Suzuki Swift review
The Suzuki Swift is a fun, affordable, and surprisingly stylish supermini that’s cheap to run and guaranteed to put a smile on your face.
Author: Charlie Harvey
31st Dec 2025 – 7 mins read
The Suzuki Swift has been a familiar name on UK roads for a long time, building a reputation for being a fun, no-nonsense, and affordable small car. The latest generation, which arrived in 2017, took a big step forward with a funkier, more modern design and a much-improved interior. It’s a car that has stayed true to its roots, focusing on being brilliant fun to drive and great value for money. Despite its traditional qualities, Suzuki has also packed the Swift with some interesting and modern technology, including the option of a mild-hybrid powertrain and even a clever all-wheel-drive system, which is a rare treat in a small car. It might not be the most practical supermini on the market, and the interior can feel a bit cheap in places, but if you’re looking for an entertaining and economical small car with a bit of character, the Swift is a fantastic choice.
Pros
- Genuinely fun and entertaining to drive
- Very affordable to buy and own
- Incredibly cheap to run, with excellent fuel economy
Cons
- It faces very tough competition from some brilliant rivals
- Practicality isn't its strongest point, with a small boot
- The interior feels a little cheap in places
Interior
Dashboard & tech
The inside of the Swift is more about function than form, but it still has a decent amount of character. The design is simple and user-friendly, with a clear layout that makes everything easy to find and use. Higher-spec models come with a 7.0-inch touchscreen in the centre of the dashboard which brings the cabin up to date.
The quality is a bit of a mixed bag. While it all feels solidly put together, there are a lot of hard, scratchy plastics that remind you this is a car built to a budget. It can’t match the premium feel of a Volkswagen Polo, but for the price, it’s a perfectly pleasant and cheerful place to be.
Comfort
For a small, lightweight car, the Swift is surprisingly comfortable. The front seats are supportive, and there’s plenty of space for the driver and passenger to get comfortable, even if they’re tall.
The ride is generally good, soaking up most bumps without too much fuss. It can feel a little firm at times, but that’s part of its fun and sporty character. It's a car that feels just as happy nipping around town as it does on a longer journey.
Quality
Suzuki has a great reputation for building cars that are simple, strong, and reliable, and the Swift is no exception. It generally scores very well in owner satisfaction and reliability surveys. While the interior plastics might feel a bit cheap, the overall build quality is solid, and it feels like a car that will keep on going without any fuss. It’s a dependable and trustworthy choice.
Practicality & boot space
Interior space
Considering its compact size, the Swift is surprisingly roomy on the inside. There's plenty of space up front, and passengers in the back are treated to a decent amount of legroom and headroom. Two adults can fit in the back without much trouble, although three would be a squeeze. One small downside is that the narrow rear windows can make it feel a little dark in the back.
Boot space
Practicality is not the Swift's strongest area. The boot is one of the smallest in the supermini class, offering just 264 litres of space. That’s quite a bit less than you’d get in a Ford Fiesta or a Skoda Fabia. It’s big enough for the weekly shop or a few small bags, but you might struggle with a bulky pushchair or luggage for a family holiday.
Driving
Driving experience
This is where the Suzuki Swift really comes alive. It's a hugely entertaining car to drive, with a lightweight and agile feel that makes it a joy on a twisty road. It’s a car that will constantly put a smile on your face with its eager handling and zippy performance.
The Swift Sport model takes this fun factor to another level. With a punchy turbocharged engine and a sport-tuned chassis, it's a brilliant little 'warm' hatchback that offers a huge amount of fun for the money.
Performance
The standard Swift comes with a choice of two small petrol engines. The entry-level option is a 1.2-litre 'Dualjet' engine with 89bhp. It’s a willing and efficient engine that's great for around town. For a bit more punch, there's a 1.0-litre turbocharged 'Boosterjet' engine with 110bhp, which feels much more energetic. Both of these engines are available with Suzuki's 'SHVS' mild-hybrid system, which helps to improve fuel economy.
The fantastic Swift Sport gets a more powerful 1.4-litre Boosterjet engine with 138bhp, which turns the little Swift into a proper pocket rocket.
Running costs
Fuel economy & CO2 emissions
The Suzuki Swift is an incredibly economical car to run. All the engines offer excellent fuel economy, making it very kind on your wallet. The 1.2-litre engine is the champion of frugality, officially capable of achieving over 55mpg.
Even the more powerful 1.0-litre engine returns over 51mpg. The mild-hybrid system gives a small but welcome boost to these figures. The low CO2 emissions also mean that road tax is very cheap.
Value for money
The Swift has always been about offering great value, and the latest model is no different. It’s priced competitively against rivals like the Ford Fiesta and Dacia Sandero and comes with a good amount of standard equipment.
Because it’s a popular and mainstream car, it doesn't hold its value as well as some premium rivals, but this is great news for used car buyers. You can find some fantastic bargains on nearly-new models, making an already affordable car even more of a steal.
Reliability & Warranty
Suzuki is a brand known for building cars that simply work, and the Swift has a strong reputation for being reliable and trouble-free. It consistently performs well in owner satisfaction surveys. From new, all Suzukis come with a three-year, 60,000-mile warranty.
Safety
Safety features
The Suzuki Swift comes with a good level of safety equipment. When tested by the safety experts at Euro NCAP, it was awarded a solid three-star rating, which was increased to four stars for cars fitted with the optional safety pack.
Higher-spec SZ5 models come with this pack as standard, which includes advanced features like autonomous emergency braking and adaptive cruise control, giving you extra peace of mind.
Trims & Engines
Trim levels
The Swift is available in a simple range of trim levels, all of which offer great value.
SZ3: The entry-level model comes with a DAB radio with Bluetooth, air conditioning, and LED daytime running lights.
SZ-T: This popular trim adds a 7.0-inch touchscreen with smartphone mirroring, a rear-view camera, and 16-inch alloy wheels.
Attitude: This special edition adds a sporty body kit, including a rear spoiler and carbon-effect skirts.
SZ5: The top-of-the-range model is packed with kit. It adds built-in satellite navigation, climate control, keyless entry, and the advanced safety pack with adaptive cruise control.
Sport: This is a standalone performance model. As well as a more powerful engine, it gets 17-inch alloy wheels, a dual exhaust, and unique sports seats.
Engines
The Swift offers a choice of small, efficient petrol engines.
1.2-litre Dualjet: This 89bhp engine is the most economical choice. It's great for around town and is available with the clever ALLGRIP four-wheel-drive system on some models.1.0-litre Boosterjet: This 110bhp turbocharged engine provides a welcome boost in performance, making the Swift feel much livelier.1.4-litre Boosterjet: Exclusive to the Swift Sport, this 138bhp engine delivers proper warm-hatch performance and is great fun.