Maruti Swift Review

The Maruti Swift is a popular hatchback, and also one of the highest selling cars in the Indian market. Back in 2005, Maruti Suzuki launched the very first generation model of the Swift. Later in 2011, the second generation of the Swift was launched. Maruti launched the third generation of the Swift at the 2018 Auto Expo, and the facelift version of the third generation Swift is going to be launched in India later this year.

Pros – Design, Peppy Engine, Fun To Drive, Excellent Fuel Efficiency, Reliability

Cons – No Diesel Engine, Small Boot, Limited Rear Space, Build Quality

Maruti Swift Design

The third generation of the Swift got significant updates in terms of design from its predecessor models. What’s unmistakable about its looks is that the Swift’s young and lively vibe is unblemished. The Swift gets a sleeker bumper and multi slat grill which matches the personality of the car. It also gets LED DRLs and LED lights all around the vehicle. It also gets 15-inch wheels, and the rear door handles have been flushed into the C-pillar. The pillars of the car have been blackened out, which kind of give it a floating roof appeal.

Maruti Swift Interior

The Maruti Swift comes equipped with a 7.0-inch touchscreen, which the automaker likes to call SmartPlay. It supports Navigation, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Voice Commands, Bluetooth, USB & AUX connectivity, steering-mounted controls and it also has a Remote Control function through the SmartPlay Studio app. Additionally, the Swift also gets automatic climate control, keyless-go with push button start, auto headlamps, electrically adjustable and folding ORVMs, reverse parking camera, reverse parking sensors, LED projector headlamps. The Swift gets a flat-bottom steering wheel.

Maruti Swift Space

The most recent Swift can show up somewhat large than its forerunner models, yet changes in measurements aren’t too much. The latest avatar of the Swift is broader by 40 mm, and the wheelbase likewise expanded by 20 mm, which creates 17 mm more legroom. The front seats are remarkably comfortable and, they give excellent support for the back, shoulder & lumbar. Rear space was one of the shortcomings of the previous generation of the Swift, and that is present in this generation as well.

Maruti Swift Engine Performance

The Maruti Swift is offered with a single-engine option that is a 1.2-litre, K12M, 4-cylinder petrol engine which churns out 82 HP at 6000 RPM and a torque output of 113 Nm at 4200 RPM. This engine comes mated to either a 5-speed manual or an AMT gearbox. The engine feels very peppy at low speeds and gets better and better when you wind it. The refinement levels of this engine, in general, are excellent, and the NVH is also well contained. The clutch feels on the lighter side, and the gear shifts are smooth. The AMT also works well and is well-tuned. The shift responses are quick, and it understands the throttle input well. Only if you hit the gas pedal hard, the gearbox will take its own sweet time to shift. The simple way to overcome this lag is to slot the gearbox into manual mode and take control of the gears.

Maruti Swift Mileage

The BS6 Maruti Swift has an ARAI rated fuel efficiency of 21.21 km/l. The figure is the same for both manual and AMT variants. However, in the real world conditions, it will return around 12-14 km/l in city traffic conditions and 15-19 km/l out on the highways. Fuel efficiency also depends upon the style of driving and traffic conditions.

Maruti Swift Handling

Being fun to drive is a characteristic of the Maruti Swift. The steering feels light and precise. However, on the highways, some more feedback from the steering would’ve been appreciated. The Swift is based on the Heartect platform which also underpins various other Maruti cars. The weight of the car has been reduced by 110 kgs over the previous generation of the model.

Maruti Swift Comfort

The suspension is tuned on the stiffer side but it isn’t very stiff. In terms of ride quality, the Swift has progressed well. There is some amount of movement present at low speed but, it absorbs the bumps and bad patches of the road quite well. As the speeds increase, the ride quality becomes smoother, and there is no discomfort as such.

Maruti Swift Safety

With the new Heartect platform, the Swift weighs 110 kgs lighter than the previous one. The body structure is now more rigid because of the use of high and ultra high tensile steel. However, in terms of safety equipment, the Swift gets dual front airbags, ABS with EBD, front seatbelts with pre-tensioner and force limiter, ISOFIX child seat mounts, seat belt reminders, and high-speed alert across all the variants. The India-spec third generation Maruti Swift has got a 2-star safety rating from Global NCAP.

Maruti Swift Service

It is a known fact that Maruti has an excellent sales and service network over the entire country. You can find a Maruti service station in any city, town or village. Maruti cars generally offer a very hassle-free experience and the Swift is known to be very reliable as well.

Maruti Swift Price

Following are the prices (on-road Mumbai) of the Maruti Swift

  • Maruti Swift Lxi – Rs. 6.08 lakhs
  • Maruti Swift Vxi – Rs. 7.22 lakhs
  • Maruti Swift Vxi AMT – Rs. 7.75 lakhs
  • Maruti Swift Zxi – Rs. 7.89 lakhs
  • Maruti Swift Zxi AMT – Rs. 8.42 lakhs
  • Maruti Swift Zxi+ – Rs. 8.80 lakhs
  • Maruti Swift Zxi+ AMT – Rs. 9.30 lakhs

Maruti Swift Resale Value

The Maruti Swift is a reliable car and has built a good brand value over the years. It comes with a hassle-free ownership experience. The Maruti Swift commands a good resale value in the used car market.

Maruti Swift Colours

The Maruti Swift is offered in the following colours:

  • Solid Fire Red
  • Pearl Arctic White
  • Metallic Silky Silver
  • Metallic Magma Grey
  • Pearl Metallic Midnight Blue
  • Pearl Metallic Lucent Orange

Maruti Swift Specs

Following are the specifications of the BS6 Maruti Swift:

  • Engine:- 1197cc, 4 Cylinder, VVT
  • Power:- 82 HP @ 6000 RPM
  • Torque:- 113 Nm @ 4200 RPM
  • Transmission:- 5-Speed Manual | 5 Speed AMT
  • Fuel Efficiency (ARAI):- 21.21 km/l
  • Fuel Efficiency (Real World):- 12-14 km/l (City Traffic) 15-19 (Highway)
  • Dimensions (L X W X H):- 3840 mm x 1735 mm x 1530 mm
  • Wheelbase:- 2450 mm
  • Ground Clearance:- 163 mm
  • Kerb Weight:- 855 – 885 kgs
  • Fuel Tank Capacity:- 37 litres
  • Boot Capacity:- 268 litres
  • Turning Radius:- 4.8 metres
  • Tire Size:- 165/80/14 (Lxi, Vxi, Vxi AMT), 185/65/15 (Zxi, Zxi AMT, Zxi+, Zxi+AMT)
  • Suspension:- MacPherson Strut (Front), Torsion Beam (Rear)
  • Brakes:- Disc (Front), Drum (Rear)

Maruti Swift Variants

The Maruti Swift is offered in the following variants:

  • Lxi
  • Vxi (MT/AMT)
  • Zxi (MT/AMT)
  • Zxi+ (MT/AMT)

Maruti Swift Rating

We give the Maruti Swift a rating of 4/5.

Maruti Swift Upcoming Models

Maruti is expected to launch the mid-life facelift of the Swift in the first half of 2021. The 2021 Swift is likely to get more cosmetic changes, additional features and a new engine K12N petrol unit that features dual injectors with better fuel efficiency. This same K12N engine, dubbed DualJet, is offered on the Dzire and Baleno.

Maruti Swift vs Hyundai Grand i10 NIOS

The Hyundai Grand i10 NIOS is a healthy competitor to the Maruti Swift, and besides a 1.2-litre petrol engine, it comes with a 1.0-litre turbo petrol engine option and a 1.2-litre diesel engine option as well. The Hyundai Grand i10 NIOS has more features compared to the Maruti Swift. The Maruti Swift is longer by 35 mm and wider by 55 mm when compared to the Hyundai Grand i10 NIOS.

Maruti Swift vs Tata Tiago

The Tata Tiago is offered with a 1.2-litre petrol engine option and has similar output figures like that of the Maruti Swift. The Tata Tiago misses out on certain features but, the build quality of the Tata Tiago is quite impressive (4-star safety rating) when compared to the Maruti Swift. The Maruti Swift is longer by 75 mm and wider by 58 mm.

Maruti Swift vs Volkswagen Polo

The Volkswagen Polo is offered in two engine options – 1.0-litre MPI and 1.0-litre TSI. The Volkswagen Polo is a driver-oriented car but lacks rear seat space comparatively. The Volkswagen Polo comes decently equipped but, it misses on certain features like push-button engine start-stop and reverse parking camera. The Volkswagen Polo is longer by 131 mm, but in terms of width, the Maruti Swift is wider by 53 mm.

Maruti Swift vs Ford Figo

The Ford Figo is known for its fun-to-drive nature and it is a strong contender to the Swift. While the Swift gets only a petrol engine now, the Figo is offered with a diesel engine as well which is not only powerful but also very efficient. The Figo is attractively priced and offers some good features as well, making it a good alternative to the Swift.