Old against new: 2016 vs. 2020 Suzuki Swift

suzuki swift

Suzuki launched the new generation of its Swift hatch back in 2018, giving the snazzy little driver even more style and sportiness. So how has this little car from the popular Japanese car and bike manufacturer evolved? We take a look at how the new Suzuki Swift differs from its old version.

Exterior

The outer shell of the all-new Swift looks more cohesive and distinct as compared to its predecessor, which borrowed a lot of elements from MINI. It's as if this Swift is the more mature or confident version of the older model. The fascia of Suzuki's hatch features a wide hexagonal grille along with a bold bumper, LED headlights, and wrap-around windshield. Turning to the side, the Swift is characterized by curvy bulges and blacked-out pillars, managing to combine some European design elements with Suzuki’s renowned ‘kei’ heritage. At the rear, the Swift shows off distinctive LED taillights, a large bumper, and a stylish spoiler.

Interior

The interior of the all-new Swift is pretty much straightforward, it features a classier and more premium feel, characterized by black theme with silver accents on the dashboard, center console, and door panels. A sleeker layout is also a welcome sight for those who want a less busy interior. Highlights of the new Swift cabin include a flat bottom steering wheel that's integrated with audio and phone controls, a white-on-black instrument cluster for easy readability, and a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system that sadly does not support Android Auto, and Apple CarPlay, although Bluetooth connectivity is available.

Powertrain

The old generation Swift was equipped with a 1.4-liter engine that comes with variable valve timing and electronic throttle control, and produces 94hp and 130Nm of torque. The new Swift on the other hand, is powered by a 1.2-liter gasoline engine that delivers 82hp and 113Nm of torque. Despite having a smaller-displacement and lower power output, the new engine is said to improve on the Swift’s agility and stability.

As for transmission, the old engine was available with either a five-speed manual or four-speed automatic transmission. The new engine on the other hand, is connected to a 5-speed manual in the base model and a continuously variable transmission (CVT) in the upper trim.

Space

In terms of dimensions, Suzuki's subcompact hatch measures 3840mm long, 1735mm wide, and 1,495mm tall along with wheelbase of 2450mm. The dimension of the all-new Swift is shorter and lower as compared to its predecessor, which measured 3850mm long, 1695 wide, and 1510mm tall, with a 2430mm wheelbase. This means the new Swift is shorter by 10mm and lower by 35mm, while also being wider by 40mm, with a 20mm longer wheelbase. These dimensional maneuverings raise the all-new Swift's cargo space to 265 liters, which is 54 liters more than the outgoing model. Tin addition, improvements in the cabin design ensures spaciousness even with the dimensional reductions.

Safety

Safety-wise, little has changed between the new and old Swift’s main protective features. All the basics are the same, which include dual front airbags, anti-lock brake system (ABS), reverse camera, side impact door beams, parking sensors, and Isofix child seat, among others. However, it’s worth noting that the all-new Swift has a light, impact-absorbing body construction, courtesy of the HEARTECT platform, which is said to deliver a highly-rigid frame and a smooth and curving form which helps enhance safety, disperse energy in collisions, and make the Swift body lighter by 840kg compared to its predecessor. This results in lower fuel consumption "and vast improvements in the fundamental vehicle functions of running, turning and stopping,” according to the brand.

As part of “HEARTECT," a newly designed front and rear suspension underpins a nimble and emotion-heightening driving experience for the new Swift, providing both the linear steering control for which the compact car is known for.

Pricing and options

The Old Swift was sold with two different trims, with the manual version priced at PHP729,000 and the automatic variant costing PHP 769,000. It was available in five different colors including red, black, and white, and two types of gray.

Like the old model, the new Swift also comes in two trims: GL 1.2L MT (PHP775,000), and GL 1.2L CVT (PHP818,000). The Swift now has six color options including Metallic Star Silver, Pearl Pure White, Metallic Speedy Blue 3, Metallic Mineral Gray 2, Pearl Super Black 2, and Pearl Ablaze Red 3. A Special Edition Suzuki Swift comes with an additional PHP49,800 to the price tag.

Planning to buy a Suzuki Swift for yourself? Carmudi has plenty of new and used Suzuki Swift vehicles available on our website. Feel free to shop for a car at Carmudi today.

Photos from Suzuki

Also read:

2020 Suzuki Celerio: The 2 variants in detail

2020 Suzuki S-Presso vs. the competition: Your other small hatchback options

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