India’s largest carmaker Maruti Suzuki India (MSIL) has introduced the fourth-generation version of its popular hatchback – Swift – in the country. The new Maruti Suzuki Swift ranges from Rs 6.49 lakh to Rs 9.65 lakh, ex-showroom. The car is also available for a monthly subscription price starting at Rs 17,436 from Maruti Suzuki Subscribe.
The company says it has invested a total of Rs 1,450 crore into bringing this new Suzuki model to India, with the capex going into developing new tools and dies to manufacture the product at its plant in India, as well as in the development of the new Z-series three-cylinder petrol engine that now powers this hatchback, which has seen a cumulative 3-million-units sales in India since its first introduction in the country in 2005. This implies that a notable 46 percent of Swift’s global 6.5-million-units sales have come from India.
As per Partho Banerjee, Senior Executive Officer, Marketing and Sales, MSIL, “The Swift has played a key role in giving us a lion’s share of the country’s premium hatchback segment, wherein we command a notable 62 percent market share by end-March 2024.”
A comprehensive update
The fourth-generation Swift comes across as a major upgrade over its predecessor with the model now boasting significant changes in terms of its safety attributes and driving dynamics. The car continues to be based on the Suzuki Heartect platform with the same dimensions as the outgoing model, but now offers six airbags and ESC, as standard fitment across trims. The body-in-white gets 45 percent high-tensile steel with 20 percent ultra-high-tensile steel in its sheet-metal construction.
The car now gets a more appealing design with modern elements such as projector headlamps, LED tail lamps, as well as a newly-designed dashboard that is inclined towards the driver. The Swift gets a 9-inch infotainment system with Apple Carplay and Android Auto making its way into the cabin from its bigger sibling – Baleno.
The seats get new fabric upholstery across the range, restyled central air-con vents, new HVAC switchgear, and a slightly modified analogue instrument cluster with a 4.2-inch digital MID.
The top-spec Swift ZXI+ will sport the aforementioned touchscreen, a wireless phone charger, rear AC vents, LED fog lamps, cruise control, auto climate control, push button start/stop, steering-mounted controls, a rear camera, and power adjustable and folding ORVMs. However, even the entry-level Swift LXI is decently equipped this time around. Along with standard safety kit such as six airbags, ISOFIX anchors, rear parking sensors, ABS with EBD, ESC and hill start assist.
All-new powertrain
The new Swift comes powered by a newly developed 1.2-litre, three-cylinder Z-series engine that bumps up low-end torque by up to 3.5 percent, thereby delivering higher efficiency in city driving conditions. MSIL claims up to 14 percent efficiency enhancement over the erstwhile 1.2-litre, four-cylinder, K-series engine, to a claimed 24.8kpl for the MT, and 25.75kpl for the AMT variant, respectively. The engine develops 82hp of power and 112Nm of peak torque, and comes mated to a five-speed manual and AMT options.
The engine features an electric water pump, optimised intake port design, a lambda air-flow sensor, and a high-porosity exhaust catalyst. As a result, MSIL claims the new powertrain reduces emissions by up to 12 percent compared to the erstwhile 1.2-litre, four-cylinder K-series unit.
Thanks to the new Z12E engine that replaces the older K12 unit, the Swift is not only about 3kpl for frugal, but it ranks amongst India’s most fuel-efficient hatchbacks. The new 1.2-litre Z Series engine comes with 5-speed manual and 5-speed AMT gearbox options, and produces 82hp and 112Nm of peak torque. That’s a drop of 8hp and 1Nm over the outgoing Swift.
