2024 Suzuki Swift Hybrid Review

There’s a brand new Suzuki Swift in town, boasting the title of Australia’s most affordable hybrid car.

Famed for its fun, no-frills nature, excellent fuel efficiency and keen on-road handling, the latest Suzuki Swift looks to improve upon an already impressive recipe, making for what could be the leading option in the affordable hatchback segment.

There’s a wide range of upgrades on offer in the latest, sixth-generation Suzuki Swift, headlined by the addition of a new mild-hybrid engine across the range, new bodywork and an upgraded equipment list.

Just how transformative have these upgrades been for the latest, hybrid-only Suzuki Swift range? Let’s take a closer look at the range to find out.

Suzuki Swift Competition

How Much Does the Suzuki Swift Hybrid Cost?

The latest Suzuki Swift Hybrid range is offered in four flavours.

The entry-level Suzuki Swift Hybrid Manual is priced at $24,490, while the Swift Hybrid CVT is priced at $26,990.

Stepping up to the Swift Hybrid Plus brings the price to $28,490 while the range-topping Swift Hybrid GLX is priced at $29,990.

Keep in mind that these prices are subject to change and do not include on-road costs.

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Suzuki Swift Hybrid (5SP Manual) Specifications

What Features & Specs Does the Suzuki Swift Hybrid Have?

Suzuki’s entry-level Swift Hybrid range comes riding on 15-inch steel wheels and receives LED headlights, keyless entry & start, a rear-view camera with rear parking sensors, cloth upholstery, rear fog lamps, heated side mirrors, a digital speedometer and a stop-start system.

Stepping up to the Swift Hybrid Plus range adds 16-inch alloys, upgraded premium cloth upholstery with a leather-wrapped steering wheel, heated front seats, rear privacy glass as well as some safety equipment upgrades we’ll cover in the safety section of our review.

Suzuki’s range-topping Swift Hybrid GLX picks up polished 16-inch alloys, power-folding mirrors with indicators, climate control, a rear heater duct, wheel-mounted paddle shifters and a wireless smartphone charger.

Suzuki Swift Hybrid Connectivity & Infotainment Features

One of Suzuki’s major upgrades for the sixth-generation Swift Hybrid range has been an overhaul of the infotainment system.

This means you’ll now find a significantly larger 9.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system sitting atop the dashboard, replacing the outgoing 7.0-inch unit that was beginning to show some serious signs of its age.

The infotainment system receives satellite navigation across the range, as well as DAB+ digital radio.

The base model Swift Hybrid receives a basic two-speaker sound system, while the Hybrid Plus and GLX pick up a four-speaker, two-tweeter sound system that packs a far mightier punch when you turn it up to eleven.

Does the Suzuki Swift Hybrid Have Wireless Apple CarPlay & Android Auto?

Curiously, while the latest Suzuki Swift Hybrid range comes boasting wireless Apple CarPlay connectivity, owners of an Android device are left out in the rain.

The Swift’s 9.0-inch display comes packing the company’s latest software which does indeed offer wireless smartphone mirroring for iPhones.

Unfortunately for owners of an Android phone, you’ll need to connect your phone via a USB cable in order to access Android Auto on the move.

Is the Suzuki Swift Hybrid Comfortable to Drive?

The Suzuki Swift has earned a place in the hearts of many thanks to its fun-loving nature on the road.

In its latest hybrid-only form, we’re pleased to report that it hasn’t lost its infectious nature behind the wheel, proving itself as a wonderful little city tourer.

The latest powertrain addition sees the Swift Hybrid pick up a 1.2-litre four-cylinder petrol engine that is paired with a 12-volt mild-hybrid system.

Power outputs stand at 60kW, with a modest 110Nm of torque on offer, while an integrated starter generator provides additional support - to the tune of 2.3kW/60Nm - for the petrol engine and helps to cut down on fuel use.

While it’s not exactly a powerhouse, the Swift retains a lightweight stature that means it punches well above its weight behind the wheel.

Even with the added electrical gear under the bonnet, the sixth-gen Swift tips the scales at between 919 - 957kg, which means the power-to-weight virtues of its pint-sized footprint are almost immediate on the road.

The Swift isn’t a performer off the line, but it is undeniably smooth thanks to the hand-off between the starter generator and the petrol engine.

Where the Swift really begins to shine is when you’re pushing around town, where it impresses with eager handling and user-friendliness in the urban jungle that is hard to match.

It’s happy to dart between traffic, squeeze into any vacant car space and makes city driving a particularly easy affair.

The steering is weighted on the light side, which makes low-speed turns an easy task while beefing up and offering some more feedback as you pick up the pace.

At speed, the Swift darts side to side with urgency when you rotate the wheel, feeling more like a go-kart around town than a sensible, fuel-efficient hatch.

The Swift’s suspension package does a solid job of ironing out small and medium bumps around town.

It’s also a great setup for keeping things flat and stable while carving up the open road and, while it’s not exactly at ease on a rough county road, it’s not uncomfortable on a long haul up a B-road.

Suzuki has paid close attention to the latest Swift’s refinement at higher speeds, too, which pays dividends as you’re cruising up the highway in a much more refined manner than the previous model.

All up, Suzuki has done a great job upholding the Swift’s fun-loving nature on the road, making sure it remains easy to drive around town, engaging in the corners and even more refined on a long-distance haul up the highway.

Is the Suzuki Swift Hybrid Fuel Efficient?

While the Suzuki Swift was already one of the best-performing hatchbacks when it comes to fuel efficiency, the latest hybrid-only lineup takes things to another level.

Thanks to its small capacity, mild-hybrid powertrain, the Suzuki Swift Hybrid provides outstanding fuel economy with a cost-effectiveness that its fully hybrid rivals simply can’t match.

On a combined cycle, the Suzuki Swift Hybrid Manual is rated at 3.9L per 100km on a combined cycle, putting it on par with the almighty Toyota Yaris as one of the most economical cars you can buy.

Upgrading to the Swift Hybrid CVT means you’ll be sipping slightly more fuel at 4.0L per 100km, though this remains a mighty impressive figure that leads the segment for fuel efficiency.

Is the Suzuki Swift Hybrid Practical and Spacious?

While the Swift has always been limited by its pint-sized footprint, Suzuki’s engineers and designers have done well in the past to maximise space and practicality inside the cabin.

In its latest form, the Swift Hybrid is even more practical than its predecessor thanks to a larger boot and revamped cabin.

Up front, the Swift benefits from a tall set of windows and a lofty roof that makes it surprisingly adept at accommodating tall drivers and front passengers.

For a micro hatch, there’s a great amount of headroom for even the tallest of occupants.

The cabin design itself has also taken a step forward, with Suzuki opting for a familiar, straightforward layout for the dashboard controls and switchgear.

While it’s not the most exciting cabin design, for this end of the price spectrum, the Swift still impresses, especially with its ergonomics that position everything within easy reach and aim to not over-complicate things.

Storage options in the front of the cabin include a pair of cupholders flanked by a storage tray behind the gear lever, added storage nooks, a glovebox and decent-sized bottle holders hiding in each door sill.

Move to the second row and the Suzuki Swift is more than up to the task of transporting adults in the rear without imparting leg cramps.

There’s just enough room for an adult to sit in the second row without banging their knees up against the seat, while headroom remains excellent for the segment thanks to the tall roofline.

For the parents out there, the Suzuki Swift Hybrid retains its two seats of ISOFIX anchors as well as top tether mounts hiding behind the seatbacks.

How Big is the Suzuki Swift Hybrid’s Boot?

The amount of boot space you’ll find in the back of the Suzuki Swift Hybrid range has, thankfully, grown over its predecessors.

You’ll now find 265L of storage, an increase of 23L over the previous range.

Fold the Swift’s 60:40 split rear seats down and you’ll unlock 589L worth of cargo space.

While it’s not an outright hero in terms of boot space, it’s nice to see that the latest-generation Swift has seen its cargo capacities grow in line with consumer demands.

Is the Suzuki Swift Safe?

Another key upgrade for the entire Swift Hybrid range has been the inclusion of some key active safety equipment.

The one downside to these upgrades, though, is that some key features are reserved for the mid-range and range-topping models, which is something to keep in mind if you’re comparing variants and safety is a top priority.

As standard, the entry-level Swift Hybrid receives autonomous emergency braking with a dual camera brake support system, lane-departure alerts with lane-keep assist, a rear-view camera with rear parking sensors, traffic sign detection and an alarm.

If you’re after key safety features like blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alerts you’ll have to upgrade to the Swift Hybrid Plus range.

Does the Suzuki Swift Hybrid Have an ANCAP Safety Rating?

At the time of writing, the latest Suzuki Swift range is yet to be tested by ANCAP and therefore does not have an ANCAP safety rating.

For reference, the previous generation Swift range scored a five-star ANCAP safety rating after testing in 2017 saw it score the following marks; though this rating expired earlier in 2024.

Overall Score: 35.13 out of 37

Frontal Offset Score: 14.39 out of 16

Side Impact Score: 15.74 out of 16

Pole Score: 2 out of 2

Whiplash Protection Score: Good

Pedestrian Protection Score: Good

What Warranty Does the Suzuki Swift Hybrid Come With?

Suzuki offers the latest Swift Hybrid range with a five-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty.

Buyers also pick up a five-year/100,000-kilometre roadside assistance membership.

Servicing costs for the Swift Hybrid range total $1,955 over the course of five visits.

Intervals for the Swift Hybrid range stand at 12-months or 15,000-kilometres, whichever elapses first.

Our Verdict: Is the Suzuki Swift Worth it?

The latest Suzuki Swift Hybrid is a near-faultless package, no matter how close you point the microscope.

The mild-hybrid engine tech makes it one of the most efficient vehicles on the road, all while retaining its fun-loving DNA and user-friendliness around town that makes it a superb city car option.

While things haven’t transformed inside the cabin, it remains impressively practical for its pint-sized footprint and the larger boot is always a welcome addition.

If you’re in the market for a fun, fuel-efficient and charming little hatchback, be sure to add the Suzuki Swift Hybrid range to your shortlist.

On that note, our team of car-buying specialists can help find you the best possible price on your next car.

Five Suzuki Swift Hybrid Specs You Need to Know

1. Five-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty
2. 1.2-litre four-cylinder, mild-hybrid engine
3. 3.9 - 4.0L per 100km fuel economy figures
4. 265 - 589L boot space
5. 12-month/15,000-kilometre service intervals