2024 Maruti Suzuki Swift review, first drive - stylish, but effective?

Hatchbacks may have lost some sheen since the time the first Maruti Suzuki Swift was launched in India in 2005. But, from starting the premium hatch craze to now becoming a stylish, dependable choice of a car for under Rs 10 lakh, the Swift car has managed to evolve in this period. So where does this new fourth-generation model take the Swift?

2024 Maruti Suzuki Swift Styling, dimensions

The 2024 Maruti Suzuki Swift is only 15mm longer than its predecessor but is 10mm shorter. The width hasn't changed but on the road, it looks quite a bit more compact, But it isn't short on curb appeal. Maruti Suzuki hasn't messed with the Swift's overarching design theme but added some expressive design details that largely work.

The face is now cleaner and a bit more minimal with the more compact gloss black grille. There is more intricate detailing to this, foiled well with the body-coloured panels around it and the condensed, swept-back lamps. They have more intricate detailing now and the smoked effect is a sporty touch. The bumper too has been cleaned up a bit but the most striking design detail is the new clamshell bonnet and the especially strong shoulder line that emerges from this and runs around the car.

This is most noticed in profile, where, unlike many cars at this price, the Swift looks individualistic. The shoulder line and sloping roof work well with the taut haunches to give this hatch a reasonably sporty look. A notable change is that the rear door handles have now returned to a conventional position. It's easier to use and also gives the C-pillar a cleaner look.

The rear is again an evolution. So you have the shoulder line wrapping around a more compact-looking space. The most notable change is the angular LED signatures around the clear lens taillamps. While this goes with the overall look of the car, a slightly more substantial look to the bumper would have been a nice touch.

Boot space is down by 3l to 295l but the space remains largely similar to before. The opening is a touch narrow and you still have a high lip and a low floor, so lifting heavy objects into this space will take some effort. But otherwise, the wheel arches don't intrude into this space too much so a family's luggage for a weekend trip seems plausible.

2024 Maruti Suzuki Swift interiors, space, practicality

As with the outside, the interiors of the Swift too have seen a fair bit of change. Now because the basic architecture has been carried forward, there hasn't been a big change in the space that is on offer.

You do get a more modern dashboard with a layered look, more angular elements and a stepped central section. There's a driver-focused theme to the centre console, where you have it angled to the driver but otherwise it's familiar Maruti Suzuki territory with the new 9-inch touchscreen and climate control functions now trickling down from the Baleno. Also new is the three-spoke steering wheel from these cars but the Swift gets a unique instrument cluster with its asymmetric dials and red highlights, again going with the more youthful theme.

While the look is modern, we think Maruti Suzuki could have paid more attention to quality. Some of the plastics around the air vents are quite rough and there could have been some more gloss black going around the dash. You do get some soft padding on the doors. The switchgear is otherwise the usual Maruti Suzuki fare, so it's somewhat plasticy but functional with all controls falling within reach. You also have physical controls for most functions which is a good touch.

Like with its other cars, Maruti Suzuki gives you one Type-A charge port in the front which can get inconvenient at times. But the new ports towards the end of the central tunnel are placed thoughtfully enough to be used by all passengers. You otherwise don't have much in the way of storage spaces. The central tunnel holds your phone and small items while you have regular-sized door bins in the front.

The 9-inch screen is one of the larger ones you can have at this price. This screen is fairly easy to use with good responses and logical menus while the wireless Android Auto/Apple Carply function is also seamless. The small MID for the driver is the same as seen on other Maruti offerings, so again, it's effective.

Not a lot has changed with the backseat of the new Swift. It's still a space best for two, with a child for the middle passenger. The flat bench does make it easy in this regard but it also doesn't make for very supportive seating. Although thigh support is good for this size of car. Back support is also good helped by the cushioning that seems to have improved from the last generation of Maruti Suzuki's cars. With the 2,450mm wheelbase being carried over, there is enough legroom for average-sized adults. The sloping roof does eat into headroom though for slightly taller adults.

While you don't get a middle armrest or head restraints, you now have rear AC vents and more charging options. That said, Maruti could have done better than the single seatback pocket and small bottle holders in the doors.

2024 Maruti Suzuki Swift features, safety

You now get a longer list of safety equipment with the Swift. There are now six airbags, ESC, three-point seatbelts and hill hold as standard features. There also seems to have been work done to strengthen the car's structure although a full crash test result is still awaited.

You also have more creature comforts with highlights being climate control, the 9-inch screen, auto headlamps, cruise control and LED lighting. We also would have liked telescopic steering adjustment to go with the height-adjustable seating.

2024 Maruti Suzuki Swift MT, AMT driving impressions, 0 to 100 kmph time

One of the big talking points with this generation of the Maruti Suzuki Swift is the new Z-series 1.2-litre motor that it debuts. Compared to the previous K-Series engine, it's lost one cylinder and makes 8PS and 1 Nm less at 82PS and 112 Nm. But efficiency has seen a notable 14 per cent improvement, Maruti Suzuki says, with the manual version returning 24.8 kmpl and the AMT 25.75 kmpl.

From behind the wheel, the experience is still largely familiar. Yes, you do notice more vibrations at idle than in other Marutis with the K-Series motor and there is a bit of a flat spot just off the line. But past this, there seems to be a touch more pep at low revs and a pleasing thrum as you build revs. This makes it quite easy to amble around at city speeds and the crisp throttle response always helps to make progress in traffic.

The seating position is easy to get used to and visibilty is alright as well. You don't see the edges of the bonnet but the new seats are supportive and keep you held in place well. The steering wheel is also the right size and well trimmed in leather.

There's something to be gained from revving out this motor. There's consistent if slightly flat performance right up to the redline. The only time you notice the power deficit is on the highway. You do find high-speed progress a touch muted from earlier, so you will have to drop a few gears to gain speed from slowing down more often at these times.

Speaking of gears, the Swift gets a hydraulic clutch now like the Baleno. This is a good addition that has reduced a good deal of effort. The clutch action is light and progressive. The gearbox too is a crisp one to use. It falls to hand easily, has relatively short throws and the gates are precise too. So it's not too tiring on a commute. Either way, the low-end grunt makes it quite difficult to stall the Swift in these situations.

The Swift also carries over the 5-speed AMT from earlier. This is a cost-effective way to give you the convenience of an automatic but we would have liked it if some progress had been made from the previous car in terms of the gearbox's responses. While the shifts are well-timed, they could be quicker and smoother. The AMT also doesn't rev the engine to the red line in full acceleration which slows progress further. This is evidenced by the big gap in the performance figures of the two versions. The manual Swift does 0 to 100 kmph in a fairly healthy 13.1s while the AMT takes 18.19s.

Maruti Suzuki has also reworked the suspension tuning with this update to the Swift. The small hatch now rides much better than before, absorbing bumps more confidently at all speeds and with a more convincing damped sensation that makes driving on broken roads more comfortable. There is no skittishness at slow speeds but we would have liked high-speed stability to have improved more. The Swift handles high speeds dips and crests well but can feel twitchy over quick direction changes here. This also shows up in panic braking situations where the rear tends to step out.

But show it a flowing set of corners and it's good fun. The Swift doesn't roll too much, it turns progressively and you can carry good speeds without the car starting to run wide. It feels agile and light-footed at these times which seems to bring more engagement to the driving experience. The engine's tractable nature also helps where there's good power available to you to keep momentum. The steering is not very direct but feels neutral and makes for easy driving in most situations. It's light enough in traffic and also weighs up a touch as you go faster.

2024 Maruti Suzuki Swift price, verdict

Priced between Rs 6.49 lakh and Rs 9.64 lakh, the new Swift scores with its efficiency and looks. It does all the things you expect from a Maruti Suzuki like being reasonably well-equipped, peppy to drive and easy to get used to. But Maruti Suzuki will also sell you a Baleno for just a little bit more money, which with its greater space and better high-speed manners seems better value. But for a large section of buyers who may not have as easy access to a Nexa outlet, the Swift is still a competent family hatchback.

Images by Anis Shaikh

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