Spy shots reveal Suzuki won’t abandon the supermini sector
When a car company the size of Ford can’t see a future for the iconic Fiesta, you might think a longstanding rival like Suzuki would follow suit and its Swift supermini would be shuffled quietly out the back door. The Swift is going nowhere though, as evidenced by these spy shots of an all-new fourth-generation model. Suzuki will commit to the supermini segment with the next Swift expected to launch later this year.
Mild-hybrid power was introduced during the outgoing Suzuki Swift model’s facelift and we expect the new car will utilise the same technology across the range from the get-go. It’ll have to deal with the likes of the soon-to-be facelifted Vauxhall Corsa, Peugeot 208, Volkswagen Polo and Toyota Yaris. Further competition will come in the form of all-electric models like the Fiat 500e and Renault 5 EV.
The current Swift sits on Suzuki’s HEARTECT platform (which debuted in 2014 on the Alto) which has been able to support the model’s switch to mild-hybrid power in 12-volt and 48-volt form. The new Swift will likely carry this platform forward, so don’t expect a fully-electrified Swift to rival the Vauxhall Corsa Electric or Peugeot e-208 just yet.
Suzuki has partnered with Toyota to provide plug-in hybrid versions of its Swace estate and Across SUV (both of which are rebadged Toyotas), but we’re not certain this partnership will extend to a plug-in hybrid Swift – especially given the Yaris is shared with the new Mazda 2. Given the Swift Sport’s move to mild-hybridisation, we expect the hot hatch variant will continue as the range-topping Swift for the fourth-generation.
In terms of design, our spy shots provide a strong glimpse as to how the car’s styling will evolve. The MINI-like, curvy bodystyle won’t be overhauled too much but it will get an entirely new front end. There’s a revised grille, round headlight design and a clamshell bonnet.
At the side, the rear door handle has been given a more conventional position on the door, rather than on the rear pillar like the current car. Like the current model, the window line wraps around the whole car. The rear also doesn’t look too far removed from the third-generation Swift with similarly sized and shaped rear lights, boot lid and bumper.
The interior of the Swift is also not likely to change too much. Top-spec models get a seven-inch touchscreen, which could become the standard across the range, but the overall layout and cabin space will remain similar given the retention of the platform.
The current Swift starts from £15,499, so we could see a price bump with the introduction of the new model. Suzuki hasn’t revealed any details for a full reveal, but we expect the new car to go on sale sometime in 2023.
Now read our review of the updated Suzuki Swace…
Keyword: New 2023 Suzuki Swift: latest on fourth-generation supermini