Suzuki Swift Review (2018-2023)

What is the Suzuki Swift?

The Suzuki Swift nameplate reaches right the way back to 1983, making the Japanese company’s little hatchback only nine years younger than the VW Golf.

The Swift is now in its eighth generation, which launched in 2024. The seventh generation reviewed here was introduced in 2017 and updated in 2020, complete with a new range of mild hybrid powertrains.

How practical is it?

The Swift’s exterior design has been reminiscent in recent times of that bastion of hatchback-cool, the Mini. The current model still has the British car’s wheel-at-each-corner stance, but the Swift’s styling has grown busier over the years. What the Suzuki has never quite managed to do is match the Mini’s class-leading interior quality.

In the past the Swift has actually fallen a long way short in that regard, but this latest version closes the gap with improved materials and better switchgear, even if it's still no Volkswagen Polo for quality. It also now has a seating position that no longer mounts the driver uncomfortably high up in the cabin.

With a better cabin than earlier versions, a long list of standard equipment and better practicality that comes from roomier rear seats and more luggage space (it has a 265-litre boot), the Swift is a more pleasant and usable everyday car than ever before.

What's it like to drive?

Since the 2020 overhaul, all versions of the Swift feature mild hybrid powertrains or, as the company calls it, Smart Hybrid Vehicle by Suzuki (SHVS). These hybrids systems are very modest (they add only 10kg to the weight of the car) and their batteries and motors are not substantial enough to give the Swift any electric-only range. However, they do help to reduce fuel consumption and cut CO2 emissions by taking some of the strain away from the engine during fuel-intensive phases of driving, such as pulling away from a standstill or hard acceleration.

The battery is located beneath the driver’s seat while the motor doubles up as the engine’s starter motor (Suzuki labels it Integrated Starter Generator). The motor can also be inverted while the car slows down to generate electricity, which is stored in the small battery and in turn used to power the motor. The point of SHVS is to improve efficiency and reduce emissions, and on average, these hybrid Swifts are 11 per cleaner than their non-hybrid predecessors. It's a neat system, and while it doesn't transform the Swift into a proper hybrid that can run in EV-only mode, you can feel an extra push of power from the mild hybrid when pulling away.

Elsewhere, the Swift has the kind of driving dynamics that make you always want to take the long route home. The manual gearbox has a snappy and precise action, the steering is quick to respond, and the chassis hangs on tenaciously through corners. A Ford Fiesta might still just have the edge for driving run, but the little Swift gives it a good run for its money.

Technology, equipment & infotainment

The interior of the latest Swift is a step up from any of its precedecessors for design and quality, albeit still not a match for cars such as the Mazda2, Peugeot 208 or Ford Fiesta. For that you can blame the sea of hard, scratchy plastics.

The Swift is, however, well equipped. To begin with, the SZ3 was the entry-level model, but even this one comes with air conditioning and Bluetooth. That SZ3 was later named SZ-L, while in the middle of the range is the bestselling SZ-T trim. This adds a reversing camera and Apple CarPlay/Android Auto on to the SZ3's specification. After that you’ll find the limited edition Swift Attitude, which is based on the SZ-T but comes with sportier body styling. The SZ5 is the range-topper (save for the Suzuki Swift Sport Hybrid hot hatch) and it comes with climate control, satnav and keyless start, on top of the SZ-T’s refinements.

Suzuki Swift running costs

Good news – Swifts have good fuel economy and are not at all costly to keep on the road. That means running costs are very reasonable indeed and in keeping with the Swift’s ultra-competitive purchase price…but with one exception.

Thanks in part to their mild hybrid systems, all Swifts sip fuel parsimoniously. Even the Swift Sport Hybrid returns more than 50mpg on the combined cycle, although if you use all of its performance regularly you’ll see something closer to 40mpg, if not even less than that. The most fuel efficient variants officially return close to 60 mpg. It’s worth noting here that when fitted with the six-speed automatic gearbox rather than the standard five-speed manual (it’s only an option on the SZ5 model), fuel efficiency does drop by around 10 per cent.

A full set of tyres will set you back no more than £250, while Vehicle Excise Duty will typically cost around £150 per year, although it does vary slightly depending on model. However, insurance can cost a surprisingly large amount because Swifts range from insurance group 22 to 35 for the Swift Sport Hybrid (out of 50). It’s therefore very important to check the cost of insurance before committing to buying a Swift, especially if you're one of the young drivers who will find its style, affordability and fun-factor really appealing.

Like most car manufacturers, Suzuki offers payment plans so that owners can spread the cost of servicing over time. The scheme is open to most models up to six years old. The company recommends annual servicing as a minimum and the payment plan means owners can chip away at the cost of servicing each month, rather than face one larger bill each year.

Suzuki Swift reliability

All new Suzukis are covered by three-year/60,000-mile warranties. They also get 12 months roadside assistance via the AA, which covers the UK and Europe. Meanwhile, the Swift is guaranteed against corrosion for a full 12 years. Ford offers comparable warranty cover on its own small hatchback, the Fiesta. In 2023, Suzuki introduced its 'service activated warranty', which means that provided owners continue to use a Suzuki dealer for servicing the company will top up the warranty each year to a total of seven years or 100,000 miles.

Suzuki’s cars are known to be very reliable and the company tends to perform very well in surveys that assess reliability and owner satisfaction. Accordingly, the Swift has earned itself a reputation for being tough and dependable, despite its entry-level price point.

There are very few commonly occurring issues that would-be Swift buyers should be aware of. Some owners have complained about thin paint and cracking windscreens, but these appear to be isolated incidents. A recall was issued for cars built between February 2017 and February 2019. Slamming a rear door shut very heavily could lead to the ‘unintended activation’ of the side and curtain airbags. A simple software upgrade rectifies the problem. If you’re considering a used car built during this period, ask to see proof of this recall work having been carried out.

A decade or so ago the Swift Sport used an uncommonly exotic engine that needed very careful maintenance. That’s no longer the case with the current hybridised model, but with regard to this hot hatch variant in particular, you will want to know that any second-hand examples have been serviced per Suzuki’s guidelines and cared for properly. After all, they tend to get driven rather enthusiastically.