The next-generation Suzuki Swift hatchback is not far away for Australia – and the range sold here will be hybrid only, CarsGuide can exclusively reveal.
Michael Pachota, general manager of Suzuki Australia, told CarsGuide that the brand is going all-in on the next Swift with a hybrid-only lineup – a move that will be a part of a broader swing for a hybrid-only (or, more correctly, mild-hybrid and hybrid) range of cars from Suzuki in Australia by the end of 2025.
“It would be right to assume the next space for Swift would be a hybrid introduction. For us to be able to meet the CO2 standards we need to have a hybrid powertrain across most of our models,” said Mr Pachota.
“It would be wise of us, if there was an opportunity to have a hybrid platform as standard in Swift when we introduce it and introduce it as such.”
Exact details of what the new-generation hybrid Swift will look like, and what will power it, are still to be revealed, but it is expected to run a small capacity petrol engine teamed to a similarly low-output hybrid powertrain.
In markets outside of Australia – including New Zealand – there is already a Swift hybrid model. But hybrid is a loosely used term, as it’s more of a mild-hybrid setup.
It runs a 1.2-litre petrol engine teamed to an integrated electric starter generator. The generator is charged by a teeny-weeny 10 amp-hour lithium-ion battery pack, which is recharged by regenerative braking when the car is coming to a stop.
The savings on emissions and fuel use aren’t staggering, but it does have a claimed fuel consumption of just 4.1L/100km – which, to be fair, is a good 15 per cent better than the Swift GL S Plus that we recently reviewed.
For context, the Toyota Yaris hybrid runs a 1.5-litre three-cylinder petrol engine teamed to an electric motor and battery pack, and it has a claimed fuel consumption of just 3.3L/100km, making it the most fuel-efficient car on the market without a plug-in system.
And for further context, Toyota and Suzuki have been getting mighty close on a number of recent projects, so it could well be that we see a Toyota hybrid powertrain in the new-generation Swift. Watch this space.
Suzuki’s third-generation Swift is still proving popular in its twilight years, amassing 2889 new registrations to the end of August this year (down 9.7 per cent over the same period in 2021), which is ahead of the Toyota Yaris (2019) and Volkswagen Polo (1304).
However, the Swift trailer the segment-leading MG3 (10,189), Mazda2 (3302) and Kia Rio (3201), as well as its soon-to-be-discontinued Baleno stablemate (5362).
Keyword: Next Suzuki Swift coming soon! And it will be hybrid only as it tackles Toyota's popular Yaris