2024 Suzuki Swift Hybrid Review
If you’re looking at this little hatchback and wondering what decade you woke up in, you’re not alone. A hatchback, with a manual transmission, primarily designed for fuel economy while also providing a bit of fun when pushed? Modest power and even more modest acceleration? It all sounds like a formula for a 1980s hatchback—those small vehicles sometimes unfairly deemed “penalty boxes” but often capable of serving up a big heaping side dish of fun (sometimes unintentionally). However, upon closer inspection, it’s a hybrid! And it’s brand new. Introducing the Suzuki Swift Hybrid, freshly revamped for Europe.
It is noteworthy that Suzuki no longer sells cars in the U.S. If it did, we might all have Jimnys. In this alternate universe, perhaps a few of us would give an unusually efficient Swift a shot. The last Swift, which was not a hybrid, offered a very honest formula of affordable, cheerful fun. It was lightweight and distinctly sporty.
Performance & Efficiency
The Swift Hybrid may not be explicitly sporty, but it is remarkably light. Suzuki pegs the curb weight at an impressive 2,092 pounds. This contributes to its outstanding fuel economy—64.2 mpg on the optimistic European test cycle—thanks to its 1.2-liter inline-three engine that produces just 81 horsepower and 83 lb-ft of torque. On the EPA test cycle, it is projected to achieve around 56 mpg, still impressive for its class.
The hybrid system is mild, utilizing a 12-volt system that adds 44 lb-ft of torque from a starter-generator unit and a 10 aH battery. Suzuki claims the hybrid hardware adds just 15 pounds to the vehicle, although the exact impact on the Swift Hybrid’s overall efficiency is not specified.
Design & Style
The fourth-generation Swift debuted in Tokyo late last year, showcasing a fresh design overall, including a prominent grille, angular headlights, and a no-frills overall shape that remains true to the decades-old economy hatch formula. It’s visually appealing, serving as an excellent canvas for the anticipated sportier versions that typically capture our interest from afar. The Swift has certainly evolved significantly from its past iterations, once marketed as the Swift, Chevrolet Metro, and later as a Geo Metro.
