Maruti Suzuki Swift 2011 Review

So “What’s Different?” “What’s changed?”, the changes become apparent when you see the car in the flesh. Yes, there is no doubting the fact that it retains the same silhouette and overall shape, but what needs to be understood is that this new car is an evolution in design of a cult brand. Enough has been changed to make it a new car, yet signature traits have been incorporated to ensure that the link to its predecessor remains intact. Another way to look at this is to just think about all the elements of the Swift you liked, and I assure you will find them in this car as well. Now think of all the elements you would like to enhance and you will find that most of these major elements have also been incorporated. Obviously the task at hand was to make the best better without moving too far away from the original theme and in that regard the new Swift is spot on.

Built on an all new platform, the new MSIL Swift is longer than its predecessor by 50mm and the result is a visible size difference that actually makes the car look more complete than the outgoing model. The new Swift retains the quintessential round look, however elements like the headlights and taillights boast of a stretched look, the wheel arches are more pronounced, the shoulder line as well as the rear have more of a curve to them and all of these elements come together to give the car a sportier, more crisp look that is undoubtedly going to be an immediate hit with Swift fans. Completing the exterior package are the large 185/65 R15 tyres shot with alloys on the high end versions. The increase in tyre size vastly enhances the Swift’s appeal factor and if you thought the original car was a hot hatch, then it’s a given that you will find this new one a lot hotter. The lower range models get 165/80 R14 tyres, which still look decent, but I would recommend an upgrade to the 15 inch wheels if you do go for a lower end model.

The interiors have received a higher level of treatment than the exteriors and you will be hard pressed to find any similarities between latest model and its predecessor. The first thing that strikes you about the interiors is the amount of space. Thanks to the increase in length, the new MSIL Swift is now at par with its direct competition when it comes to interior space. The quality of the materials used has also improved drastically and you can’t find any of that cheap quality plastic around, which is possibly the best thing that MSIL could have done with this new car. Further to this, the new Swift boasts of a fresh contoured dashboard and central console.


The inspiration is definitely from the larger Kizashi and has been executed to give the entire cabin a more up market feel. In terms of features, the Swift comes fully loaded with a CD player, USB port, steering mounted controls and an in dash multi information display (MID). It would have been nice if MSIL included a Bluetooth interface with the car stereo system as this is increasingly becoming the norm in this segment and customers are going to demand it, however it was the only element I could find missing and hopefully MSIL will address this, should they witness enough customer feedback on the same. Apart from that, there is nothing more that you could really want from a car in the premium hatchback segment when it comes to the interiors.

Probably the only department where the difference isn’t drastic between the older model and the new Swift lies under the hood. The engines from the outgoing Swift have been carried over to the new car, so you essentially have the K-Series 1.2 litre petrol and the 1.3 litre DDiS diesel mills to choose from. Now, I did say that there is a small change in this department and that is the inclusion of a Variable Valve Timing system which helps the engine breathe better, offer optimum performance, enhance fuel efficiency and lower carbon emissions. The 1197cc petrol engine now generates 87PS @ 6000 rpm and a decent torque of 114Nm at 4000 rpm. The earlier K-Series made 82PS so there is a slight increase in power that translates to a smoother drive.

The 1248cc DDiS diesel mill remains the same and offers a stellar 75PS @ 4000 rpm and a more than decent torque of 190Nm @ 2000 rpm. Both versions are mated to 5 speed gearboxes that incidentally are different from the outgoing version’s transmission and these new boxes offer smoother gear transitions. Between the two engines, the diesel scores higher on our list as it offers a better driving experience thanks to the oodles of torque it generates. Unfortunately MSIL isn’t offering an automatic box on the Swift just as yet, but that is a possibility in the future. Both engines are rather fuel efficient and according to ARAI data the petrol delivers an average mileage of 18.6 kilometers to the liter and the diesel delivers a stonking 22.9 kilometers to the liter. In real world conditions these figures will drop, however expect the Swift to remain above par on fuel efficiency even then.

Another aspect that hasn’t changed, and for a good reason too, is the drive dynamics. The new Swift comes fitted with what MSIL calls RBSS, basically a rally based suspension set up. With learnings from JWRC and our very own Indian rallies such as Desert Storm and Raid de Himalaya, the suspension system has been designed to be robust yet offer a rather decent ride quality. Push the car around a tight corner and she holds her line extremely well. No doubt the larger tyres have a role to play here, but there is more to the story than meets the eye. Despite an increase in size, the new MSIL Swift is 30 kilograms (petrol version) lighter than its predecessor and the diesel manages to be 15 kilograms lighter. A better stance and a lighter body also contribute to the Swift’s engaging driving dynamics.

The end result being a car that you enjoy pushing to the limit and it holds its own. With such an engaging drive it’s comforting to know that MSIL has also enhanced the safety features on the car. The new MSIL Swift boasts of ABS, dual SRS airbags , braking with a Boost Assist System (BAS) and increased torsional rigidity, making it a rather safe hatch to be in.

Overall the new MSIL Swift takes the evolution of the Swift brand to a new level. Everything about the car is more crisp and essentially you get a feeling of being offered a lot more car than before and that is a boon considering the changing market dynamics. In 2005 when MSIL rolled out the Swift it set a benchmark for the premium hatchback segment. Now with competition having grown so much, the Swift was definitely getting old in the tooth, but it possessed immense brand value and had a strong fan following. The new Swift retains those values yet manages to take the game more than just a notch higher.

From the looks of it, the new Swift is here to reset the benchmark and the competition might as well start planning their arsenal. With the ability to rule the roost, the only factor that will seal the new Swift’s fate as kingpin of the premium hatchback segment is its pricing. Maruti has been known to price its small cars extremely aggressively and we hope to see that with this car as well.

Source: zigwheels