2025 Suzuki Swift Hybrid Plus assessment

The rugged little Jimny may steal the headlines, however the Suzuki Swift is one other iconic mannequin from the Japanese small-car specialist that’s additionally a little bit of a legend in its personal proper.

Since its trendy rebirth, the Swift has earned loads of followers with its strong construct high quality, sharp sticker value, and pleasurable driving dynamics.

Late in its life, the third era moved away from a kind of key pillars. The final Swift crept up constantly in value all through its time on sale in Australia, to the purpose it grew to become fairly arduous to advocate.

The fourth-generation mannequin you see right here rights that unsuitable. With a beginning value beneath $25,000 drive-away, it’s among the many nation’s most cost-effective new vehicles, and even the mid-range variant on take a look at right here prices lower than $29,000 drive-away.

It’s a far cry from the times of sub-$20,000 drive-away, no extra to pay offers, however within the context of its important rivals it’s fairly sharp.

Throw within the promise of latest inside expertise, extra space, and a extra environment friendly mild-hybrid powertrain, and the brand new Swift appears to be like like a return to kind on paper.

So let’s see how the Hybrid Plus stacks up in the true world.

How does the Suzuki Swift evaluate?

View an in depth breakdown of the Suzuki Swift in opposition to equally sized automobiles.

Suzuki

Swift

How a lot does the Suzuki Swift value?

The brand new-generation Swift Hybrid vary begins from $24,490 drive-away.

To see how the Swift traces up in opposition to the competitors, take a look at our comparability device

What’s the Suzuki Swift like on the within?

Simplicity is the secret right here. There’s not a heap of pricey soft-touch plastics, nevertheless it’s a cushty area with a a lot improved expertise suite.

The driving force and passenger sit in cloth-trimmed seats with squidgy bases and fairly pronounced bolsters. You get loads of assist on longer drives, and long-legged drivers will have the ability to get comfy behind the wheel with out an excessive amount of fuss.

Suzuki’s leather-wrapped steering wheel appears like a high quality merchandise, and most of what you contact is strong sufficient. With that stated, the doorways take a strong pull to get closed – something much less and so they don’t swing shut as a result of they’re so mild, which isn’t one thing you’d ever say a couple of Volkswagen Polo or Toyota Yaris.

The brand new 9.0-inch touchscreen is an enormous enchancment on the laggy system within the final Swift.

It begins up quick, and wi-fi smartphone mirroring connects reliably. Though it lacks the polish of a Toyota system, the graphics are slick sufficient and the menu construction is straightforward to interrupt down on the transfer.

As for the devices? You continue to get analogue dials right here, however Suzuki has lastly fitted a digital speedometer within the color journey pc. It makes an enormous distinction, and negates a few of the want for a correct digital instrument binnacle.

There are three USB ports: a USB-A outlet for wired smartphone mirroring, and two USB-C ports for quick charging.

There’s a slot on the base of the dashboard that’s good for a telephone and pockets, and the cupholders will maintain small espresso cups or greater water bottles with out an excessive amount of stress. The flimsy door pockets even have area for a bottle.

Space for storing on the transmission tunnel is impacted by the old-school handbook handbrake, and there’s no lined central armrest on this Hybrid Plus.

Rear seat area is strong for the category. The rear doorways are comparatively massive for such a small automotive, so it’s simpler to fold adults in there, and as soon as in there’s sufficient area for normal-height adults to take a seat behind normal-height adults on shorter journeys.

This isn’t set as much as be a household automotive, nevertheless it’s satisfactory by class requirements. ISOFIX youngster seat anchor factors function on the outboard rear seats, and there’s a trio of top-tethers. You don’t get air vents or USB ports although, which is according to its rivals.

To see how the Swift traces up in opposition to the competitors, take a look at our comparability device

What’s beneath the bonnet?

All variations of the Swift in Australia get a 1.2-litre petrol engine with a 12V mild-hybrid system.

To see how the Swift traces up in opposition to the competitors, take a look at our comparability device

How does the Suzuki Swift drive?

On the street, that is instantly identifiable as a Suzuki Swift.

From the sunshine steering to the best way it rides, even to the surprisingly effervescent three-cylinder hybrid powertrain, this can be a metropolis automotive that punches above its weight.

Though Suzuki calls the Swift a hybrid, it’s a really ‘delicate’ instance of the breed. The engine turns off shortly and easily as you coast to a cease, and the 12V mild-hybrid system is ready to provide a small efficiency enhance once you put your foot down, nevertheless it’s not fairly on the identical stage as a Toyota hybrid with regards to electric-ness.

Put your foot down and the three-cylinder engine thrums away determinedly, providing a mild shove within the again. This isn’t a sizzling hatch, nevertheless it has sufficient punch to squirt shortly away from the site visitors lights.

Though there’s a handbook choice (a correct five-speed throwback), most homeowners will go for the CVT auto right here. It sometimes feels elastic, however most drivers received’t ever actually give it some thought – on mild inputs it simply hums alongside, earlier than flaring revs solely once you’re in a rush.

The sunshine steering is ideal for all times within the metropolis. The Swift darts down tight laneways with minimal effort, and could be reversed parked with a pinky. It’s a disgrace the reversing digital camera is so poor; it’s the one actual knock on what’s in any other case a simple automotive to cope with in tight areas.

For those who’re in a rush, there’s some actual enjoyable available right here. Some vehicles disintegrate once you fling them right into a nook, however the Swift genuinely enjoys it.

Only a few vehicles – sports activities vehicles, metropolis vehicles, no matter – weigh lower than a tonne in 2024, however even with its new mild-hybrid system and CVT transmission the Hybrid Plus scrapes in beneath that mark. It makes for a hatch that’s very mild on its toes, and gives one thing for homeowners who take pleasure in driving.

Experience high quality is strong over pimply metropolis streets, and at greater speeds the Swift feels settled sufficient given its dimension.

You’ll discover how mild it’s in crosswinds, or when there’s massive vans round although. We had the Swift throughout Melbourne’s mini hurricane, which solely exacerbated the sensation.

Additionally noticeable is the hybrid system’s restricted energy output at 100km/h.

This isn’t designed to be a household automotive for lengthy stints on the open street, so it’s not precisely a demise sentence. And it’s clear work has gone into bettering stability and refinement, with much less wind and street noise on the transfer than earlier than.

Regardless of being slapped with a one-star ANCAP security score (see beneath), the Suzuki’s energetic driver assists are spectacular. The adaptive cruise management well maintains a spot to the automotive in entrance, and the lane centring system means you may loosen up extra simply on lengthy drives because it actively positions the automobile in its lane.

The autonomous emergency braking (AEB) system is way much less vulnerable to false positives than earlier than, so it now not slams on the brakes when it sees parked vehicles close by.

What do you get?

On take a look at right here is the mid-range Swift Hybrid Plus, which solely comes with a repeatedly variable transmission (CVT).

Swift Hybrid normal tools:

• 5-speed handbook or CVT computerized transmission
• 9.0-inch touchscreen navigation system
• Apple CarPlay – wi-fi
• Android Auto – wired
• DAB+ digital radio
• Keyless entry and begin
• LED headlights – projector sort
• Automated headlight on, off
• Automated high-beam
• Rear fog mild
• Heated aspect mirrors
• Visitors signal recognition
• Safety alarm
• Digital speedometer
• Idle cease/begin

Swift Hybrid Plus provides:

• CVT as normal
• 16-inch alloy wheels
• Rear privateness glass
• Leather-based-wrapped steering wheel
• Heated entrance seats
• Premium material upholstery
• Sort-A, Sort-C USB ports
• Driver’s seat top adjustment
• Blind-spot monitoring
• Rear cross-traffic alert

To see how the Swift traces up in opposition to the competitors, take a look at our comparability device

Is the Suzuki Swift protected?

The brand new Suzuki Swift attracted a three-star Euro NCAP crash take a look at score, and extra not too long ago a shocking one-star score from its native affiliate ANCAP, attributable to variations in security specs.

ANCAP gave the brand new Swift the next class scores, and stated the Australian-spec Swifts carried out otherwise to European variations in native crash testing.

Commonplace security options embrace:

• Twin Digital camera Brake Assist System (AEB)
• Lane departure warning
• Lane departure prevention – lane hold
• Weaving Alert
• Rear parking sensors
• Reversing digital camera
• Safety alarm
• Visitors signal recognition

Swift Hybrid Plus provides:

• Blind-spot monitoring
• Rear cross-traffic alert

To see how the Swift traces up in opposition to the competitors, take a look at our comparability device

How a lot does the Suzuki Swift value to run?

Suzuki covers its vary in Australia with a five-year, unlimited-kilometre guarantee.

To see how the Swift traces up in opposition to the competitors, take a look at our comparability device

CarExpert’s Tackle the Suzuki Swift

That is inexpensive, environment friendly motoring finished proper.

Fairly than getting distracted and attempting to show the Swift into one thing it’s by no means been, Suzuki has improved on the components with a brand new powertrain, extra trendy inside, and larger physique.

You don’t have to stretch to the prime quality, both. The mid-range Swift Plus comes with loads of tools, gives the form of effectivity we’ve come to count on from dearer hybrid automobiles, and is genuinely enjoyable to drive.

This can be a return to kind for the Swift identify, and rights the wrongs that undermined the earlier mannequin late in its life.

The bottom mannequin isn’t precisely quick on tools, however the further security equipment within the Plus is price having. That’s related for everybody, however particularly for the first- and last-car consumers who’ve flocked to the Swift since its trendy rebirth.

Excited by shopping for a Suzuki Swift? Get in contact with one in all CarExpert’s trusted sellers right here

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