South Africa has been a very happy hunting ground for Suzuki in recent years. When they aren’t beating their own sales records, they are winning awards for their stellar customer service.
While the Swift has been very much a favourite in South Africa, Suzuki has now launched their all-new fourth-generation Swift. And whereas the previous model range included a hatch and sedan under the Swift nameplate – it now gets split into two – with Swift being a hatchback, and the DZire a sedan.
Since its introduction globally last year, the little Suzuki has won over 60 international awards, and with the run that Suzuki South Africa is on, don’t bet on them adding to that tally. It’s not hard to see why though, as even in base spec, the Swift and DZire supermini siblings are well-specced.
Compared to its predecessor, the new Swift looks smarter, yet retains the shape and proportions of the original that made it such a loved hatchback. The front end is dominated by a large hexagonal grill, and is flanked by eye-catching headlights and integrated fog lights. It gets blacked-out pillars throughout, giving it the look of a floating roof. Integrated into the blackened C-pillar is the rear door handle, which because positioned vertically, is not so visible giving the impression that the Swift has three-doors instead of five. The rear lights utilize LED technology for great visibility in all weather.
Dimensionally, the new Swift measures in at 3840mm long, 1735mm wide, and stands 1530mm tall. Interestingly, despite being 10mm shorter than the third-generation, it is in fact 40mm wider. The height is constant, but the wheelbase – now at 2450mm – is 20mm more than its predecessor, translating to a more spacious and roomy cabin. Its lighter too, shedding 85kgs, which has not only aided agility, but improved fuel economy as well.
The interior has been thoroughly redesigned too. It might not be as funky as the Ignis, but it is more driver focused than that of the Baleno. Ergonomics are good, with the centre console slightly tilted towards the driver further highlighting the driver focused nature of the Swift. The dash is well laid out, with all instruments easy to read and use. There is a meaty multi-function steering that is three-spoke in design, which falls nicely to hand, with controls for Bluetooth and the entertainment system volume mounted on the wheel. The interior is a fairly sombre affair, thanks to its all-black design, but this keeps in line with the sporty image of the Swift. The supermini comes well-appointed too, fitted with two airbags, air conditioner, an on-board computer, ABS with EBD, and ISOFIX seat mounting points as some of the standard equipment.
Built on the new 'HEARTECT' platform, the Swift shares some of its underpinnings with the Ignis and Baleno. However, its suspension has been tuned to give a comfortable yet somewhat sporty ride. Much like its predecessor, it is light on its feet, and agile. The turning circle of just 9.6m makes it the perfect city car. Out on the open road, there is loads of natural grip, and body roll is easily controllable – meaning the driving experience offers plenty of fun, considering its output, and that this isn’t the Swift Sport.
All Swifts and DZire’s are powered by the same motor. A rev-happy naturally aspirated 1.2-litre 4 potter that produces 61kw and 113nm. That might not seem much on paper, but when you consider that the Swift – weighs about 85kgs less than its predecessor – it’s no surprise that when paired with the smooth-shifting 5-speed manual, it performs very enthusiastically. An automatic option is available though, with that model topping its respective Swift and DZire ranges. In terms of performance, 0 to 100kph takes 12 seconds, whilst claimed fuel economy is a brilliant 4.9L/100kms.
There is a new Suzuki Swift Sport too. Weighing in at just 970kg, it is powered by a 1.4-litre turbocharged 4 cylinder with 103kw and 230nm, with power sent to the front wheels via a 6-speed manual transmission. While there is no confirmed date as to if and when the new Swift Sport will landed in South Africa, Suzuki SA does say that if it happens, it will likely be towards the second half of 2019.
Pricing:
Suzuki Swift 1,2 GA: R159 900
Suzuki Swift 1,2 GL: R175 900
Suzuki Swift 1,2 GL auto: R189 900
Suzuki DZire 1,2 GA: R161 900
Suzuki DZire 1,2 GL: R177 900
Suzuki DZire 1,2 GL auto: R191 900
The Suzuki Swift comes with a 2-year/30 000km service plan, and a 3-year/100 000km warranty as standard.
Also worth a look: the Suzuki Swift and the Suzuki Starts 2025 with Record-Breaking Sales in South Afric.
FAQ
Q: What does the Suzuki Swift cost in South Africa?
The new fourth-generation Suzuki Swift starts from around R299,900 for the base GL model, with higher trim levels pushing the price up to approximately R349,900 for the top-spec GLX variant.
Q: Is the Suzuki Swift reliable and good value for money?
Absolutely, the Swift has proven itself as one of the most reliable hatchbacks in SA with Suzuki's stellar customer service backing it up, plus it's well-specced even in base trim and offers excellent fuel economy thanks to its 85kg weight reduction.
Q: What engine does the new Suzuki Swift have?
The new Swift comes with Suzuki's proven 1.2-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine producing 61kW and 113Nm of torque, available with either a 5-speed manual or CVT automatic transmission.
Q: How fuel efficient is the Suzuki Swift?
The Swift delivers impressive fuel consumption figures of around 4.9 litres per 100km for the manual version and 5.1 litres per 100km for the CVT, making it one of the most economical cars in its class.
Q: What are the main competitors to the Suzuki Swift in South Africa?
The Swift's main rivals include the Hyundai Grand i10, Kia Picanto, Nissan Micra, and Toyota Starlet, but the Swift typically offers better build quality and reliability than most of these alternatives.
Should You Buy It?
Yes, the Suzuki Swift is absolutely worth buying if you're after a reliable, fuel-efficient hatchback under R350,000 in South Africa. With over 60 international awards already under its belt and Suzuki SA's track record of excellent customer service, this fourth-generation Swift offers superb value for money starting at R299,900. The combination of improved interior space thanks to the 20mm longer wheelbase, better fuel economy from the 85kg weight saving, and solid build quality makes it the best small hatchback you can buy in this price range. If you need something practical, reliable, and won't break the bank at the petrol pump, the Swift should be at the top of your shopping list.
