Maruti Suzuki Swift

Arguably, India’s most-loved car, the Swift is also the model that changed Maruti Suzuki’s image fo...

Arguably, India’s most-loved car, the Swift is also the model that changed Maruti Suzuki’s image forever. Now in its third generation, the Swift has grown in size and seemingly, so has its popularity – the hatch having become a permanent fixture on the best-sellers list. The Swift’s appeal has also widened after the introduction of the automatic transmission options. With Marugi having discontinued diesels for BS6, the Maruti Suzuki Swift is now available only in petrol-manual and petrol-AMT forms.

It may be larger than its predecessors but the latest model hasn’t veered from the sporty styling templat...

It may be larger than its predecessors but the latest model hasn’t veered from the sporty styling template which is synonymous with the Swift name. The size increase has benefited cabin room and it’s actually quite spacious on the inside. However, the all-black theme and small rear windows can make it feel gloomy. Also, its cabin quality is not really special. The Maruti Suzuki Swift’s 83hp, 1.2-litre, petrol engine is refined, peppy and quite enjoyable when paired with the 5-speed manual gearbox. The petrol-AMT unit also works well enough in average city conditions. Ride and handling are good, though the latest model is not as sharp as the older Swifts.

The petrol-manual Swift is our pick of the entire range. The Swift petrol-automatic is also a good choice for c...

The petrol-manual Swift is our pick of the entire range. The Swift petrol-automatic is also a good choice for city dwellers, even if it’s not the best of automatic cars around. Of the four trims on offer, we’d recommend the top-spec Swift Z+. It's on the expensive side but also gets goodies such as LED headlamps and a touchscreen infotainment system. The second-from-top Z variant misses out on these features but makes for a real value-for-money buy. Commendably, all versions of the Maruti Suzuki Swift get dual airbags, ABS, EBD and Isofix child seat mounts.