Name: Suzuki Swift (2017 to 2024) | Expert Rating | The Car Expert
Item: Suzuki Swift
Rating: 56.0

Summary

The Suzuki Swift was a supermini-class small hatchback. This model was launched in the UK in 2017, and ran until 2024 when it was replaced by an all-new model.

There was a performance model called the Swift Sport that sat above the regular Swift range. We have a separate page for that model here.

The Suzuki Swift received a wider range of review scores from the UK motoring media than most cars over its production life, ranging from ‘Don’t Buy’ recommendations from some media sources to outstanding results from others.

The poorer reviews were largely due to the Swift’s relatively poor three-star safety rating in standard form (four stars for the top-spec SZ5 model) when many rival cars had five-star safety ratings.

As of March 2026, the Suzuki Swift holds a Used Car Expert Rating of B, with a score of 64%. It scores top marks for its low CO₂ emissions, while it also gets good grades for its low running costs and strong reliability record. However, its media review scores were poor, while its safety rating was poor to begin with and has now expired due to age anyway.

Key specifications

Body style: Five-door hatch
Engines: petrol only
Price: From £15,499 on-road

Launched: Spring 2017
Last updated: Autumn 2020
Discontinued: Spring 2024 (replaced by new model)

Image gallery

Media reviews

Highlighted reviews and road tests from across the UK automotive media. Click any of the boxes to view.

The Car Expert

Model reviewed: (range review)
Score: 8.4 / 10
“Aside from a less than stellar touchscreen infotainment system, the Suzuki Swift is an impressive package.”
Read review

Auto Express

Model reviewed: Range overview (facelift)
Score: 6 / 10
“The Suzuki Swift isn’t without appeal. Unless you need the extra reassurance of 4WD, the SZ5 ALLGRIP model is hard to justify. Lower down the range, the small dimensions and perky chassis give the Swift old-school charm, but sadly the hard plastics and firm and noisy ride also feel a bit yesteryear.”
Read review

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 6 / 10
“The Suzuki Swift offers a decent drive and reasonable practicality, although rivals are more refined.”

Model reviewed: 1.2 Attitude Dualjet MT
Score: 7 / 10
“The Attitude trim level injects a little sporty style into the Suzuki Swift range without any extra expense.”
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Business Car

Model reviewed: Swift SZ5 Hybrid Dualjet 4W
Score: 7 / 10
“While the four-wheel drive version has little more than niche appeal, regular two-wheel drive models look worth considering for fleets on a budget, at the expense of some perceived quality and practicality.”
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Model reviewed: 1.2-litre petrol manual Attitude
Score: 7 / 10
“The Suzuki Swift Attitude is not really built for speed or power, despite looking pretty sporty. But we think a sporty car without the sporty running costs could make people at this level on the company car ladder feel rather happier than a typical economy model.”
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Model reviewed: 1.2-litre petrol manual SZ5 AllGrip
Score: 7 / 10
“This isn’t the version of the Suzuki Swift we’d buy. The small handling benefit of the AllGrip system doesn’t outweigh the compromises on price and running costs, and we’d probably opt for the 1.0-litre BoosterJet too as it’s a more characterful all-round engine.”
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Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 7 / 10
“Whether the Suzuki Swift has sufficient qualities to attract the customers Suzuki’s seriously ambitious sales targets demand, we’ll have to wait and see, but this version is certainly a good evolution of an already successful and appealing car.”
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Carbuyer

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 7.2 / 10
“The latest Suzuki Swift builds on its predecessor’s appeal, but can’t topple the supermini class leaders.” (Charlie Harvey)

Carwow

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 7 / 10
“The Suzuki Swift is a small hatchback with some economical engines and a surprisingly roomy interior but alternatives are more comfortable to drive and come with more equipment.”

Evo

Model reviewed: (range review)
Score: 8 / 10
“Latest supermini is an accomplished Fiesta alternative – and whets the appetite for the Swift Sport”
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Green Car Guide

Model reviewed: 1.2-litre petrol (mild hybrid) manual SZ5
Score: 7 / 10
“The Suzuki Swift is a compact, lightweight and fun to drive supermini, it also has a mild hybrid system and all-wheel drive, making it rather unique.”
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Heycar

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 7 / 10
“The Suzuki Swift isn’t perfect, with a small boot, an unsettled ride, high insurance costs and an iffy safety record. However, it’s a very likeable car thanks to its funky styling, thrill-a-minute handling and rev-hungry engines, and there’s much more to like besides. Utterly charming.”

Honest John

Model reviewed: (range review)
Score: 10 / 10
“The Suzuki Swift is easily one of the best small hatchbacks around. Forgive some slightly cheap-looking interior plastics and a slightly small boot and there’s really nothing else to pick fault with – the driving experience, running costs, price, and equipment levels make it a superb buy.”
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Model reviewed: 1.0-litre Boosterjet petrol automatic
“Happily, the latest Suzuki Swift is every bit as good as the previous Swift and then some. Steering, handling, agility and the sheer joy of driving it beat every other car the same size, including Fiestas, Mazda 2s and Minis.”
Read review

Parkers

Model reviewed: Range review
Score: 8.2 / 10
“Fun-to-drive alternative to the mainstream offerings”

The Telegraph

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 7 / 10
“The Suzuki Swift is a well-equipped car with an excellent 1.0-litre turbocharged engine. True, the boot is still smaller than you’ll find in rivals, but it is not the deal-breaker it once was. If you value a fun drive and can live with the firmer than average ride, it’s well worth considering.”

Top Gear

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 6 / 10
“Suzuki’s funkiest product has had the funk dialled down a bit by newly pragmatic hybrid versions.”

Safety rating

Independent crash test and safety ratings from Euro NCAP

Overall score: 3 stars
Date tested: May 2017
Date expired: January 2024
Read the full Euro NCAP review

Adult protection: 83%
Child protection: 75%
Vulnerable road users: 69%
Safety assist: 25%

Note on safety rating
The Suzuki Swift received a three-star safety rating from Euro NCAP in standard specification, which in the UK applies to the Swift SZ3 and SZ-T models. The top-spec SZ5 model gets additional safety equipment included, which bumps it up to a four-star rating.

The Suzuki Swift was originally crash tested by Euro NCAP back in 2017 and received a three-star safety rating in standard specification, which in the UK applied to the Swift SZ3 and SZ-T models. The top-spec SZ5 model included additional safety equipment included, which bumps it up to a four-star rating.

However, these ratings expired in January 2024 and are no longer valid as the car no longer meets the standards required. This is normal practice, as Euro NCAP reviews its ratings on most cars annually with most ratings expiring after about six or seven years.

Although the ratings have now expired, the score is still useful if you are comparing a used Swift to vehicles of similar age – whose ratings will have probably also expired.

Eco rating

Independent economy and emissions ratings from Green NCAP

No eco rating

The Suzuki Swift was not lab tested by Green NCAP during its production life.

Reliability rating

Reliability data provided exclusively for The Car Expert by MotorEasy

Total claims: 46
Average repair cost: £286.38
Last updated: April 2025

Reliability score

All data based on MotorEasy average workshop costs for extended car warranty claims

The Suzuki Swift has an excellent reliability score, according to exclusive extended warranty data provided by our partners at MotorEasy. This score covers both this model Swift and the previous (pre-2017) generations.

Faults are reportedly cheap to fix across the board for Swift owners, with engine, suspension and braking system repairs being the most common.

If you’re looking at a used Suzuki Swift, make sure any extended warranty cover you purchase covers all of these potential problem areas.

Running cost rating

Monthly cost of ownership data provided exclusively for The Car Expert by Clear Vehicle Data

Fuel consumption	Average	Score
Petrol models	57 mpg	B
Hybrid models	55 mpg	B

CO₂ output	Average	Score	Variation	Score
Petrol models	112 g/km	B
Hybrid models	116 g/km	B

Insurance group	Average	Score	Variation	Score
All models	21	B

Service and maintenance	Cost	Score
Year 1	£150	A
Year 2	£452	B
Year 3	£715	B
Year 4	£892	A
Year 5	£1,243	B
Overall	£3,452	A

The Suzuki Swift is a pretty affordable car to own and run, according to whole-life cost numbers provided exclusively to The Car Expert by our data partner, Clear Vehicle Data.

The fuel consumption of both petrol and diesel models is good when compared to hatchback rivals, and beyond that, it’s A-grades across the board for the Swift. Insurance and maintenance costs are predicted to be very affordable.