Suzuki Swift


The Suzuki Swift is a supermini car produced by Suzuki. The vehicle is classified as a B-segment marque in the European single market, a segment referred to as a supermini in the British Isles. Prior to this, the "Swift" nameplate had been applied to the rebadged Suzuki Cultus in numerous export markets since 1984. The Swift became its own model in 2004. Currently, the Swift is positioned between Ignis and Baleno in Suzuki's global hatchback lineup.
Since its introduction as a global model in 2004, the Swift has been sold 10 million units as of 2025.

Predecessors

International (1983–2003)

The Suzuki Swift nameplate began in 1984 as an export name for the Suzuki Cultus, a supermini/subcompact car manufactured and marketed worldwide since 1983 across two generations and three body configurations—three/five-door hatchback, four-door sedan and two-door convertible—and using the Suzuki G engine family.
The Swift was marketed in the Japanese domestic market as the Cultus and elsewhere as the Suzuki SA310, Suzuki Swift, Suzuki Forsa, Chevrolet Swift, Chevrolet Sprint/Sprint Metro, Geo Metro, Pontiac Firefly, Maruti 1000, Holden Barina and Subaru Justy. The Swift-badged Cultus ended its production in Hungary in 2003.

Japan (2000–2006)

In Japan, the Swift nameplate was introduced in 2000 as a replacement for the Suzuki Cultus. Outside Japan, the "Suzuki Ignis" name was used. Both three- and five-door hatchback body styles were offered, although the three-door was not offered as part of the regular lineup in Japan.
The Swift was powered by a new generation of Suzuki inline-four gasoline engines, the M family. Engine displacements of 1.3- and 1.5-liters were offered, both with a five-speed manual transmission or optional four-speed automatic. The vehicle was available with either front- or four-wheel drive. Vehicles fitted with the 1.3-liter engine were designated HT51S, with the 1.5-liter version assigned HT81S.
The three-door body variant formed the basis of the Swift Sport in Japan, or Ignis Sport in export markets. Introduced in 2003, it featured redesigned bumpers and was fitted with a higher-output version of the 1.5-liter engine, producing. The Sport ceased production in 2005, with the regular Swift remaining until 2006 and sold side by side with the first generation global version Swift since November 2004.

First generation (RS; 2004)

RS413/413D/415

The global version of the first generation Swift was debuted at the Paris Motor Show in September 2004. The design of the Swift was previewed on the Concept S and Concept S2 concept cars at auto shows, in the years leading up to its launch. This generation of the Swift marked a significant departure with the previous Cultus-based models, with Suzuki redesigning the vehicle as less of a "low price alternative" subcompact and more of a "sporty" subcompact. The Swift's design and driving characteristics focused on the European market with its chassis refined through a road-testing program across Europe.
The first generation Swift has received four stars out of five ratings in the Euro NCAP crash tests. It also was awarded 2006 Semperit Irish Car of the Year in Ireland.
Since its global launch in 2005, which was kicked off with a marketing campaign fronted by the footballer Cristiano Ronaldo in many European countries, the Swift has recorded above forecast sales in most markets. In Japan, sales figures reached twice the numbers forecast.
The Swift was available with 1.3- and 1.5-liter gasoline engines, rated at and, respectively. It was produced in Hungary, India, Indonesia, Japan, Pakistan and by Chang'an Motors in China. In most markets, only the five-door body is available, and a four-wheel drive is an option for the 1.3- and 1.5-liter gasoline engines. A 1.25-liter engine fitted with an automatic continuously variable transmission was offered in front-wheel drive only. In Europe, the Swift was launched in three- and five-door hatchback forms, with 1.3- and 1.5-liter gasoline engines, and a 1.25-liter DDiS turbodiesel engine supplied by Fiat. Both the 1.3-liter and 1.5-liter gasoline models are available with four-wheel drive; these models receive the ZD11S and ZD21S chassis numbers.
In Taiwan, Suzuki's local partner Prince Motors began building the Swift in September 2005. Only offered with five-door bodywork, it was available in 1.5 GL or GLX trim; the 1.5-liter engine develops, equivalent to. After a falling out over Prince assembling Chinese cars, local assembly of Suzukis by Prince was halted in 2009. Pak Suzuki Motor Company Limited started producing the first generation Swift in November 2009 and only available with 1.3-liter M13A gasoline engine and paired with either 5-speed manual or 4-speed automatic transmissions. The first generation Swift was discontinued in Pakistan in August 2021.
In Indonesia, the earlier Swift was imported from Japan and from 2007 to 2011, it was assembled locally at Suzuki Indomobil Motor's production plant in Bekasi, West Java. It was only offered with a 1.5-liter M15A gasoline engine, mates with either 5-speed manual or 4-speed automatic transmissions. There were several special editions with Swift Sport bumpers, sold as GT, GT2 and GT3, respectively. There was also a special edition called GTS with body kits launched in July 2009.
The Maruti Suzuki Swift was launched in India on 25 May 2005 with the familiar 1.3-liter SOHC 16-valve G13BB gasoline engine seen in Maruti Esteem. Later, in early 2007, Maruti introduced the Swift with a Fiat-sourced 1.25-liter D13A DDiS turbodiesel engine. In 2010, due to the new BS-IV emission norms, Maruti replaced the 1.3-liter gasoline engine with the more modern 1.2-liter DOHC K12M engine.

Changan Suzuki Swift

Suzuki's joint venture in China, Changan Suzuki, started producing the Swift for the Chinese domestic market in Chongqing from July 2005. Two gasoline engines were available; 1.3-liter SOHC G13BB engine producing and 1.5-liter DOHC VVT M15A engine producing. Both engines are mated with a 5-speed manual transmission, while the later was available with a 4-speed automatic transmission option. A limited edition Swift with new sporty bumpers called Champion Edition was introduced in June 2010.
While the new generation Swift was prepared for the global market, Changan Suzuki continued producing this generation by giving its first facelift by using Swift Sport bumpers and rear lights in October 2010, skipped the 2007 facelift for the global market model. Suzuki did testing the new generation Swift in China but decided only offered the Japanese imported high performance Swift Sport instead.
The second facelift occurred in January 2013 and it has similar front bumper styling as the refreshed second generation Swift.
Sales ended when Suzuki decided to withdraw from Chinese market to focus in India in September 2018. Over 350,000 units Swift were sold in China from 2005 to 2019.

Swift Sport (RS416/ZC31S)

In September 2005, Suzuki launched the Sport version of the new Swift in Japan, and in September 2006 the model was introduced in most European markets. Named "Swift Sport", it is powered by an enhanced M16A unit, a high-revving 1.6-liter, naturally aspirated DOHC VVT four-cylinder engine with an 11.1:1 compression ratio, high lift cams, forged pistons, and strengthened valve springs. The 1.6-liter engine produces and torque. At, the car is longer than the standard Swift. The Swift Sport features sportier bumpers and spoilers, a stiffer suspension, twin exhaust pipes, red sport seats and four-wheel disc brakes on 16-inch wheels. The European Swift Sport features five-speed manual transmission, the three-door body variant, 17-inch wheels and electronic stability control.
In July 2008, Suzuki Germany launched a limited edition of Swift Sport called N'Style Rally to pay tribute to the Suzuki's Group N Junior World Rally Championship car and only limited to 500 units. It was offered exclusively in black and is covered with Suzuki Motorsport's logos and decals.
In 2007, Suzuki Arena Kyoto Rakunan, a Suzuki dealership located in Kyoto prefecture collaborated with Japanese tuner Tommykaira to modify the Swift Sport; the resulting model was sold as Tommykaira S-Ss.
In 2008, the Swift Sport has undergone a minor restyling which mostly influenced the interior and gear ratios.

Engines

Safety

  • Euro NCAP –

    Second generation (AZG; 2010)

AZG412/413D/414

The second generation Swift was unveiled on 26 August 2010. It went on sale in Japan on 18 September 2010. The second generation Swift production at Suzuki's plant in Hungary started on 11 June 2010 to be supplied across Europe.The new car has its wheelbase extended by over the previous generation and has many visual updates. While the new car looks different from the old one, its design is an evolution of the radical first generation styling with a longer and more rounded appearance. During September 2010, Suzuki in the United Kingdom released the second generation Swift onto British roads. It was launched into the Indian market in 2011.
The new generation is expected to feature a 1.25-liter VVT gasoline engine developing. In some countries, the second generation of Suzuki Swift uses a 1.4-liter VVT gasoline engine which produces.
In Thailand, the Swift was built locally since March 2012 and is part of the Thai government's eco-car program. The car was sold there with a CVT automatic transmission on GA, GL and GLX variants; GA and GL variants are also offered with a five-speed manual transmission, without anti-lock brakes. Another variant with the Japanese market RS body kit was later added, as the RX trim.
For the Indonesian market, the Swift was launched on 20 September 2012 at the 20th Indonesia International Motor Show and sold in two trim levels: GL and GX, both available with manual or automatic transmission. The GS trim level was added on 6 June 2015, which was launched at the 2015 Jakarta Fair. The GS trim added HID projector headlights equipped with auto-levelling. Sales of the Swift in that market ended in April 2017. It was replaced by the Baleno hatchback in August 2017, which is slightly bigger and positioned in the same class as the second generation Swift, as the third generation Swift was not released in that market.
For the Malaysian market, the Swift was released in January 2013, imported from Thailand. It is available with three trim levels; GL, GLX and GLX-S. The CKD version was later launched in May 2013. A limited edition called RS based on GLX trim with GLX-S' body kit, decals and red accents interior was launched later in June 2014. The facelifted model launched in July 2015 and followed by RR2 special edition based on GL trim in September.