Excellent Efficiency and Spacious Car

Excellent Efficiency and Spacious Car

We like the Swift for its peppy petrol engine and excellent efficiency. We don't Like lifeless steering and slow gearshifts (diesel-AMT). The top versions are pricey. Replacing a bestseller is always a tough balancing act for a carmaker. Radical changes don't always sit well with a loyal fan following but, at the same time, sticking closely to a formula, generation after generation, can take the sheen away from an established nameplate. On the face of things, Maruti Suzuki seems to have got it just right with the third-generation Swift. The car is new, yet undoubtedly Swift in its look, and also more efficient, spacious, more practical and better equipped than the model it replaces. There's more, Maruti has also finally addressed the long-standing demand for an automatic Swift, with options on both Petrol and Diesel versions. All engines, gearboxes, and trim levels accounted for, there are a total of 12 versions of the Swift on sale, with prices ranging from Rs 4.99 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi) for the base petrol-manual to Rs 8.29 lakh for the fully loaded diesel-manual car. We've brought together all four engine-gearbox options and put them through our rigorous road test regimen to determine if the new Swift is all that it's made out to be. The manual Swift is available in four variants each, but, much to the chagrin of many buyers, the autos are only offered in the middle two trims. Then again, Maruti did eventually add a top-spec version to the Baleno automatic line-up, so you can't rule out fully loaded Swift autos going on sale in the future. What's noteworthy is that all the versions of the Swift come with safety essentials like ABS, Dual Airbags and Isofix Child Seat Mounts on the rear seats as standard. However, the base LXi/LDi trims' list of comfort features is limited to power steering and manual air conditioning. The VXi/VDi trims bring in power windows, central locking, keyless entry, electrically adjustable outside mirrors, a height-adjustable driver's seat and an audio system with Bluetooth connectivity, along with exterior and interior upgrades. ZXi/ZDi versions add auto climate control, push-button start, rear parking sensors, rear defogger and wash/wipe among other goodies. These versions also get alloy wheels. Range-topping ZXi+/ ZDi+ Swifts, identifiable by their LED headlights (that provide excellent illumination) and precision-cut alloy wheels, are easily the most tempting of the pack. They are also the only ones to feature the SmartPlay touchscreen infotainment system, a reverse camera, and auto headlights. By segment standards, the top versions of the Swift are as loaded as they come.