Evolution of the Swift in India: What Changes with Every Generation?

The Maruti Suzuki Swift is one of the most popular hatchbacks in India. It was first launched in India in 2005. Since then, four generations and two major facelifts of the Swift have been offered, each of which brought in unique updates to help it stand out. The Swift brings sporty styling and a fun-to-drive character. It packs a peppy engine, and has exciting colours to choose from. It measures just under 3.9 metres long, and is a light and compact hatchback which is great for everyday use. There is a lot to talk about when it comes to the Swift. We give you an overview of all four generation models of the compact hatchback in India.
 

First Generation Swift 2005-2011: The Beginning

The Swift first arrived in India in 2005. It was an exciting looking hatchback with the curvy styling being a marked departure from traditional designs of the time. It was offered with a peppy 1.3-litre engine from the Esteem, making 86 bhp and 113 Nm, and had a 5-speed manual transmission as standard. The Swift had a 43-litre fuel tank and offered a choice of vibrant colours.

The 2007 facelift model saw the addition of the “DDiS”-badged 1.3-litre diesel engine to the line-up as well as fresh new colours. By January ’07, the Swift had racked up 1 lakh sales. This doubled over the next year thanks to the introduction of the diesel option. Over 5 lakh first-generation Swift models were sold.

First-Gen Swift Engines:

• 1.3-litre four-cylinder petrol, 86 bhp, 113 Nm
• 1.3-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel, 74 bhp, 190 Nm
   

Sales Performance:

• 1 lakh (Jan 2007)
• 2 lakh (March 2008)
• 3 lakh (February 2009)
• 5 lakh (January 2010)
   

Second Generation Swift 2011-2018: Key Changes

The second generation Swift came to India in 2011. It retained the sporty vibe with tweaked styling, with a 40-mm longer wheelbase and 3,840-mm overall length. It received sleeker but still unmistakably shaped headlights with new tail-lights and a reworked hatch rear door. The interior was redesigned with a modern look. It continued to offer a choice of petrol and diesel engines, except the 1.3 made way for the “K12” 82-bhp 1.2-litre four-cylinder petrol engine while the FIAT-sourced 74-bhp 1.3-litre diesel engine continued. Both were offered with a 5-speed manual transmission with a smaller 37-litre fuel tank.

Second-Gen Swift Engines:

• 1.2-litre four-cylinder petrol, 83 bhp, 113 Nm

• 1.3-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel, 74 bhp, 190 Nm

   

Sales performance (cumulative):

• 10 lakh (November 2013)
• 15 lakh (2016)
   

Third Generation Swift 2018-2024: Key Changes

The most significant redesign came in the third generation of the Swift. It was based on the new HEARTECT platform, and was 80 kg lighter but also stronger. It received a large new grille and air dam, with a widening lower apron design for a “smiling” face. Complementing that were the redesigned headlamps which retained the Swift’s charm. The rear doors had their handles integrated into the C-pillar. The wheelbase was further stretched 20 mm and it had a 268-litre boot. The interior was enhanced with the SmartPlay full-colour touchscreen complete with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. The flat-bottomed steering wheel was another new sporty change. For the first time, the third-gen Swift introduced the automatic with the 5-speed AMT. However, the diesel model was discontinued in April 2020 when BS6 emission norms came in.
 

The 2021 Swift facelift brought in a more powerful 89-bhp 1.2-litre four-cylinder petrol engine with idle start-stop. It was offered with the choice of dual-tone paint finishes for the first time. It received new design elements such as sharper-looking alloy wheels. For alternative-fuel seekers, Maruti Suzuki also offered a bi-fuel CNG version of the Swift from 2022. The Swift was priced very competitively but there are used Swifts available at very attractive prices these days.
 

Third-Gen Swift Engines:

• 1.2-litre four-cylinder, petrol, 89 bhp, 113 Nm
• 1.2-litre four-cylinder, petrol+CNG, 77 bhp, 98 Nm
• 1.3-litre four-cylinder, turbo-diesel, 74 bhp, 190 Nm
   

Sales performance (cumulative):
 

• 20 lakh (November 2018)
   

Fourth Generation Swift 2024-Present: Key Changes

The current version of the Maruti Suzuki Swift was launched in May 2024 and was the bestselling car that month. It brought in several changes to the exterior, interior and under the bonnet as well. The refreshed styling sees a compact face and a prominent shoulder line distinguishing between the top and bottom. The LED headlights and C-shaped tail-lights are totally different to what we are used to seeing on the Swift. Furthermore, the new “Z12” engine is a three-cylinder petrol unit and makes 81 bhp and 112 Nm, available with a 5-speed manual transmission or 5-speed AMT as well. The new Swift retains its fun-to-drive character and brings enhanced connectivity and safety features.

Forth-Gen Swift Engines:

• 1.2-litre three-cylinder, petrol, 81 bhp, 112 Nm
• 1.2-litre four-cylinder, petrol+CNG, 69 bhp, 102 Nm
   

Sales performance:

• 19,393 (May 2024)
• 16,422 (June 2024), 30 lakh (Cumulative)
• 45,939 (Q3 2024)
• 17,539 (October 2024)
   

Comparing Old vs New Swift

The third-generation Swift was a high-selling model for Maruti Suzuki and the new fourth-generation model continues that trend. Here are some key differences between the old Swift and the 2024 Swift model.

Conclusion

The Maruti Suzuki Swift has been in India for nearly 20 years. It has retained its fun-to-drive nature through four generations. Having brought in more practicality and technology while being competitively priced, the Swift has been a consistent top-seller. The Maruti Swift has become the choice of many looking for their first car or an upgrade from a smaller car. The everyday usability, peppy but frugal engine and refreshing style make it a sensible choice of car in India.