Suzuki Swift review - MPG, running costs & CO2 emissions

Affordable motoring is the name of the game when it comes to the Suzuki Swift, and it comes with a solitary 1.2-litre mild-hybrid engine option. This time it’s a three-cylinder unit, which is designed to be even more economical, delivering 7mpg more than the four-cylinder of the same size from the outgoing car.

While the Suzuki Swift can’t quite beat the fuel economy of some full hybrids such as the Toyota Yaris, which gets up to 70.6mpg, it’s not too far behind with mpg figures that match those of the MG3 in the mid-60s – bear in mind, however, that the MG3 manages this at a lower price and with over twice as much power on offer. The Swift also costs around the same amount as a Skoda Fabia, but the most economical version of the Czech model uses a more traditional turbocharged 1.0-litre engine with official mpg in the mid 50s.

The Suzuki Swift emits 99g/km of CO2, which is actually roughly on par with the CO2 emissions of the Yaris and the MG3. That means it doesn’t quite qualify for free VED (road tax) or exemption from the London Congestion Charge, but it does sit in a reasonably low Benefit-in-Kind (BiK) band for company-car buyers.
 

How efficient is the Suzuki Swift in the real world?

The Suzuki Swift provides official fuel economy of up to 64.2mpg, but during our time with the car we achieved closer to 50mpg. On the same twin test we also drove the MG3, and that car returned a more impressive 55mpg. In any case, those are still impressive fuel economy figures, though.

What will the Suzuki Swift cost to insure?

The Suzuki Swift is yet to get official insurance group ratings, but the old car was slightly more expensive to insure than you might expect, with the standard models sitting in group 22 out of 50, while the Sport hot hatch was in group 35. It’s worth getting some insurance quotes before buying a new Suzuki Swift to check it’s affordable.