If there's one car most buyers can purchase with their eyes closed, it has to be the Maruti Suzuki Swift. The Swift, introduced in 2005, has had several changes over the years but remains one of the country's beloved hatchbacks.

Being an affordable hatchback car, the Swift perfectly combines sporty styling, decent practicality, excellent fuel economy, and admirable driveability. Also, Maruti's outstanding sales and support network is one of the many reasons for its remarkable success over the years.

The Maruti Suzuki Swift is in its third generation avatar, introduced in 2018 at the Auto Expo. And you would be surprised at how different the new Swift feels and looks compared to the outgoing model.

- It looks much smarter with all the added bling on the outside. It's more spacious and well-equipped inside and drives more maturely too. It's lost a lot of weight, making it faster than before. However, what's even better is that despite all the changes, Maruti Suzuki has managed to retain the charm that the Swift had, making it a crowd favourite.

- On top of that, Maruti introduced a mid-life facelift for the Swift with some minor facelift updates in 2021. The third-generation hatchback receives styling updates as part of the mid-lifecycle upgrade, and a more powerful but fuel-efficient petrol engine.

- Maruti has dropped the diesel engine from its portfolio, and the new Swift offers four petrol trims: LXI, VXI, ZXI, and ZXI+. Nonetheless, the Swift does offer you the choice of both manual and automatic gearbox options.

The pricing for the Maruti Suzuki Swift starts at Rs 5.99 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi) for the base LXI trim with the manual gearbox.

The price goes up to Rs 8.98 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi) for the top-end ZXI+ trim with the automatic gearbox and dual-tone exterior colour option.

Considering the pricing, the Swift sits right between the relatively affordable Ignis and the more premium Baleno in the Maruti Suzuki lineup.

The Suzuki Swift has undergone design evolution over the years, resulting in an eye-catching appearance that is undoubtedly one of the most attractive in its segment.

- Its exterior design exudes a sporty feel, evident in the sleek swept-back LED projector headlamps with LED DRLs on the front, the large single-piece front grille with a chrome stripe, and the sporty bumper with integrated fog lamps. The sculpted hood adds to the aerodynamic look of the car.

- The C-pillar hides the slightly overdone rear door handle, and the side view displays clean and athletic aesthetics. The car boasts C-shaped pattern running lights, a roof spoiler, and a smartly designed bumper at the back.

- Moreover, the Swift's dual-tone 15-inch wheels are well-crafted, giving the car a bolder stance. The top ZXi+ trim offers a dual-tone exterior shade, a significant highlight.

In summary, the Maruti Suzuki Swift has a stylish, modern, and attention-grabbing exterior design that has made it a popular choice among car buyers in India.

The Suzuki Swift maintains its sporty theme inside. It narrows down to your preference, whether you find it very sporty and energetic or a bit lacklustre. However, the all-black colour scheme might differ from everyone's cup of tea.

- However, Swift's cabin is full of intricate details and sporty elements that add a touch of flair. The leather-wrapped flat-bottomed steering wheel feels chunky and comfortable. The hooded dials with red detailing enhance the car's sporty ambience.

- The latest update includes new upholstery on the seats. Top-of-the-line models now feature cruise control and a colour screen between the dials. The centre console maintains circular air-con vents, and a 7-inch SmartPlay Studio touchscreen infotainment system. It also has Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity and automatic climate control functions.

- The Swift now has cruise control, an idle start-stop function, and key-synchronized auto-foldable ORVMs. Other notable features include keyless entry, push-button start, height-adjustable driver's seat, automatic AC, and LED headlights with LED DRLs.

- The legroom is adequate for the back seat's space, but the headroom is slightly tight. The well-cushioned seat provides excellent support, but the all-black interior detracts from the cabin's airy feel and makes it somewhat claustrophobic. The Swift offers 268 litres of boot space, which is decent for its segment.

The cabin is a comfortable place to be. However, some plastics could have been sturdier, and the car needs certain features, such as wireless charging and connected technology.

The Maruti Suzuki Swift has numerous safety features, including dual airbags at the front, ABS with EBD, ESP with hill hold assist, driver and co-driver seat belt reminder, reverse parking sensors with camera, and ISOFIX anchorage points.

However, its abysmal crash test rating lets it down regarding safety. Under Global NCAP's updated testing protocol, the Swift was crash tested again. It came away with a relatively poor 1-star adult and child occupant protection rating.

Let's talk about Swift's heart. It's powered by the K12 series Dual Jet Dual VVT engine with an idle start-stop function. This engine packs 89bhp and 113Nm of torque and comes with either a five-speed manual or a five-speed automated manual.

The DualJet 1.2-litre petrol engine uses two injectors for every cylinder, which gives it greater control over the fuel injection resulting in an improvement in performance and fuel economy compared to the previous 1.2-litre petrol engine.

Now, when it comes to driving the Swift, you're in for a treat.

- The 1.2-litre engine is not only refined but also peppy. With the car weighing less than a tonne, you get a great punch from the engine, and flooring the pedal will take you from 0-100kph in just 11.67sec. The power band is vast.

- The Swift works well with the slick 5-speed manual. If you prefer an automatic, the petrol-AMT unit also works well enough in average city conditions.

The Swift, thankfully, retains its dynamic and agile nature. Yes, it isn’t as playful as before. Yet, driving at low speeds is light and relatively hassle-free, with little effort required to guide the car in traffic, and the faster you drive the Swift, the nicer it gets.

Mileage has always been a talking point of all Maruti Suzuki cars, and the Swift is no different. So, you can rest assured in this particular aspect as the Swift weighs light on your pocket.

Owing to the updated dual jet engine setup and idle start-stop technology, Maruti Suzuki has managed to squeeze a higher fuel efficiency of 23.20-kmpl in manual transmission and 23.76-kmpl when paired with the AMT gearbox. Meanwhile, the CNG version is even more frugal, with a claimed figure of 30.9 km/kg.

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