The Best All-rounder? 

2005 was quite an eventful year—a dwarf planet had been discovered, there was a Royal Wedding, the now iconic Airbus A380 made its first flight, YouTube was launched and another Star Wars Movie was released, among a host of other world events. 

And we were just in May. And then there was the small matter of Maruti Suzuki launching the Swift hatchback in India. A little over 20 years after the Maruti 800 was released, Maruti Suzuki had another hit on their hands, not that they knew that yet. Nearly 20 years later, and the Maruti Suzuki Swift still sells just as well as the 800 did four decades ago.  

With the tagline “Technology you love to drive” and powered by a 1.3 litre four cylinder engine, the Swift produced 87 bhp and 113 Nm of torque, and was a no fuss, economical car to own that punched well above its weight when it came to the way it drove. The Swift continues to dominate the market even today, selling over 17,000 units in March 2023 alone. So the answer to the question “Is Swift a good car?” is already there. The question we’ll answer today is, is the Swift a good car for you to buy?

Maruti Suzuki Swift Pros and Cons 

Maruti Suzuki Swift Exterior Design

The Swift silhouette hasn’t changed much ever since it was launched, and that’s not a bad thing. The car remains a looker even with a host of changes, including a very cool implementation of the rear door handles on the C-pillar. The front grill blends in with the rest of the front bumper seamlessly, and the LED daytime running lights (DRLs) add a bit of sportiness to the front profile. The rear of the Maruti Suzuki Swift has swollen up a fair bit since it was first launched, and the car could have done with chunkier tyres to not only make the exterior feel more proportional, but also inspire more confidence on the road. 

Maruti Suzuki Swift Interiors 

There is something about an all-black interior that never fails to make even the most run-of-the-mill car interiors look classy. The Swift is no different. Although the interiors of the Swift have started to show their age they have aged well, and updates over the years have ensured they don’t look too outdated compared to modern rivals. The three-spoke steering wheel is a joy to hold and feels as good as the car does when it’s hugging corners. The seats are finished in good quality fabric, a wise choice considering how hot faux leather gets during Indian summers. 

The driver’s seat is well contoured and makes you feel snug behind the wheel, but not cramped. The rear, although it can seat three, is best suited for two adults. The 268 litre boot can hold enough luggage for a road trip, as long as you’re willing to get creative with how you pack your bags.  

Maruti Suzuki Swift Comfort

The Swift has always been a comfortable place to be in no matter which seat you’re in. Behind the wheel you won’t feel cramped, whether it’s an office commute or a 12-hour-long road trip, and the seats have adequate cushioning to ensure you and your passengers are comfortable even after long hours behind the wheel. One big miss is the lack of rear AC vents, which aren’t present even in the top model. 

The Swift may be a fun-to-drive car, but that doesn’t mean that the suspension compromises on passenger comfort. Although the Swift hugs corners and is planted on highways, it handles bad roads just as well ensuring its occupants are not bouncing around. 

Maruti Suzuki Swift Performance and Handling

Back in 2005, the Swift won hearts with the way it drove. The 1.3 litre G13BB engine was paired to a slick gearbox, bolted onto a stiff chassis, and go-kart-like suspension that made it an enthusiast's dream. And through some wizardry over at Maruti Suzuki, the suspension handled Indian roads with aplomb keeping its occupants from bouncing like ping pong balls. The Swift available today comes with a smooth K-Series Dualjet engine, mated to a 5-speed manual or AMT transmission. 

The suspension is tuned to perfection, enabling you to handle winding roads and bad roads (163 mm ground clearance) with ease, and keeps the Swift planted on highways, with enough steering feel to keep you apprised of what’s going on on the road underneath you. The rev happy engine is economical and returns a fuel efficiency of 23 km/l. And although this comes at the cost of it being underpowered at lower RPMs, when you do put your foot to the floor, the Swift gets going with all the enthusiasm of a dog chasing a cat. And this dog usually catches the cat. 

Maruti Suzuki Swift Key Specifications

Maruti Suzuki Swift Safety Features

Even with safety features such as ABS, EBD and ESP, there is no escaping the fact that the Swift scored only one star in the Global NCAP ratings. While these features are good to have, the Swift doesn’t feel as well-built as say, the Hyundai i20, which is a 3/5 on the Global NCAP scale or the Tata Tiago, which is a 4/5.  

Maruti Suzuki Swift Technology and Infotainment

Now, don’t for a second think the Swift you buy today will lack any of the creature comforts a modern day car should have just because it was first sold in 2005. No sir, the Maruti Suzuki Swift has kept up with the times with regular updates and facelifts to not only stay relevant, but is also one of the best feature-loaded, value for money and comfortable cars you can buy today. 

The air conditioner with automatic climate control keeps the cabin cool as you blast your favourite tunes from the 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system that supports Android Auto and Apple CarPlay on your commute to work. Or perhaps you’re buying the Swift as a weekend getaway vehicle with the family—in which case you can let one of your passengers control the music through bluetooth while you enjoy the ease with which the Swift covers miles with the cruise control on.

Is the Maruti Suzuki Swift For You?

There are cars that are built and bought to suit specific use cases—cars that can handle bad roads, fun to drive, and comfortable. And then there is the Maruti Suzuki Swift. To put it simply, the Swift can be the perfect car for anyone. It can handle everything Indian conditions throw at it, is fun to drive, comfortable for a family and offers excellent reliability while being economical. The Swift is to Maruti Suzuki what M.S Dhoni in his prime was to the Indian cricket team—a do it all, jack of all trades as long as his team reached its destination. And the Swift is sure to always get you there.