Passenger room is competitive with its supermini rivals
Boot not the biggest in the sector
Low seating position not for everyone
How much space is there?
Although this generation of Swift is quite a short car by class standards, it’s also relatively spacious, with good headroom in particular.
Journeys with three adults in the back are best kept short, but there’s enough legroom and overall cabin width to offer rear passengers a surprisingly comfortable environment. Note however that rear electric windows are only available on the top-spec models.
Otherwise the Swift has all the hallmarks of the supermini genre, being compact and easy to manoeuvre in confined spaces.
The boot capacity is 265 litres, which means it’s no class leader. It has a high loading lip, too, which makes putting heavy objects in more difficult than it needs to be. If you want a bigger boot, we’d go for a Renault Clio, Skoda Fabia, Dacia Sandero or Kia Rio.
There’s an impressive assortment of cubbies and cupholders in the front cabin, too, even if the materials surrounding them does feel a little cheap.
All models other than the entry-level version come with a rear-view camera and rear parking sensors, which make it a cinch to position the Swift in the tightest of spaces. Even without those, the Swift is a compact car with relatively upright surfaces, so it’s easy to judge where its extremities are.
Along with that, there’s a good view out in all directions via large windows and all of the controls are light, so twirling the steering from one side to the other is no chore at all. The turning circle is tight, too, making the Swift feel a
How big is it?
All Suzuki Swift models
Length
3,845mm (3,890mm for Swift Sport)
Width (without mirrors)
1,735mm
Height
1,495mm (1,520mm when AllGrip AWD fitted)
How safe is it?
Only a three-star Euro NCAP crash test result
Rises to four stars on all versions other than SZ-L
Even more equipment fitted since 2017 test
When tested by the crash-testing experts at Euro NCAP in 2017, the Swift was split into two levels of competence. When fitted with the basic level of safety equipment, the result is a poor three-star score. Thankfully, that only applies to the entry-level SZ-L car. All others, including the Sport, come with much more advanced safety kit, and that means a more acceptable four-star rating – still lagging behind many of its tougher supermini rivals, though.
That lack of kit makes it difficult to recommend the SZ-L on safety grounds, particularly when you consider how much extra you get for your money on the higher-spec models. Those Swifts come with:
Drowsiness warning – set-off when the systems detect the car’s weaving
More commonplace safety kit such as six airbags, ABS brakes and electronic stability control is standard across the whole Swift range.
For additional security, the SZ5 is also available with AllGrip, a four-wheel-drive system that diverts power to the rear wheels when it senses the front ones don’t have optimum traction. In reality, few people in Britain live in areas where this is a vital addition, so it’s not a package we’d recommend – a set of winter tyres would be significantly less expensive.
Watch the Euro NCAP crash test video
Basic equipment
The basic equipment list includes equipment that is standard across all versions of the Suzuki Swift Hatchback.
3x3 point rear seat belts
ABS
Air conditioning
Audio remote
Body coloured bumpers
Cloth seat trim
Driver`s airbag
Electric mirrors
Folding rear seats
Front electric windows
Heated mirrors
Height adjustable drivers seat
Isofix child seat anchor points
PAS
Passenger`s airbag
Remote locking
Side airbags
Steering wheel rake adjustment
Traction control
Equipment by trim level
To view equipment options for a specific trim level, please select from the following list:
Equipment included on some trim levels
Alarm
Alloy wheels
CD
Climate control
Front fog lights
Metallic Paint
Parking sensors
Rear electric windows
Sat Nav
Steel wheels
Steering wheel reach adjustment
Attitude equipment
Attitude standard equipment
Alloy wheels
Front fog lights
Parking sensors
Attitude optional equipment
Alarm
CD
Steel wheels
Sport equipment
Sport standard equipment
Alarm
Alloy wheels
Front fog lights
Metallic Paint
Parking sensors
Rear electric windows
Sat Nav
Steering wheel reach adjustment
Sport optional equipment
None available
SZ3 equipment
SZ3 standard equipment
CD
Steel wheels
SZ3 optional equipment
None available
SZ5 equipment
SZ5 standard equipment
Alloy wheels
Front fog lights
Parking sensors
Rear electric windows
Sat Nav
Steering wheel reach adjustment
SZ5 optional equipment
Alarm
Climate control
SZ-L equipment
SZ-L standard equipment
Alarm
Alloy wheels
Front fog lights
Parking sensors
SZ-L optional equipment
None available
SZ-T equipment
SZ-T standard equipment
Alloy wheels
Front fog lights
Parking sensors
SZ-T optional equipment
Alarm
Euro NCAP Rating – 3 stars
The Suzuki Swift Hatchback was tested by Euro NCAP in 2017 and was awarded a 3 star overall rating.
This overall rating is calculated from the following individual ratings:
Euro NCAP provides motoring consumers with a realistic and independent assessment of the safety performance of some of the most popular cars sold in Europe.
The safety ratings are determined from a series of vehicle tests, designed and carried out by Euro NCAP.
These tests represent, in a simplified way, important real life accident scenarios that could result in injured or killed car occupants or other road users.