2025 Suzuki Swift Hybrid Plus overview

The rugged little Jimny would possibly 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 fashionable rebirth, the Swift has earned loads of followers with its stable construct high quality, sharp sticker value, and pleasant driving dynamics.

Late in its life, the third technology moved away from a type of key pillars. The final Swift crept up persistently in value all through its time on sale in Australia, to the purpose it turned fairly exhausting to suggest.

The fourth-generation mannequin you see right here rights that fallacious. With a beginning value beneath $25,000 drive-away, it’s among the many nation’s least expensive 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 essential rivals it’s fairly sharp.

Throw within the promise of latest inside know-how, more room, and a extra environment friendly mild-hybrid powertrain, and the brand new Swift seems like a return to type on paper.

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

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 strains up towards 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 high-priced soft-touch plastics, however it’s a snug area with a a lot improved know-how suite.

The motive 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 be capable of get snug behind the wheel with out an excessive amount of fuss.

Suzuki’s leather-wrapped steering wheel looks like a high quality merchandise, and most of what you contact is stable sufficient. With that mentioned, the doorways take a stable pull to get closed – something much less they usually don’t swing shut as a result of they’re so mild, which isn’t one thing you’d ever say a few 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 laptop. It makes an enormous distinction, and negates among 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 excellent for a telephone and pockets, and the cupholders will maintain small espresso cups or larger water bottles with out an excessive amount of stress. The flimsy door pockets even have area for a bottle.

Cupboard space 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 stable for the category. The rear doorways are comparatively giant for such a small automobile, 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 automobile, however it’s satisfactory by class requirements. ISOFIX baby 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 in keeping with its rivals.

To see how the Swift strains up towards 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 strains up towards 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 way in which it rides, even to the surprisingly effervescent three-cylinder hybrid powertrain, this can be a metropolis automobile that punches above its weight.

Though Suzuki calls the Swift a hybrid, it’s a really ‘gentle’ instance of the breed. The engine turns off rapidly and easily as you coast to a cease, and the 12V mild-hybrid system is ready to supply a small efficiency enhance if you put your foot down, however it’s not fairly on the identical degree as a Toyota hybrid in relation 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 scorching hatch, however it has sufficient punch to squirt rapidly away from the visitors lights.

Though there’s a handbook possibility (a correct five-speed throwback), most homeowners will go for the CVT auto right here. It often 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 if 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 might 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 straightforward automobile to cope with in tight areas.

If you happen to’re in a rush, there’s some actual enjoyable available right here. Some vehicles disintegrate if 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 ft, and presents one thing for homeowners who take pleasure in driving.

Trip high quality is stable over pimply metropolis streets, and at increased 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 automobile for lengthy stints on the open street, so it’s not precisely a loss of life 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 ranking (see beneath), the Suzuki’s lively driver assists are spectacular. The adaptive cruise management well maintains a niche to the automobile in entrance, and the lane centring system means you’ll be able to chill out extra simply on lengthy drives because it actively positions the car in its lane.

The autonomous emergency braking (AEB) system is way much less liable to false positives than earlier than, so it 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 customary tools:

• 5-speed handbook or CVT automated 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 facet mirrors
• Visitors signal recognition
• Safety alarm
• Digital speedometer
• Idle cease/begin

Swift Hybrid Plus provides:

• CVT as customary
• 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 strains up towards 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 ranking, and extra lately a stunning one-star ranking from its native affiliate ANCAP, because of variations in security specs.

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

Customary security options embody:

• Twin Digital camera Brake Help System (AEB)
• Lane departure warning
• Lane departure prevention – lane preserve
• 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 strains up towards 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 strains up towards the competitors, take a look at our comparability device

CarExpert’s Tackle the Suzuki Swift

That is reasonably priced, environment friendly motoring completed proper.

Slightly 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 fashionable inside, and greater physique.

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

It is a return to type for the Swift identify, and rights the wrongs that undermined the earlier mannequin late in its life.

The bottom mannequin isn’t precisely brief on tools, however the additional security equipment within the Plus is value having. That’s related for everybody, however particularly for the first- and last-car patrons who’ve flocked to the Swift since its fashionable rebirth.

Eager about shopping for a Suzuki Swift? Get in contact with one among CarExpert’s trusted sellers right here

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