4th generation Suzuki Swift

Following the debut of the new Suzuki Swift (as a concept model) at the Japanese Mobility Show in October, the production model is now shipping out of Japan to various markets. This is the fourth generation of the hatchback that was launched in 2004 (2005 in Malaysia) and gained a strong following with its fun-to-drive character.

Over 9 million units sold
To date, over 9 million units of the Swift have been sold in over 160 markets. The model was  even assembled locally until Suzuki chose to stop selling its cars here after 2016 when it formed a relationship with Proton.

When Naza brought back the brand in 2021, it was a gloomy period with the pandemic still on, and they only offered the Swift Sport. Though the Sport model had been a hot favourite in its earlier days, the pricing was rather high and it was also available only with an automatic transmission.

Traces of original design
With the new generation, the design still has traces of the original concept model which was regarded as being a bit more innovative than the typical Japanese hatchback of that period 20 years ago. But while having those original styling elements, the new Swift has a more muscular form with flared fenders and also adopts the ‘floating roof’ concept. The grille is also more dominant and has a piano black finish.

Mild hybrid powertrain
There is only one powertrain for the new Swift and it’s a mild hybrid system with a 1.2-litre 3-cylinder petrol engine (82 ps/108 Nm). The system captures energy during braking which is then stored in the compact lithium-ion battery pack.

When necessary, the motor will assist the engine, especially during periods of hard acceleration. In this way, demand on engine power is reduced and higher fuel efficiency is possible, along with reduced emissions. The claimed fuel consumption is up to 26.3 kms/litre.

Responsiveness is also said to be enhanced with strong torque generated at low speeds. A CVT or 5-speed manual transmission are available.

Some variants also have ALLGRIP AUTO, an automatic 4-wheel drive system that engages when it detects a loss of front wheel traction. When front-wheel slippage is detected, a viscous coupling engages to transfer torque to the rear wheels, providing additional traction and stability on slippery surfaces.

Immersive cockpit
The new Swift has the same spacious cabin as before with an ergonomic layout for the driver. The cockpit is designed to be ‘immersive’ with the centre cluster and controls slightly angled towards the driver.

Advanced safety features
Like most of today’s cars, the active safety systems in the Swift are quite advanced, with radar and camera sensors to scan the road ahead. There is automatic emergency braking and other systems such as adaptive cruise control, lane keeping, etc.

There is also a Driver Monitoring System which uses a camera built into the instrument panel that monitors the driver’s eyes and face. If the system detects that the driver is drowsy, falling asleep, or looking away from the road too long, it sounds a warning alarm and displays an alert message on the information display.

Naza Eastern Motors continues to represent Suzuki but has been focussing most of its activities on the Jimny in recent times. Perhaps now that the new generation Swift is out, it may have a lower-priced model to offer or it may wait for the new Swift Sport to stay focussed on a niche.

Suzuki concepts at the Japan Mobility Show 2023

Find pre-owned Suzuki Swift models at Motor Trader Malaysia