Used Suzuki Swift (Mk7 2017-2024) evaluate: a enjoyable, however expensive supermini

Verdict

The Suzuki Swift is a likeable automobile and it’s one which we wouldn’t essentially steer you away from, however whereas it presents fairly a bit in isolation, whenever you examine it with its extra apparent rivals it’s on shaky floor. As a brand new purchase the Swift is affordable worth, however as a used buy it could look fairly costly, relying on which mannequin and spec you’re concerned with shopping for. The Sport is a very enjoyable heat hatch, but it surely’s no class chief, whereas all Swifts will most likely frustrate when you’re intent on doing a lot of long-distance motorway journeys. Should you do purchase one, hold it for extra native journeys or rural driving the place you’ll be capable to recognize the perky engines and brilliantly set-up chassis, together with the compact dimensions that make parking a breeze.

Suzuki lately unveiled an all-new Swift and it’s an extremely necessary automobile for the model as a result of it sits in a really aggressive and crowded section. With the earlier generations notching up 9 million gross sales to date internationally (throughout eight generations globally), we’re anticipating massive issues of the brand new mannequin, not least as a result of the outgoing automobile is a really likeable supermini in some ways.

However vehicles on this class as we speak need to be very nicely rounded, with a variety of abilities, so the large query is whether or not the present model has what it takes to compete in a big pool of excellent contenders.

Historical past

Globally there have been eight generations of Swift, together with the all-new mannequin that’s due in 2024. Nonetheless, the variant lined right here is the Mk4 within the UK, and it reached dealerships in June 2017 in five-door hatchback kind solely. Consumers may select between 89bhp 1.2-litre non-turbo three-cylinder and 110bhp turbocharged 1.0-litre three-cylinder petrol engines, dubbed Dualjet and Boosterjet respectively.

The Boosterjet unit was additionally accessible with mild-hybrid tech, known as SHVS, which was shorthand for Good Hybrid Car by Suzuki. A full of life 138bhp 1.4-litre Swift Sport joined the vary in June 2018, and from spring 2020 this featured hybrid expertise to chop gas consumption and CO2 emissions.

Suzuki facelifted the Swift on the finish of 2020, with up to date styling for the entrance, and additional customary tools for every trim stage specializing in enhanced security equipment.

Which one ought to I purchase?

The 1.2 Dualjet engine feels a bit lacklustre in contrast with the turbocharged 1.0-litre, and it got here solely in entry-level SZ3 (later renamed SZ-L) guise. We’d go for a 1.0 Boosterjet engine, in mid-range SZ-T or range-topping SZ5 types. However essentially the most enjoyable Swift of all is the 1.4 Sport, which is an entertaining heat hatchback.

SZ3 trim comes with plastic wheel trims, a DAB radio, Bluetooth, air-con, privateness glass and electrical entrance home windows, whereas the SZ-T provides a rear parking digital camera, smartphone hyperlink and 16-inch alloy wheels. The SZ5 provides navigation, local weather management, LED headlights, adaptive cruise management, keyless entry plus auto emergency braking and lane-departure warning. The Sport will get 17-inch alloys, twin exhausts and aspect skirts; the Angle particular version featured beauty modifications solely, with no additional customary tools.

Alternate options to the Suzuki Swift

For the previous 4 years the Ford Fiesta has received the Greatest Used Supermini gong in our annual awards; earlier than that it was the SEAT Ibiza that took gold. Each make for compelling second-hand buys which might be extra convincing than the Suzuki, and the identical goes for the Skoda Fabia, which is intently associated to the SEAT. The Hyundai i20 and Kia Rio are cousins which might be additionally tempting, and so is the Citroen C3, though that automobile was crushed by the Swift in a 2021 twin check.

The section wouldn’t be full with out the Vauxhall Corsa or Peugeot 208 with which it shares its platform, whereas the Toyota Yaris is one other sturdy contender on this class. We’d additionally urge you to consider the Renault Clio and Mazda 2.

What to search for

4×4

Unusually for this section, Suzuki supplied 4WD with the 1.2 Dualjet engine. It got here in manual-gearbox SZ5 kind solely.

Gearboxes

The 1.0 and 1.2-litre engines had been each accessible with an automated transmission and with a alternative of SZ-T or SZ5 trims.

Wheels

Some Swifts have diamond-cut alloy wheels that may corrode as soon as the lacquer has been attacked by cleansing chemical compounds or street salt.

Connectivity

Android Auto and Apple CarPlay can disconnect at random instances. Software program updates and utilizing totally different smartphones will help.

Reliability

Suzuki usually doesn’t rating very nicely in our manufacturers survey when it seems, maybe as a result of extra mainstream rivals could also be higher all-rounders. However Suzuki does rating nicely for dependability, which helps to trim operating prices.

Inside

One of the important thing areas during which superminis have come on in leaps and bounds in recent times is inside design and high quality. This Swift is a lot better than earlier than, however it could’t compete with extra apparent rivals as a consequence of its low cost plastics in locations and switchgear that doesn’t really feel as sturdy.

Cabin house is okay, though if there are tall individuals within the entrance, adults within the rear will complain of a scarcity of legroom. There are seatbelts for 5. Boot house additionally trails the category common, at 264 litres with the again seats in use, or 579 litres with them folded down. This may very well be considered unfavourably by some individuals, however the boot stays sensible and straightforward to entry.

Costs

There’s no scarcity of Swift Mk7s to purchase, however they’re costly. There are many automatics on the market, whereas four-wheel-drive editions are very uncommon. The entry-level SZ3 is the rarest trim of all, which isn’t any unhealthy factor; commonest is the SZ5.

To examine costs on a particular mannequin head over to our valuation device.

Working prices

All Swifts must be serviced each 12 months or 12,500 miles, with upkeep alternating between Minor and Main, priced at £202 and £333 respectively. There’s a giant service costing £450 due in yr six, or at 75,000 miles, when all the filters and drive belts must be changed. That doesn’t embrace a cambelt, as a result of all Swift engines are chain pushed.

The brake fluid must be changed each different yr and the coolant must be renewed after eight years or 90,000 miles, however in each circumstances the price of that is constructed into the service. The usual guarantee that comes with a brand new Swift is for 3 years or 60,000 miles, however house owners can lengthen this cowl as much as as a lot as seven years or 100,000 miles at additional value.

Remembers

Suzuki has a reasonably good observe document in the case of issuing remembers, so it comes as no shock that the Mk7 Swift has been the topic of simply two campaigns to date.

The primary was issued in June 2019 and it solely concerned the Swift, however greater than 22,000 vehicles had been affected, from the beginning of manufacturing as much as February 2019.

The issue centred on aspect airbags and seatbelt pretensioners activating after they shouldn’t; a software program replace was required to place issues proper.

Recall two got here in December 2022 and affected 71,508 Swift, Baleno, Vitara and S-Cross fashions. Some vehicles constructed between October 2017 and June 2019 had been fitted with defective brake servos, which may result in the brake help failing, however not the brakes altogether. The repair was to suit a brand new valve within the servo.

Driver Energy proprietor satisfaction

The Swift hasn’t appeared in any Driver Energy surveys, and, other than the Vitara, the model hardly ever exhibits up. The Vitara tends to get mid-table scores; in recent times it has peaked in forty sixth place and dropped as little as 54th. Suzuki got here twenty eighth within the 2022 manufacturers survey and managed solely twenty sixth in 2023. First place for worth and seventh for operating prices had been spectacular, however the general high quality obtained a thumbs down.

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