Suzuki Swift is a daily driver for most of India but for me it has been my vacation mode of transport. On the winding Kerala roads and highways ridden with potholes, driving could be a challenging task for those who see it as a daily chore. But for those who find amusement in those corners and a holiday in those meandering scenic roads, Suzuki Swift chips in with its engaging response and the reassurance of having pitstops (read, Maruti service centres) just ahead of the curve. Now, after two decades of living the test of reliability in over twenty countries, the fourth generation of the immensely popular model has hit the UAE shores after being launched earlier this year.
Suzuki Swift 4th generation
The three earlier editions came out in 2004, 2010 and 2017, selling over 9 million units in total. As the new generation hits the UAE market, the humble Swift is swept into a market that is newly accustomed to greeting advanced tech as an everyday affair, regardless of the category. Add to this, the legendary preference for power on our highway protocol, the survival and success of the Swift depends on how well these aspects are tackled by the Swift that specializes in basic survival kit in countries like India. So, I decided to put that to test with a sneak drive on the day of the launch. Here is the report.
First impressions
The first look at what populates the new Suzuki Swift cabin revealed that the above concerns can be overlooked right away. The standard features across the Swift are indicative of the brand’s awareness of the necessities of the day: From 6 airbags to many advanced driver assistance features including adaptive cruise control and fully digital control of the air-conditioning to a wide rear camera, the Suzuki Swift 2025 has made sure comfort and safety are not compromised in the improved packaging of the compact hatchback.
The top trim GLX that I drove is equipped with blind spot monitor and lane keep assist functions besides a 9-inch multimedia screen and 15” alloy wheels.
Spec sheet:
Dimensions: 3840 x 1735 x 1495 mm
Wheelbase: 2450 mm
Ground clearance: 120 mm
Weight: 900 kg onwards
Turning circle: 9.6 m
U-turn radius: 4.8 m
Wheels: 15”
Engine: 1.2L 3-cylinder engine mated to a 6-speed CVT gearbox
Power: 82 hp and 112 Nm of torque
The Design
The Suzuki Swift now greets you with a fun-loving smile. The grille bears a marginally smaller but sculpted look while the large teardrop headlights have been replaced with a more stylish and somewhat Italian assembly. The rear bulk around the waistline has been reduced and now the front and the rear hints at a Mini Cooper sort of cult car design – well, the Swift has all the rights to be a cult car after being adopted in every other home in India.
The compact hatchback we all know is rather intact in size but despite placing its small frame in Dubai’s large canvas, the Swift still delivers functional spaciousness both inside the cabin and in the boot. In fact, the 265L of boot space – which is by the way 10L more than the Kia Picanto – comes with a deep floor that is positioned almost 9 inches below the loading edge. The seats when folded prepares half the cabin for extended storage, too.
Cabin comforts
Comfortably seated on the black synthetic fabric seats, you can enjoy air-conditioning comfort that lives up to its Japanese standards. Plenty of plastic around helps keep the weight, and the price, down. The tunnel console features two cupholders and armrest storage. The old Swift memories were revived by the manual pull-up handbrake lever.
Cabin tech
Landing in an environment where even established models are struggling to keep up with the plethora of tech features that the new Chinese contingent is offering, the Swift does itself a favour by adding tech features that weighs down on its chance of survival in the UAE market.
While the top grade of the new Suzuki Swift comes with a 9” solidly mounted screen, the mid-variant gets a 7” screen. The driver information cluster also has a contemporary design. The steering mounted controls are rather comprehensive – telephone, voice command, adaptive cruise control etc. behind which paddle shifts bring on the manual drive I am so used to, once you shift gears from D to S on the console.
Suzuki Swift tech features include Apple CarPlay and Android Auto along with Bluetooth handsfree telephony and USB ports. Not only are the AC controls digital, they are so serious about the digital shift that the volume control also doesn’t get a manual knob but thankfully there is a mute button for quick action. The lag seen on the electronic screen response is negligible and the only thing perhaps missing is the wireless charger but there is a slot for mobile storage.
Drive Assistance tech: Dual sensor brake support II, Adaptive Cruise Control, Lane Keep Assist, Blind Spot Monitor, High Beam Assist, Hill Hold Control for tricky inclines, A good camera system with an extra wide view
The drive and the upgrade
At first glance, there isn’t much change in the drivetrain but at a closer look, there are some vital changes that make the already fuel-efficient Suzuki Swift a greener version of itself. The 1.2L engine and the CVT transmission remains the same on paper but this is a 3 cylinder engine with a 6-speed manual shift instead of the outgoing 4-pot with a 5-speed shifter. The output remains almost the same (the torque drops by just 1 N-m) at 82 hp and 112 N-m but the fuel economy is upgraded to 23.2 kmpl instead of the 21.0 kmpl promise. So, at a reasonable best scenario economy of 18 kmph, the 37L fuel tank can offer 670 km of good roads.
Usually, a 4-cylinder engine is more powerful and more refined that a 3-cylinder – perhaps why the car feels a little louder but many new takers would settle for the extra growl.
However, there is no sense of power loss at any point, considering that the Swift called for a switch to the 3rd or the 2nd gear during overtaking or on light inclines even in my car back in India. Deliberately kept as light as possible, this compact daily driver takes around 12 seconds to get from standstill to 100.
The lightness is surprisingly imperceivable in the handling, and I dare say the Suzuki Swift continues to be nippy and fun, even as it stays stable even at speed and in corners and roundabouts – which is not something many hatchbacks in its class can claim. The braking without any jerk or slip at near-highway speeds should be read together with this to complete the stability story.
The essential Suzuki Swift 2025
Suzuki Swift is in its most technologically advanced state ever and this speaks for safety and sustainability. Available in a range of fun-looking shades of blue, red and more, the price ranges between AED 51,900 and 59,900 on a competitive grid. Given the extent of features that come as standard, the bundle beckons you for a test drive and well, you should take it up.
[Check back later for review notes from a full test drive]
