2024 Suzuki Swift Hybrid assessment

Say hiya to Australia’s most cost-effective new hybrid car you should buy – the 2024 Suzuki Swift Hybrid.

Oh sure, whereas the MG 3 has gone from $20,000 budget-friendly econobox to Yaris Hybrid-rivalling premi-ish positioning, the fourth-generation Swift is launching as a hybrid-only proposition and step one in Suzuki’s electrified resurgence in Australia.

I’ll preface this by saying the little Suzuki isn’t fairly a ‘full’ hybrid like its Chinese language and Japanese rivals, although its 12V mild-hybrid system nonetheless manages to supply aggressive effectivity for a less expensive worth.

Additional, in contrast to extra frequent 12V methods in lots of trendy automobiles, the Swift’s built-in starter generator acts as an electrical motor to help the petrol engine on takeoff and below load, and in addition extends the idle cease/begin perform to interact because the car slows to a halt, switching off the engine from round 10-12km/h.

We will get into the specifics of the drivetrain later, however the headline is that Suzuki claims a very thrifty 3.9L/100km for the Swift Hybrid guide, and 4.0L/100km with the CVT. CO2 emissions are below 100g/km, too.

Even higher, these figures are fully achievable – no less than I managed to match the auto’s declare on our launch drive. Once more, extra on that later.

The opposite headline is the pricing. Ranging from $24,490 drive-away, the Swift Hybrid is Australia’s most cost-effective new electrified car. By comparability, essentially the most reasonably priced MG 3 Hybrid+ is $27,990 earlier than on-road prices.

Might the brand new Swift Hybrid be the default selection for first automobile consumers, eco-conscious metropolis dwellers and rental fleet operators? Effectively, learn on to seek out out…

How does the Suzuki Swift examine?

View an in depth breakdown of the Suzuki Swift towards equally sized autos.

Suzuki

Swift

How a lot does the Suzuki Swift Hybrid value?

The Swift Hybrid opens from $24,490 drive-away, with the most cost effective CVT mannequin $26,990 drive-away.

To see how the Suzuki Swift Hybrid strains up towards the competitors, try our comparability device.

What’s the Suzuki Swift Hybrid like on the within?

Very like the outside design, the brand new Swift may be very a lot an evolution, not a revolution of its forebear.

Just like the earlier technology, the Swift is hardly the final phrase in materials high quality or cabin tactility, nevertheless it boasts strong ergonomics, considerate tech and spacious packaging regardless of its diminutive dimensions.

Key variations in design largely centre across the dashboard format, which does away with the built-in touchscreen and round HVAC motif and as an alternative has a freestanding show sitting atop toggle-like switchgear relying on mannequin variant.

You’re additionally confronted with a chunky steering wheel and revised instrument cluster, which retains analogue dials for the tacho and speedo, although lastly we now have a digital speedometer readout within the supervision show – hallelujah!

The infotainment system impressively will get navigation, DAB radio and wi-fi Apple CarPlay as commonplace throughout the vary. It may be a bit of sluggish when utilizing the native interface, nevertheless it’s in any other case well-equipped and does the job.

I admire the little hybrid power circulation diagrams, and the 9.0-inch show is an effective measurement for the category. Wi-fi Apple CarPlay labored nicely throughout our time with the automobile, too.

It’s all quite simple and practical, which is simply advantageous for lots of people at this finish of the market.

We sampled the interiors of all three variants, and whereas the bottom Swift Hybrid lacks a leather-wrapped steering wheel, consolation and tactility of the principle touchpoints is all fairly pleasing given the worth.

The entrance seats are supple however supportive, and just like the earlier mannequin have an virtually sporty sculpting that helps the shoulders a bit of greater than the essential seat designs of rivals.

One other Swift hallmark is the tall and virtually boxy proportions, which assist to make the cabin really feel gentle and ethereal regardless of its compact dimensions – see beneath for extra.

Like I discussed earlier, this received’t be troubling a VW Polo for perceived high quality. It’s all onerous plastics all through, and there’s no front-centre armrest.

You do get a frivolously padded fabric-lined elbow relaxation within the entrance doorways, although. Once more, it’s important to maintain this automobile’s budget-friendly focus in thoughts.

The open cabin means respectable storage, with a number of cubbies and cabinets on your odds and ends to go along with the respectable bottle holders within the doorways. GLX variations additionally get a wi-fi telephone charger forward of the gear selector.

Not that the previous Swift was too compromised within the second row, however the slight improve in most dimensions has resulted in a again seat that may really maintain average-sized adults.

I’m a fairly lanky 6’1 (and a bit) and may sit behind my most well-liked driving place with good leg, knee and headroom for the category. No it’s not as large as a VW Polo or Skoda Fabia, nevertheless it’s well packaged and received’t anger any of your mates that should experience within the again.

Facilities are few and much between, however GLX fashions get a rear heater duct for cold toes, and all fashions get bottle holders within the doorways. There’s the requisite anchorage for ISOFIX and high tethered baby seats, too.

Boot house is a compact 265 litres – 23 litres up on the previous one – with the rear seats in use, increasing to 589 litres with the seatbacks folded as much as the window line. As earlier than, the deep boot ground sees a fairly large step as much as the folded rear seats.

To see how the Suzuki Swift Hybrid strains up towards the competitors, try our comparability device.

What’s below the bonnet?

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

We managed to get bang on the producer’s gasoline declare over a 53-kilometre combined check loop which included a mixture of city, freeway, and regional B-road driving – very spectacular.

For reference, the dearer MG 3 Hybrid+ claims 4.3L/100km on the mixed cycle whereas the Toyota Yaris Hybrid quotes a formidable 3.3L/100km.

It’s additionally value noting that in contrast to its rivals, the Swift Hybrid is homologated to stricter Euro 6 emissions requirements and incorporates a petrol particulate filter (PPF), therefore its thirst for premium 95 RON unleaded.

To see how the Suzuki Swift Hybrid strains up towards the competitors, try our comparability device.

How does the Suzuki Swift Hybrid drive?

I’ve at all times had a delicate spot for the enjoyable driving nature of the Swift nameplate, so I used to be eager to see how that spirit had been infused with the delicate electrification of this new mannequin.

On paper you can palm the Swift Hybrid off as underpowered, with 60kW and 110Nm being much less peppy than even the Kia Picanto’s atmo 1.25-litre engine.

Nevertheless, the Swift’s featherweight mass (919-957kg) helps it to really feel rather more sprightly than you’ll count on from the technical specs.

The brand new 1.2-litre three-cylinder engine has the identical candy thrum as different three-pot rivals, specifically the VW Polo, although in contrast to the Toyota Yaris it’s not as intrusive within the cabin below load.

I drove a Swift Hybrid Plus on the check loop, which is CVT solely. The variable auto is well calibrated and does nicely to take advantage of the Suzuki’s meek outputs to get you shifting at affordable previous, however this ain’t no Boosterjet.

The built-in starter generator (ISG) acts as an electrical motor to help below load to spice up efficiency and minimise gasoline consumption on takeoff and onerous acceleration, nevertheless it’s solely making 2.3kW and 60Nm itself.

It operates fairly quietly within the background so there’s no disjointed really feel or shunting because it comes on-line. Even the idle stop-start perform is fairly easy in operation, chopping the engine off from about 10km/h as you come to a cease as soon as the engine is warmed up, and rapidly beginning it again up whenever you get off the brakes.

Suzuki Australia doesn’t quote a 0-100km/h time, although the UK mannequin with the identical drivetrain quotes 11.9 seconds It’s removed from fast, nevertheless it will get going simply advantageous and can solely really feel fully out of breath when you very out of the blue must speed up to freeway speeds in a brief interval.

Simply bear in mind, that is offered within the UK and Europe (together with Germany) with the identical drivetrain and it’s rated to hit a high pace of 170km/h with the CVT – deliver on the Autobahn!

I had a fast stint within the base guide simply to get a really feel for it, and whereas it’s enjoyable to row your personal cogs with the five-speeder, it has a little bit of a rubbery motion and a obscure clutch that doesn’t make it as involving as I’d like.

The Swift continues to be a enjoyable steer, whereas additionally being a extra insulated and refined automobile than its predecessor.

The steering is correct and direct with good weighting and really feel, and the sunshine weight makes it keen to show in and go spherical corners.

Like stuff from Mazda, for instance, there’s a level of enjoyable baked in even on the base degree that makes it a linked and interesting drive for on a regular basis eventualities.

Whereas international shops complained a few terse experience, I discovered the Aus-spec Swift to be a very nice steadiness between consolation and dynamism. It has a suppleness that irons out the lumps and bumps of Melbourne roads whereas additionally preserving the physique managed and comparatively flat by means of corners.

We additionally observed an enchancment in insulation from street and wind noise, courtesy of improved sound deadening and aerodynamics. It’s not the brand new class chief, nevertheless it’s not a tinny buzz field when you hit a coarser patch of street.

The Swift Hybrid can also be impressively outfitted from the bottom degree with driver help applied sciences.

All fashions get adaptive cruise management and lane centring help (dubbed lane maintain help), giving this entry degree automobile semi autonomous functionality on the freeway. It’ll come to a whole cease in CVT variations, whereas manuals minimize out at 30km/h.

Step as much as the Plus and also you get blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert, which add a pleasant security internet when negotiating tight gaps in visitors or reversing out of tight parking spots.

Outward visibility is mostly good because of the tall glasshouse, although the thick C-pillar does impede over the shoulder visibility – therefore why blind-spot and cross-traffic monitoring is useful.

What do you get?

Three variants might be accessible at launch: Swift Hybrid, Plus and GLX.

Swift Hybrid commonplace gear:

• 6MT or CVT
• 9.0-inch touchscreen navigation system
• Apple CarPlay – wi-fi
• Android Auto – wired
• DAB radio
• Keyless entry and begin
• LED headlights – projector kind
• Automated headlight on, off
• Automated high-beam
• Rear fog lamp
• Heated facet mirrors
• Visitors signal recognition
• Safety alarm
• Digital speedometer
• Idle stop-start

Swift Hybrid Plus provides:

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

Swift Hybrid GLX provides:

• 16-inch polished alloy wheels
• Wi-fi telephone charger
• Energy-folding exterior mirrors
• Mirror-mounted indicators
• Paddle shifters
• Auto local weather management
• Rear heater duct

Is the Suzuki Swift Hybrid secure?

The brand new Suzuki Swift doesn’t at the moment put on an ANCAP or Euro NCAP security ranking.

Commonplace security options embrace:

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

Swift Hybrid Plus provides:

• Blind-spot monitoring
• Rear cross-traffic alert

How a lot does the Suzuki Swift Hybrid value to run?

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

CarExpert’s Tackle the Suzuki Swift Hybrid

The Swift has at all times been a candy factor, however the earlier mannequin was just too costly for what it was on the finish of its life.

This new one now looks as if ripper worth by comparability.

It has gone from one of many dearer choices within the section to one of many most cost-effective, and has managed to pack in a brilliant environment friendly drivetrain and EU6 emissions tech for a lot of hundreds lower than extra complicated rivals.

Regardless of its delicate evolution into the electrified age, the brand new Swift actually stays true to its roots in being a small, enjoyable and low-cost metropolis automobile. Like its predecessors, it’s easy however gratifying and simply works.

With the brand new MG 3 shifting fairly a bit additional upmarket than the previous one, the Swift Hybrid now occupies an area the place few different producers dare to play.

It’s not rather more than a Kia Picanto, however is bigger, extra environment friendly and higher to drive, whereas being hundreds lower than an equal MG 3 Hybrid+ or Toyota Yaris Hybrid.

Look, it’s not good. There’s most likely room for a less expensive non-hybrid possibility like what’s accessible in Japan which might push the worth nearer to $20,000, and it will have been good to see the guide accessible in Plus and GLX grades.

It’s additionally missing in cabin materials high quality and tactility in comparison with the category leaders, and its boot is smaller than key rivals. Some consumers could lament the necessity for 95 RON too, however you’re utilizing much less of it so it balances out… proper?

Given the Swift Hybrid is lineball with the brand new petrol-powered MG 3 on worth with higher effectivity than the MG 3 Hybrid+, I feel we may be about to see a giant swing within the gentle automobile section in favour of Japan.

Let’s face it, in a world the place automobiles are getting extra complicated and dearer, the Swift is a refreshing reminder that primary, cost-effective and environment friendly motoring continues to be a actuality in Australia.

It’s positively value a glance.

Click on the photographs for the complete gallery

MORE: Purchase a Suzuki Swift
MORE: Every thing Suzuki Swift