All-new Suzuki Swift undercuts Vauxhall Corsa, costs from under £19k

• New engine with mild-hybrid system
• Lots of new assistance and safety kit
• On sale in the UK from April 3rd

There’s an all-new Suzuki Swift for 2024, packing more technology than its predecessors but retaining a focus on affordability with its starting price of just £18,699. 

With Ford axing the Fiesta hatchback and more manufacturers choosing to focus on ever-popular SUVs, the new Japanese supermini is a welcome addition to the small car market. At under £19,000, the Swift is aimed squarely at Vauxhall Corsa buyers, offering them a similarly-sized hatchback with a mild hybrid system at a lower price. Perhaps the Swift’s biggest rival will be the newly-revealed MG3, which packs self-charging hybrid tech for even less money.

What’s new about the all-new Suzuki Swift?

As this is a new generation of Swift and not just a facelift, Suzuki appears to have given its hatchback a rework in every department, from interior tech to the engine under the bonnet. 

The first thing to note about the new Suzuki Swift is the exterior. The new car’s styling is certainly familiar compared to the outgoing model, but now gets a sharper front end with a new, taller gloss-black grill and L-shaped daytime-running lights integrated into the headlights. The new Swift loses the round fog lights of the old model and the Suzuki badge now sits above the grille.

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The bonnet line sweeps across the front of the car in a continuous arc, flowing into the body lines that extend to the rear lights. Those rear lights are new too, and sit above a redesigned rear bumper. The rear door handles that were hidden in the window frames of the current-generation Swift have been replaced by traditional items mounted on the doors.

Buyers will be able to choose from eight single-tone paint colours, as well as four dual-tone paint options that come with a contrasting black roof. 

What’s the new Swift’s interior like?

The biggest change for the Swift appears to have been reserved for the interior. The star of the show is a new 9-inch infotainment touchscreen that sits atop the dashboard, complete with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility. There’s USB connectivity, voice-recognition and Bluetooth, and the climate control dials of the current model have been replaced by a slim row of buttons.

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The dual-tone black and grey interior trim helps provide a splash of visual interest, although we’re yet to see if the interior materials have improved from the current model’s rather uninspiring plastics.

Does the new Swift have any other features I should know about?

During our in-depth review, we were impressed by the outgoing Suzuki Swift’s list of safety and assistance features, and it appears that this has carried through to the new model.

There’s an advanced brake assistance feature that can automatically apply the brakes if it detects an imminent collision. Lane keeping assistance, adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning, blind spot monitoring and traffic-sign recognition are all present, along with a new driver monitoring system. This uses a camera mounted within the instrument cluster to monitor the driver’s eyes and face, sounding a warning alarm if it suspects the driver is drowsy or falling asleep.

There will only be one engine available; a new 1.2-litre three-cylinder petrol unit, assisted by a mild-hybrid system. We don’t know specific performance details yet, but Suzuki claims this system will bring improved economy and responsiveness. Those planning to use their Swift in particularly slippery conditions can option the ‘ALLGRIP AUTO’ four-wheel drive system,  carried over from the current Swift. 

How much will the new Swift cost and when can I order one?

The new Suzuki Swift costs from £18,699 – around £200 more than the MG3 but nearly £1,000 less than the cheapest Vauxhall Corsa. For extra kit, buyers can upgrade to Ultra trim for a £1,100 fee, while the four-wheel drive Swift in top-spec trim will cost £21,049. Order books are open from April 3rd.

What does this mean for car buyers?

The current supermini market is somewhat dwindling, so it’s refreshing to see that Suzuki will be renewing the Swift for another generation. The Suzuki Swift has always been somewhat of a left-field choice compared to the Volkswagen Polo, Renault Clio and Dacia Sandero, but if the new car can improve on the old model’s lacklustre interior finish, it should be a more compelling purchase than before.

This, combined with its hybrid tech and a long list of safety features could also help to make it a real contender this time around. We’ll have to wait until our in-depth test to find out.

Read our list of the top 10 best superminis to see what the new Swift is up against...