a significant increase over the outgoing model, which was priced from £8,999. The range-topping SZ5 trim retails from £14,499, while the Sport model should fetch at least £17,000 before options.

COMPETING PRICES

Up until now, the Suzuki Swift was among the most affordable vehicles in its class, being significantly less expensive than the Polo and the Ford. The German hatchback, for instance, retails from £11,830 in base trim and can fetch £18,440 in its most expensive version. The GTi tops the lineup at £19,430. Pricing for the new Polo is not yet available, but it should increase with the redesign and the new features. The new Fiesta has a pricier starting point, retailing from £12,715. The range-topping Vignale comes in at £19,345 before options.

Other Competitors

Honda Jazz

Also known as the Fit in North America and Japan, the Jazz is a relatively new nameplate on the market, being launched in 2001. The third-generation model was introduced in 2013 with heavily revised styling, a new interior with Honda's Magic Seats, and various four-cylinder gasoline and diesel engines. In Europe, however, most markets only get the 1.3-liter gasoline four-banger that cranks out 101 horsepower 91 pound-feet of torque. It mates to either a six-speed manual or seven-speed semi-automatic and returns up to 61.4 mpg on the British cycle. Pricing starts from £13,495, which makes it one of the most expensive superiminis on the market, but the Jazz comes with numerous standard features, including Idle Stop, cruise control with speed limiter, Magic Seats, front and rear parking sensors, and a rear-view camera.

Find out more about the Honda Jazz here.

Suzuki Baleno

While it may seem ludicrous to compare two cars from the same automaker, the Baleno is actually very similar to the Swift as far as dimensions go. The hatchback was actually specifically designed to go against the Polo and the Fiesta, with the Swift to sit above it with a bit more room inside, but the differences between them -- apart from styling of course -- aren't that big. A brand-new nameplate that debuted in late 2015, the Baleno was previewed by the IK-2 concept and wears a new take on the Suzuki grille as well as a sportier profile with a coupe-like roof. The interior design is entirely different from the Swift, but the technology is almost identical. Under the hood, the Baleno comes with either the 1.2-liter Dualijet rated at 89 horsepower and 89 pound-feet or the 1.0-liter turbo Boosterjet with 109 horses and 125 pound-feet. Pricing for the Baleno starts from £13,249, which should make it more expensive than the Swift.

Learn more about the Suzuki Baleno here.

Conclusion

The Suzuki Swift has always been one of the underdogs of the supermini segment and that's not likely to change anytime soon. But, despite not being a massive success compared to the Volkswagen Polo or Ford Fiesta, the Japanese hatch has been praised for its excellent value for the buck, sharp handling, and peppy performance of the Sport model. Ditching the hard interior plastics and enhancing cabin and trunk practicality is a good new start for the Swift in this highly competitive niche, not to mention that the exterior design looks way better and it's sportier that the outgoing car and in some cases even the competition.

Spy Shots

March 30, 2016 - First testing session


Rendering