Name: Suzuki Swift Sport (2018 - present) | Expert Rating | The Car Expert
Item: Suzuki Swift Sport
Rating: 57.0

Summary

The performance verison of the Suzuki Swift, the Swift Sport was a small five-door hot hatch that first arrived on UK roads in Summer 2018.

First unveiled at the 2017 Frankfurt motor show, the Suzuki Swift Sport differentiated itself from the regular Swift by sporting sharp bumper designs, a rear spoiler, and larger alloy wheels. All models came with a turbocharged 1.4-litre petrol engine, also found in the Suzuki Vitara, available as either six-speed manual or a six-speed automatic transmission.

In Summer 2020, Suzuki revised the Swift Sport range to offer mild hybrid assistance for new models as standard, fitting a 48-volt battery to the petrol engine while swapping out the old turbocharger for a smaller one, producing an output of 129hp.

The UK media gave the Swift Sport a mixed set of reviews, ranging from very good to mediocre, reviewers often singling out the Suzuki’s fun driving experience and extensive list of standard equipment for particular praise.

However, reviewers almost universally agreed that the latest mild hybrid version of the Swift Sport, marketed by Suzuki as the ‘Swift Sport Hybrid’ since 2020, was not a very good value-for-money package. Auto Trader concludes that, “In isolation, the Swift Sport is a fun car with plenty to enjoy but it’s simply too expensive – and too slow – to compete with the true hot hatch heroes it’s now priced against.”

The UK hot hatch market had the Suzuki Swift Sport stacked up against the much faster and largely cheaper Ford Fiesta ST, making it hard for many reviewers to recommend it.

Heycar believed that the Swift Sport would have been far more competitive without the transition to mild-hybrid technology. “The problem remains that on scale of bang for buck, the Suzuki Swift has got worse not better with its latest revision. It’s hard not to miss the earlier 1.4-litre non-hybrid model for its chirpily uncomplicated approach and appeal.”

No longer on sale, the Suzuki Swift Sport holds a Used Car Expert Rating of C with a score of 62%.

Swift Sport highlights

Extensive list of equipment as standard
Punchy and fun hot hatch performance
Good fuel economy

Swift Sport lowlights

The cheaper Fiesta ST is a better all-round performer
Too expensive for what you get
Cheap interior in places

Key specifications

Body style: Five-door small hot hatch
Engines: petrol, mild-hybrid
Price: From £20,570 on-road

Launched: Summer 2018
Last updated: Summer 2020
Replacement due: TBA

Image gallery

Media reviews

Reviews, road test and comparisons from across the UK automotive media. Click any of the boxes to view.

The Car Expert+

Model reviewed: 1.4-litre petrol (mild hybrid) manual
“While the hybrid element certainly hasn’t diminished the Swift Sport’s fun factor, it’s brought with it quite a hefty price increase that makes this Swift not quite as easy to recommend as it once was.”
Read review

Model reviewed: 1.4-litre petrol manual
Score: 8 / 10
“The Suzuki Swift Sport is a complete package that offers all the performance you could need without compromises, and comes with both a quality build and a long equipment list.”
Read review

Auto Express+

Model reviewed: 1.4-litre petrol (mild hybrid) manual
Score: 6 / 10
“Mild-hybrid power means the Suzuki Swift Sport is a small hot hatch that will induce a smile and be cheap to run, but you’ll have to pay more than ever from the outset.”
Read review

Auto Trader+

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8 / 10
“In isolation the Swift Sport is a fun car with plenty to enjoy but it’s simply too expensive – and too slow – to compete with the true hot hatch heroes it’s now priced against.”
Read review

Business Car+

Score: 6 / 10
“Although it has its charms, the Suzuki Swift Sport doesn’t deliver the value we were hoping for, and business drivers might be tempted to try out the alternatives.”
Read review

Carbuyer+

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 7 / 10
“It’s light and has a punchy engine, but we wish the latest Suzuki Swift Sport still offered the affordable fun of the original.”
Read review

Carwow+

Score: 7 / 10
“The Suzuki Swift Sport is a high-performance version of Suzuki’s compact city car that’s slightly cheaper than most other hot hatches, if not quite as fast.”
Read review

Evo+

Model reviewed: CTC
Score: 8 / 10
“CTC therefore fits a new intake kit, turbo-back exhaust system with 200-cell catalytic converter, turbocharger and intercooler, throws in a set of NGK Iridium plugs, and then remaps the ECU to take advantage of the better hardware.”
Read review

Fleetworld+

Model reviewed: 1.4-litre petrol (mild hybrid) manual
Score: 6 / 10
“The biggest problem with the Suzuki Swift Sport Hybrid in our opinion is the price, which puts it on a collision course with Ford’s hot hatch hero, the Fiesta ST, which is actually cheaper and has less driving compromises than the sportiest Swift – which is a shame.”
Read review

Heycar+

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 4 / 10
“The problem remains that on scale of bang for buck, the Suzuki Swift has got worse not better with its latest revision. It’s hard not to miss the earlier 1.4-litre non-hybrid model for its chirpily uncomplicated approach and appeal.”
Read review

Honest John+

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8 / 10
“Powered by impressive and spirited 1.4 BoosterJet engine, the Swift Sport is economical for a sporty hatch, and good fun to drive.”
Read review

The Intercooler+

Model reviewed: 1.3-litre petrol (mild hybrid) manual
“What really grabs your attention is just how much fun this thing is to drive. It’s well balanced and it oversteers on a sharply lifted throttle brilliantly. Mostly, though, it’s a pity the Suzuki Swift Sport now costs as much as it does.”
Read review

The Sun+

Model reviewed: 1.4-litre petrol (mild hybrid) manual
“Nimble, fun and roomy, but overpriced.”
Read review

The Sunday Times+

Score: 8 / 10
“A fine little hot hatch that’s a whole heap of fun.”
Read review

The Telegraph+

Model reviewed: 1.4-litre petrol (mild hybrid) manual
Score: 8 / 10
“Useful fuel savings and usable performance mark the Suzuki Swift Sport out in this mild-hybrid form. If the past is any guide it will be a reliable and cost-effective servant and mostly likeable, but it’s just too expensive compared with its highly accomplished rivals.”
Read review

What Car?+

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 6 / 10
“The Suzuki Swift Sport is well equipped and fun to drive, but a high list price and underwhelming handling stop it from achieving hot hatch greatness.”
Read review

Safety rating

Independent crash test and safety ratings from Euro NCAP

Overall score: 4 stars
Date tested: November 2017
Read the full Euro NCAP review

Adult protection: 88%
Child protection: 75%
Vulnerable road users: 69%
Safety assist: 44%

Notes on safety rating

As the Swift Sport comes with a safety pack of additonal features that are an optional extra for the regular Suzuki Swift SZ3 and SZ-T models, the Swift Sport recieved a four-star rating from Euro NCAP in 2017. The regular Swift (without the safety pack) was tested at the same time, achieving a three-star rating.

Eco rating

Independent economy and emissions ratings from Green NCAP

No eco rating

As of September 2024, the Suzuki Swift Sport has not been lab tested by Green NCAP.

Reliability rating

Reliability data provided exclusively for The Car Expert by MotorEasy

Total claims: 36
Average repair cost: £315.81
Last updated: January 2024

Reliability score

All data based on MotorEasy average workshop costs for extended car warranty claims

The Suzuki Swift has a reliability score that’s higher than average, according to exclusive extended warranty data provided by our partners at MotorEasy. This score covers both the current-generation Swift, including the Swift Sport, and the previous (pre-2017) versions.

Faults are reportedly cheap to fix across the board for Swift owners, with engine, suspension and braking system repairs being the most common.

If you’re looking at a used Suzuki Swift, make sure any extended warranty cover you purchase covers all of these potential problem areas.

Running cost rating

Monthly cost of ownership data provided exclusively for The Car Expert by Clear Vehicle Data

Fuel consumption	Average	Score	Variation	Score
Petrol models	50 mpg	B	50 – 50 mpg	B – B

CO₂ output	Average	Score	Variation	Score
Petrol models	125 g/km	A	125 – 127 g/km	A – A

Insurance group	Average	Score	Variation	Score
All models	28	B	28 – 28	B – B

Service and maintenance	Cost	Score
Year 1	£173	A
Year 2	£503	A
Year 3	£822	A
Year 4	£1,070	B
Year 5	£1,462	B
Overall	£4,030	B

The Suzuki Swift Sport is one of the most affordable hot hatches on the market, according to whole-life cost numbers provided exclusively to The Car Expert by our data partner, Clear Vehicle Data.

While the standard Swift offers better fuel economy, the Swift Sport’s performance boost doesn’t increase the fuel consumption by much, meaning that the hot hatch is still more economical than the average car.

Insurance and maintenance costs are also predicted to be pretty manageable over the course of five years of ownership.