Suzuki Swift (2005 – 2010) Review
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Suzuki Swift (2005 – 2010) At A Glance
Decent handling. Fun to drive.
A little bit tinny. Do not jack by the rear twist beam axle or it will need replacing.
This car surprised me.
I'd driven a Swift before at an SMMT test day and not been particularly impressed. But maybe that's because I drove twenty other cars the same day.
I really liked the 1.5GLX Suzuki sent me this week.
I knew readers had the hots for it because of all the e-mails I received from the Suzuki Swift fan club. So I thought I'd better make a longer acquaintance with the car.
Reviews for Suzuki Swift (2005 – 2010)'s top 3 rivals
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Suzuki Swift (2005 – 2010) handling and engines
- Engines range from 1.3 DDiS to Sport
- Readers report Real MPG to be between 29–61 mpg
The Swift 1.5 has plenty of low down grunt too. You can row it along economically like a diesel, not needing high revs.
The steering is light, but with plenty of feel. With a wheel in each corner and quite wide track it feels well ‘planted'. That eagerness translates to a bit of harshness on the motorway. But that's the natural penalty of its eager, dodgem car ability.
There were a few "issues" over the three years the car has been on UK roads, happily now resolved. One was a rattle behind the dash, that only seemed to affect 2005/2006 models.
The other was excessive rear tyre wear. It seems that early car rear suspension was not welded together properly aligned and the only cure was a new rear torsion beam.
So the Swift gets the thumbs up. It's a really likeable little car, sensibly priced, and a worthy competitor to the Yaris, Fiesta and Mazda 2.
| Engine | MPG | 0-62 | CO2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.3 | 49 mpg | 11.0 s | 140 g/km |
| 1.3 DDiS | 63 mpg | 14.2 s | 119 g/km |
| 1.5 | 44–46 mpg | 10.0–11.7 s | 143–153 g/km |
| Sport | 40 mpg | 8.9 s | 165 g/km |
Real MPG average for the Suzuki Swift (2005 – 2010)
Real MPG was created following thousands of readers telling us that their cars could not match the official figures.
Real MPG gives real world data from drivers like you to show how much fuel a vehicle really uses.
Average performance
89%
Real MPG
29–61 mpg
MPGs submitted
227
Suzuki Swift (2005 – 2010) interior
- Boot space is 213–562 litres
| Dimensions | |
|---|---|
| Length | 3695–3765 mm |
| Width | 1690 mm |
| Height | 1500 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2380 mm |
The 3-door is only a 4-seater (the 5-door has seats for 5), yet there's stacks of headroom in the back and the seats are very comfortable.
You can fold down the seatbacks very easily and they make an almost level, carpeted floor. The boot floor itself has space underneath and cleverly folds into two, then slots in behind the back seats if you want to leave the space open. The seats a re quite high, like a Yaris, which always suits more elderly drivers.
Suzuki Swift (2005 – 2010) models and specs
| Dimensions | |
|---|---|
| Length | 3695–3765 mm |
| Width | 1690 mm |
| Height | 1500 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2380 mm |
| Miscellaneous | |
|---|---|
| Kerb Weight | 1045–1140 kg |
| Boot Space | 213–562 L |
| Warranty | 3 years |
| Servicing | 9000 miles |
| Costs | |
|---|---|
| List Price | £8,995–£12,995 |
| Insurance Groups | 23 |
| Road Tax Bands | C–G |
| Official MPG | 40.4–62.8 mpg |
| Euro NCAP Safety Ratings | |
|---|---|
| Adult | 4 |
| Child | 3 |
| Pedestrian | 3 |
| Overall | - |
On sale until December 2011
| Hatchback | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Version | List Price | MPG | 0-62 |
| 1.6 Sport 3dr | £12,995 | 40.4 mpg | 8.9 s |
On sale until March 2010
| Hatchback | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Version | List Price | MPG | 0-62 |
| 1.3 DDiS SZ3 5dr | £11,005 | 62.8 mpg | 14.2 s |
| 1.3 SZ2 3dr | £9,395 | 48.7 mpg | 11.0 s |
| 1.3 SZ2 5dr | £9,755 | 48.7 mpg | 11.0 s |
| 1.3 SZ3 3dr | £9,925 | 48.7 mpg | 11.0 s |
| 1.3 SZ3 5dr | £10,285 | 48.7 mpg | 11.0 s |
| 1.3 SZ4 3dr | £10,640 | 48.7 mpg | 11.0 s |
| 1.3 SZ4 5dr | £11,000 | 48.7 mpg | 11.0 s |
| 1.5 SZ4 5dr Auto | £11,875 | 43.5 mpg | 11.7 s |
On sale until October 2009
| Hatchback | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Version | List Price | MPG | 0-62 |
| 1.3 DDiS 5dr | £11,250 | 62.8 mpg | 14.2 s |
| 1.3 GL 3dr | £8,995 | 48.7 mpg | 11.0 s |
| 1.3 GL 5dr | £9,350 | 48.7 mpg | 11.0 s |
| 1.5 GLX 3dr | £10,200 | 46.3 mpg | 10.0 s |
| 1.5 GLX 5dr | £10,550 | 46.3 mpg | 10.0 s |
| 1.5 GLX 5dr Auto | £11,400 | 43.5 mpg | 11.7 s |
Model History
- September 2004: All new Swift launched at Paris Motor Show
- September 2005
- October 2006: Swift Sport launched
- April 2008
- January 2009
- June 2009
- September 2009
September 2004
All new Swift launched at Paris Motor Show
3,695mm x 1,690mm x 1,500mm. Wheelbase: 2,390 mm. Available from Spring 2005 with choice of 1.3 litre or 1.5 litre VVT petrol engines, plus a 1.3 litre Fiat Multijet diesel. Seating: 4 in 3-door, 5 in 5-door
Engines/Transmissions:
1.3L petrol M13A: 5MT
1.5L petrol M15A+VVT: 5MT/4AT
1.3L diesel Z13DT: 5MT
Max power (kW/rpm)/Max torque (Nm/rpm)
1.3L petrol M13A: 67@6,000 114@4,000
1.5L petrol M15A+VVT: 75@6,000 133@4,000
1.3L diesel Z13DT: 51@4,000 170@2,000
1.3L available with four wheel drive.
September 2005
68PS diesel (125 lb ft torque) diesel from September 2005 at £9,750. Does 61.4mpg in combined cycle. Insurance group 4A. Japanese Car of the Year 2005 and 'Car' magazine Car of the Year 2005.
October 2006
Swift Sport launched
1.6 litre VVT engine. 0 to 62mph in 8.9 seconds. 17 inch alloy wheels. Red and black trim colour combination, sports seats and stylish highlights such as brushed stainless steel pedals. Uprated chassis features stiffer springs and dampers, with ESP® (Electronic Stability Control) providing an added sense of security. Standard equipment includes automatic air conditioning, curtain airbags, MP3-audio compatibility, front foglamps, steering wheel audio controls and Keyless start. UK list £11,500 on the road.
April 2008
1.3-litre DDiS CO2 reduced from from 124g/km to 119g/km. The 1.3-litre common rail Fiat diesel engine with turbocharger and intercooler provides 125 lb ft (170 Nm) at 2000 rpm. Same quick-shifting five-speed manual transmission as petrol models and is capable of 61.4 mpg in the Combined cycle.
The 1.3-litre DDiS is priced at £10,515 and pricing for the Swift range starts at £8,260 for the three door 1.3-litre GL model, rising to £11,915 for the high performance 123hp 1.6-litre Sport.
January 2009
The following On The Road (OTR) prices applied to the Suzuki automobiles range as of 12 January, 2009.
1.3 GL 3 Door MT £8,350.00
1.3 SE 3 Door Attitude MT £9,850.00
1.3 GL 5 Door MT £8,700.00
1.5 GLX 3 Door MT £9,400.00
1.5 GLX 5 Door MT £9,750.00
1.5 GLX 5 Door AT £10,600.00
1.3 DDiS 5 Door MT £10,550.00
Sport 1.6 3 Door MT £11,750.00
June 2009
Suzuki announced a range of alloy wheel and tyre packages for the Swift in 3 three variations; 16-inch Bremen, 17-inch Frankfurt and 17-inch Leipzig. All three wheel styles are suitable for all Swift 1.3 GL, DDiS and 1.5 GLX models and are supplied and pre-fitted with premium quality Pirelli PZero Nero tyres. Retail prices are listed below:
16-inch Bremen Wheel / Tyre set £799 (set of 4 incl. VAT)
17inch Frankfurt Wheel / Tyre set £859 (set of 4 incl. VAT)
17-inch Leipzig Wheel / Tyre set £1,159 (set of 4 incl. VAT)
September 2009
New SZ-L limited edition model with even higher level of standard equipment for added customer value. SZ-L is based on 1.3-litre GL five-door. Additional equipment includes air conditioning, pearlescent or metallic paint, 15-inch alloy wheels, side protection mouldings, interior carpet mats and chrome finish for the exterior door handles, front grille and rear tailgate trim. Heated door mirrors on the SZ-L incorporate turn signal indicators and are electrically retractable.
Chrome bezels are added to the instrument meters and the door trims and audio surround have aluminium effect detailing. The limited edition SZ-L is priced at £10,250 and available in four colours; Cool White Pearl, Cosmic Black Pearl, Supreme Red Pearl and Silky Silver metallic. Just 500 cars will be available. Group 4 insurance; combined fuel consumption 48.7mpg and emissions are 140g/km. 92PS 1.3-litre Yaris based engine offers 0-60mph achieved in 10.7 seconds and a top speed of 109mph.
What to watch out for
One reader reported a clunk when reversing his Swift 1.5 on full right lock. Four visits to dealer did not rectify it. Various parts replaced including driveshafts and brake calipers. Fault was found to be in the hubs.
Numerous reports of very annoying dashboard rattle, requiring removal of dashboard to fix, which some Suzuki dealers are unwilling to do.
Reports that rear tyres are wearing badly on the outside edges, almost down to the wear indicators, whilst insides are fine. Front tyres seem to be wearing unevenly as well at 9000 miles. Reported on three owners forums. Seems that rear axle is not being welded together properly and causes wheel alignment to be incorrect. Cannot be adjusted so solution is to swap the entire rear axle for one which has been manufactured correctly. Changing the spindles or shimming them helps, but is not the proper fix. In UK, some owners have been getting new tyres under warranty, but as of March 07 no "official" fix for the problem.
Forums mentioned that jacking the car up using the torsion beam at the rear could cause the wheel alignment to be distorted, but the Swift has a big yellow sticker on it telling you not to do this.
One complaint of a load area leak either from the rear light clusters, hatchback seal or rear vent flaps.
One report of early n/s then o/s front wheel bearing failure after 4 years.
Swift Sports come on 195/45 R17 tyres, which is an unusual size in the UK and makes them both difficult to find and expensive. Best changed for 205/45 R17s that don't change the rolling circumference enough to worry about and are much more common so therefore cheaper.
Some reports in 2010 of manual transmission bearing failures after 4 - 5 years, similar to reports of bearing failures in the same box in Toyota Yaris. Also reports of gearlever linkage problems.
24-02-2011:Report of burning smell from clutch of 2009/6,000 mile Swift.
24-02-2011:Report of dust caps on rear dampers coming off, causing a crashing noise.
07-02-2015:Report of first gear bearing failing on 33k mile 2008 Suzuki Swift 4x4. Cost to fix £1,400.
13-12-2016:Trouble reported with 2008 Suzuki Swift 1.3 DDIS which runs the FIAT 1.3 Multijet engine. If you put your foot down to around half throttle or higher at around 2.5-3k revs, the car loses all power for around 2-3 seconds as if the car is trying to turn off and then performs sluggishly for around 5-10 minutes, the service light comes on for the first 2-3 seconds as well. Owner took it to local Suzuki dealership who have changed the immobilizer ECU, both Keys and the MAP Sensor yet the issue still persists, they are now saying the car needs a new ECM which is £940 just for the part. Needs specialist attention by someone familiar with this engine in FIATs and Vauxhalls as well as Suzukis. Probably DPF active regeneration system.
26-06-2017:Problems reported with gearchange of 2008 Suzuki Swoft with 24,000 miles. "Every once in a while its impossible to select first gear when at a junction and sometimes when wanting to pull away we find we are in 3rd gear. Apparently a couple of screws work loose with the selector which causes the problem." Not unknown for input shaft bearing to fail (see 7-2-2015).
