Maruti Swift

• I like how even in this new generation, Swift has kept its curvy design alive, and added a dash of sportyness to it.

• It does look more premium than before, but the line running from the bonnet to the rear end of the hatch, makes it look like the car has been split into two.

• Maruti has kept its large LED headlamps, which is a signature design element of the Swift.

• However, they now look even better with L-shaped LED DRLs. 

• It also gets large LED tail lamps with C-shaped lighting elements.

• The top-spec ZXi and ZXi+ variants get 15-inch alloy wheels with different designs. Lower variants get 14-inch steel wheels with wheel covers, save for the base, which misses out on wheel covers.

• One thing that I feel is missing is a shark fin antenna, as it would have completed the premium look of this hatchback.

• Maruti offers it in 6 monotone colours: Sizzling Red, Luster Blue, Novel Orange, Magma Grey, Splendid Silver, Pearl Arctic White, and Bluish Black.

• Sizzling Red, Luster Blue, and Pearl Arctic White are also available in a dual-tone shade.

Design & Quality

• The Swift has an all-black cabin theme with subtle chrome and brushed aluminum inserts which does make the cabin look upmarket. However, the overall design is pretty plain and simple.

• The dark cabin theme looks sporty, but makes the cabin feel dull and cramped.

• It does get some textured finish on the dashboard and doors which adds contrast to this plain design.

• The materials used inside the cabin and their fit and finish is enough to live with, but there is still room for improvement.

• While there is a lack of soft touch materials, everything in the cabin feels sturdy and built to last.

Driving Position

• The driver seat offers a comfortable seating position with good side support. But, there is no telescopic adjustment in the steering wheel so finding the ideal driving position takes some time.

• Seat height adjustment is available only in the top-spec ZXi and ZXi+ variants.

• There are no issues with overall visibility, which makes it beginner friendly.

Passenger Comfort

• The one thing I wanted this car to offer was a front armrest which would’ve improved comfort on long distance journeys.

• The rear seats offer good legroom and knee room along with adequate underthigh support. 

• But the headroom is a little less for people over 5’10”.

• Since it is not very wide, seating three people in the rear seat isn’t recommended and the middle passenger will complain about the missing middle headrest on longer journeys.

• We would recommend this car for four people as it will provide enough space for them.

Storage Options

• The Swift gets two cupholders in the centre console, 1-litre bottle holders in the front doors, 500-ml bottle holders in the rear doors, a glovebox, a slot for your phone behind the rear charging options, and open storage space beneath the AC vents. 

• Rear occupants get two cupholders in the central armrest and a pocket behind the passenger seat.

• The two things missing are a seat back pocket behind the driver seat and bigger rear door pockets.

Features

• The feature list of the 2025 Swift is pretty small and you get only functional and essential features.

• The 9-inch infotainment touchscreen system is easy to use and does not lag. But the user interface feels outdated.

• This screen also supports wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, both of which run lag free.

• There is a wireless phone charger as well, but it tends to heat the phone very quickly.

• The 6-speaker sound system offers an acceptable audio experience and the system has preset equalizer settings. 

• Other features include auto AC, auto headlights, cruise control, electrically adjustable and foldable ORVMs and push button start/stop with keyless entry.

• The safety package includes standard features like 6 airbags, electronic stability program (ESP), hill hold assist, rear parking sensors and ISOFIX child seat anchors.

• Higher variants also get a rear parking camera with dynamic guidelines.

• While the new Swift doesn't have a crash test rating, it shares a platform with the new Dzire, which has a 5-star safety rating.

• Swift has a boot space of 265-litre, which is a small number. Here, you can put one small and one medium sized suitcases, along with one or two soft bags depending on their size.

• Due to the small size and shape of the boot, fitting a large suitcase is not easy. Even if you do fit one in the boot, you won’t have enough space left for other bags.

• In case you have more luggage, you can use the 60:40 rear seat split, and fold the rear seats.

• The 2025 Maruti Swift is powered by a 3-cylinder, 1.2-litre, naturally aspirated petrol engine. It can be had with either a 5-speed manual or a 5-speed automated manual transmission (AMT). 

• This engine is also available with a factory fitted CNG kit, but only with a manual transmission.

• This new 3-cylinder engine has more vibrations than the older 4-cylinder one, and I found the older one to be more refined.

• On the upside, it delivers power smoothly and offers a relaxed driving experience.

• In the city, you can stay in second gear without having the need to change gears frequently. There is enough power for quick overtakes too.

• The clutch is light and the gear shifts are smooth as well, which makes driving the manual super easy in heavy traffic.

• However, in bumper-to-bumper traffic, you have to be careful with the clutch in order to avoid stalling the car.

• The automated manual transmission (AMT) is better for a relaxed drive. Anything other than that, and you will feel the delays and jerks during gearshifts.

• For quick shifts and a better AMT driving experience, I would recommend using the manual mode.

• Highway performance in the Swift feels a little dull as the engine is not well tuned for highway drives. You get a relaxed driving experience, but you’ll have to push the car a little when you want to overtake or when driving uphill.

• The fuel efficiency, on the other hand, is a positive trait of this engine. In the city I get between 15-17 kmpl, and on the highways it crosses 20 kmpl easily. 

Swift CNG

• No complaints from the performance within the city.

• With some drop in overall power, highway drives have to be even more relaxed and you will have to plan your overtakes well in advance.

• It shines in the efficiency department with an average of around 30km/kg.

• The Maruti Swift is one of the most comfortable cars in its price range.

• While driving in the city over bad roads, the cabin’s movement is well controlled, which results in less side to side passenger movement.

• On the highways, it can easily handle highway undulations and flyover joints, and remains stable.

• The Swift’s drive isn’t as sporty as it used to be, since it has transitioned from a hot hatch to a family car, but the responsive and quick steering makes it quite fun to drive around corners. 

Is the Maruti Swift suitable for your family? It offers a modern design, premium looking cabin, good features, good mileage and a comfortable and smooth drive experience in the city. But at the same time, it is not as fun-to-drive as before, there is room for improvement in the cabin quality, and it does not have enough space for five passengers.

If you have a small family or if you are looking for a sporty-looking hatchback for yourself, then yes, it is suitable for you, because it offers a good package and can fulfill almost all of your needs. But, if you have a bigger family and space is more important to you, then we would recommend you to increase your budget, and go for the Baleno, Fronx or the Brezza instead.

Other Options To Consider

Hyundai Grand i10 Nios

Reasons To Consider

• Better looking cabin

• CNG gets dual-cylinder technology

Reasons To Ignore

• Smaller touchscreen with wired connectivity

• Not as fuel efficient

Tata Tiago

Reasons To Consider

• Better infotainment experience

• More affordable

Reasons To Ignore

• Touchcreen is prone to glitches

• Sub par cabin quality