Buying a used Suzuki Swift (2011-2017)

Australia saw its first Suzuki Swift hatchback in 1985 and our racetracks felt the punch of GTi versions from 1986.

The sporty Swift hung around for 15 years, becoming progressively more expensive while around it the range of lesser models grew.

GL, GLX, Cino and GP became familiar suffixes for Suzuki Swift buyers, before being replaced in 1999 by the less amicable Suzuki Baleno.

Australia then remained a Swift-free zone until 2005, when the nameplate returned – attached to a brand-new design that Suzuki called its ‘sporty sub-compact’.

An actual Sport model was offered from late 2006, then an updated version of the EZ series took the Swift range all the way to 2011 and the arrival of the FZ generation.

The 2011-17 FZ Suzuki Swift was a strong seller in Australia’s light car class, and by 2015 it was placed third in the category with almost 11,000 sales that year. Ahead of it were just the high-profile Mazda2 and Toyota Yaris, both with around 14,500 sales.

Arriving locally early in 2011, the FZ-series Suzuki Swift came initially in four model variants that were priced attractively to lure budget buyers. The cheapest manual started at $15,990 plus on-road costs, and the most expensive was a little above $25,000 plus ORCs.

The Swift shape hadn’t changed dramatically from the previous EZ generation, however its engine was reduced in size from 1.5 to 1.4 litres and output dropped by 4kW to 70kW. Maximum torque was 130Nm (-3Nm).

Those reductions didn’t apply to the Sport version, which remained at 1.6 litres and enjoyed a boost from 92kW to 100kW.

The cheapest FZ Swift was the GA model, which despite shaved-to-the-bone pricing was definitely not nasty. Air-conditioning, power steering and electric windows were included, so too a decent stereo with CD slot, MP3 and USB adaptors, central locking and keyless entry.

GL versions cost $1500 more than the GA and added a couple of extra speakers, a leather-clad steering wheel with remote controls, a trip computer, tachometer and dash display.

Spending $20,690 delivered an automatic GLX – manual was available and $1700 cheaper – with 16-inch alloy wheels, fog lights, cruise control and push-button start. There was also climate-control air-conditioning and rear disc brakes in place of drums.

Harder to find in today’s used car market but definitely worth the hunt and the bit extra that they cost is the Suzuki Swift Sport. These were offered as a six-speed manual or continuously variable CVT automatic at prices that topped out just short of $26,000.

For that, Suzuki packed its compact hatchback with Bluetooth connectivity, a DVD player, map lights and bi-Xenon headlights, plus sports seats and pedals and a body kit.

The wheels expanded to 17-inch diameter, running 45-profile tyres and suspension settings that gave the car a balanced feel with very little roll.

A wheelbase extension of 50mm with the FZ series helped expand rear seat legroom a little but didn’t add much to boot space. That wasn’t a problem if the owners were single or a couple because when the back seat was laid flat it provided plenty of carrying capacity.

The list price of a GL increased in mid-2013 by $300, but it was said by Suzuki that the increase covered extras worth $800 more than that. Australian-spec cars were now also built in Thailand.

A minor restyle in 2014 altered the bumper design and put extra running lights up front. Deleting the price-leading GA version made space in the range for GL and GLX Navigator models, which came with embedded GPS, new wheel covers, a leather steering wheel with audio and cruise controls plus Bluetooth.

In a word – fun. Especially if you choose a Suzuki Swift with manual transmission and avoid the unresponsive four-speed auto.

For driver and passenger, the Swift cabin is a nice place to be. Even the bland-looking seats in GA versions hold onto occupants okay, however the view forward from one of these is fairly bland.

Swifts hold their values very well, especially in a tight market where very good, low-kilometre cars are bringing close to original new car costs. Even then, spending a little more to fund a GL or GLX will bring most people a more comfortable and fulfilling experience.

Light cars often have minimal space for your stuff and the Swift is guilty as charged. Its boot area with all seats in use is about the smallest in its category, but look around and there are multiple spots for oddments without making the car look like a tip.

The Swift Sport interior looks amazing for a $25,000 car, featuring a classy dash design, special instruments and lots of functions to display on the low-set screen. Sport seats will for most people feel great, although the tall bolsters might not be compatible with bigger bodies.

The gearshift in manual cars looks snappy and most drivers won’t have a problem with the distance it moves between slots when shifting. The clutch is light but can be a bit sudden on the uptake.

Suzuki’s decision to go for a smaller, less powerful engine sparked some criticism among reviewers, but the effect on performance was minimal and given the claimed improvement to economy it was easy to understand the manufacturer’s thinking.

Claimed fuel consumption from the new engine, when hooked to five-speed manual transmission, plunged by eight per cent to 5.5L/100km. In real-world testing, an average of 7.2L/100km was achieved an auto GL, with the manual probably managing 6.5L/100km. Still impressive numbers in the era of $2 per litre ULP.

If you want performance, walk straight up to the Swift Sport and grab that six-speed gear lever. Extracting 100kW of power from a 1.6-litre engine isn’t difficult; Toyota did it back in the 1980s with its twin-cam Corolla.

However, the Swift engine is willing, effective and economical and will canter from 0-100km/h in 8.6 seconds, which is sharpish for a car of its kind.

Parents who buy cars on behalf of their younger ones can be perturbed by the potential safety risk posed by small, lightweight models.

While the Swift will not have physics on its side in the event of a collision, it does come with a mass of protective equipment plus electronic aids that help avoid a crash in the first place.

From introduction, the FZ Swift was a five-star ANCAP recipient, but the rating was based on European testing. It took until 2017, when the next-generation model arrived, for local crash tests to be undertaken and confirm the overseas data.

If your Swift ventures into the wilds and pops a tyre, you’re toast. There’s no space for a spare wheel and a previous owner may have pocketed the puncture repair kit. Not that it will in most instances be of much use.

If you need a full-size spare for country trips it will fill the boot, so find a way to secure it to the folded rear seat. A loose wheel flying around the cabin is very hazardous in a crash.

Not really. The Suzuki Swift is too short on interior room and luggage capacity to fill that role.

As a get-around for singles who are watching the dollars though, or anyone in the market for compact urban transport, any Swift model scores lots of points.

If you have kids small enough to still be occupying car seats, then there is room in the back for two of them.

However, the boot is too tiny for any decently-sized baby carriage so you then risk plonking the pram on the back seat beside baby.

Suzuki Swift FZ Series (2011-17) – What to check when buying used
• Recall notices were issued during 2014 to correct problems with the water pump pulley and steering box cover. Neither is thought to have caused any serious reliability issues and by now all affected cars should be rectified.
• Cars with onboard navigation and other complex systems need to be checked to ensure everything works as it should and the dash-mounted display is showing all the information required when in various modes. Go to the internet for guidance if a vendor is unsure.
• The clutch in manual cars should not shudder when released or squeal when depressed. Either issue indicates a car due for a clutch replacement and they aren’t cheap.
• Listen when cornering and accelerating simultaneously for clicking sounds from the front end that indicate one or both constant velocity joints need replacing. Not a huge or expensive job but worth knowing when negotiating a price.

Used vehicle grading for Suzuki Swift FZ Series (2011-17)
Design & Function: 14/20
Safety: 15/20
Practicality: 12/20
Value for Money: 12/20
Wow Factor: 14/20 (Sport)
Score: 67/100

Also consider: Ford Fiesta, Mazda2, Toyota Yaris