Skip advert
Advertisement

Suzuki Swift (2017-2024) - Engines, performance and drive

Lightweight and reasonably agile, the Swift is decent to drive but ride quality isn't great

Engines, performance and drive rating

3.8

How we review cars
RRP
£19,514 £21,844
Avg. savings
£600 off RRP*
Find your Suzuki Swift
Compare deals from trusted partners on this car and previous models.
Or are you looking to sell your car?
Value my car
Fast, no-nonsense car selling
Value my car

This is an archived review of the 2017-2024 Suzuki Swift. If you are interested in information about the engines in the latest Suzuki Swift, or news about the latest Suzuki models, please follow the links provided.

The Swift features some very trick construction that means it’s just about the lightest car in the supermini class, with even the SZ5 4x4 model weighing less than 1000kg - a minor miracle in this day and age. The 82bhp offered by the 1.2-litre Dualjet motor sounds small by modern standards, but the Swift's light weight means that it still feels enthusiastic, while working the slick and smooth five-speed manual gearbox gets the best out of the engine.

Advertisement - Article continues below

The rest of the basics feel sound enough. The steering doesn’t do an amazing job of communicating what the front wheels are doing but it’s nicely weighted and consistent, making it relatively easy to place the Swift in corners. The five-speed manual gearbox has a pleasingly short throw and is happy enough to shift quickly, too.

That lack of mass means the Swift feels pretty agile, too – not as crisp as the Ford Fiesta, certainly, but a match for just about anything else. The car is happy to change direction quickly and it stays admirably flat in corners. Unique to the class is the AllGrip all-wheel drive system available on SZ5 models, which offers extra traction and security. While its cheap and rugged enough to do a decent job off-road, it offers only limited appeal to buyers.

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement - Article continues below

Used - available now

Swift

2021 Suzuki

Swift

17,492 milesManualPetrol1.2L

Cash £11,600
View Swift
Swift

2019 Suzuki

Swift

11,291 milesManualPetrol1.0L

Cash £10,400
View Swift
Swift

2019 Suzuki

Swift

5,470 milesManualPetrol1.2L

Cash £11,135
View Swift
Swift

2019 Suzuki

Swift

27,312 milesManualPetrol1.0L

Cash £9,600
View Swift

Ride quality is the trade-off for this agility; Suzuki’s engineers reportedly spent time developing the Swift on UK roads, but it hasn’t quite paid off. In the most part it stays composed, but over broken surfaces – precisely the sort of bumps and potholes that are common on British B-roads, in fact – it gets a bit unsettled. In particular, passengers in the rear are likely to complain about being bounced around - a result of the car’s relatively simple torsion-beam rear suspension set-up and low weight.

Mild-hybrid tech for the 1.2-litre engine uses a lithium-ion battery under the front passenger seat that harnesses braking energy and then uses it to power a small integrated starter generator. This, in turn, helps the petrol engine when you’re accelerating, but the goal is efficiency rather than performance, so it never feels like an extra surge of pace. Indeed, if anything, it’s impressively well integrated.

The hot Swift Sport has a decent breadth of talents, with a punchy engine and direct steering, but it's undone by handling that plays it too safe; as a result, other hot hatches are more exciting to drive.

Engines, 0-60 acceleration and top speed

The 1.2 Dualjet petrol unit produces 82bhp and 107Nm of torque. Opting for the four-wheel-drive set-up of the SZ5 model brings the slowest 0-62mph time in the range at 13.8 seconds, while the front-wheel-drive car trims this time to 13.1 seconds - both use a five-speed manual gearbox. The CVT auto versions are capable of the same sprint in 12.2 seconds.

The Swift Sport offers 127bhp from its 1.4-litre turbocharged engine. This doesn't sound like much but, given the Swift's low weight, and the engine's decent 235Nm of torque, it's satisfyingly brisk when shooting out of corners. 0-62mph is dispatched in 9.1 seconds, with a top speed of 130mph.

Skip advert
Advertisement

Which Is Best

Cheapest

  • Name
    1.2 Mild Hybrid Motion 5dr
  • Gearbox type
    Manual
  • RRP
    £19,514
Select car

Most Economical

  • Name
    1.2 Mild Hybrid Motion 5dr
  • Gearbox type
    Manual
  • RRP
    £19,514
Select car

Fastest

  • Name
    1.2 Mild Hybrid Motion 5dr CVT
  • Gearbox type
    Auto
  • RRP
    £20,744
Select car

New & used car deals

Suzuki Swift

Suzuki Swift

RRP £19,699Avg. savings £600 off RRP*Used from £6,795
Mazda 2

Mazda 2

RRP £16,505Used from £10,564
MG MG3

MG MG3

RRP £16,995Avg. savings £1,433 off RRP*Used from £7,100
KIA Picanto

KIA Picanto

RRP £10,335Avg. savings £1,343 off RRP*Used from £6,195
* Average savings are calculated daily based on the best dealer prices on Auto Express vs manufacturer RRP
Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

New Kia PV5 Passenger MPV undercuts the VW ID.Buzz by a huge £25k
Kia PV5 Passenger - show front

New Kia PV5 Passenger MPV undercuts the VW ID.Buzz by a huge £25k

New entry into the electric people carrier market undercuts the VW ID. Buzz by a significant margin
News
29 Apr 2025
Car Deal of the Day: BMW’s ultimate luxury SUV at an unusually low price
BMW X7 - front

Car Deal of the Day: BMW’s ultimate luxury SUV at an unusually low price

German firm’s flagship SUV could never be called cheap but it is exceptional value at £735 a month – making it our Deal of the Day for Sunday 27 April
News
27 Apr 2025
New 2025 Kia PV5 van starts from a tempting £22,645
Kia PV5 Cargo on display at Commercial Vehicle Show - front 3/4

New 2025 Kia PV5 van starts from a tempting £22,645

All-new entry into the van market promises competitive pricing and comes with a range of up to 247 miles
News
30 Apr 2025