Since its inception in 2005, the Maruti-Suzuki Swift has been among the highest selling cars in India, even in the Covid-19 stricken year of 2020, it performed better than its rivals. And to add to its laurels, all three generations of the Swift has won the Indian Car of The Year award — 2006, 2012, and 2018, making it the only car to achieve this feat. But why does the Swift sell so well? Let’s break them down.
Perhaps the biggest reason for Swift’s success is the trust that customers have in Maruti-Suzuki. That trust comes from Maruti’s long-standing history of making reliable cars, but also the peace of mind that when something does go wrong, there are more than 4000 customer touchpoints across the length and breadth of the country. Moreover, the genuine part that is needed to be replaced is usually readily available, or in a short time, and for a reasonable price. However, the Swift, like all other Marutis, has been engineered for India which means it is more than capable of handling not just our terrible roads, but also the extreme climate of the country. And the last noteworthy mention is the price. The 2021 Swift has a price tag starting from Rs 5.85 lakh ex-showroom, which lies in the sweet spot for Indian customers looking to buy a hatchback.
Apart from the brand’s trust and reasonable prices, Swift is also an enthu cutlet favourite. It currently has a K-Series 1.2-litre four-cylinder engine that churns out 88.5bhp at 6000rpm and 113Nm at 4400rpm and is available with either a 5-speed manual or a 5-speed AMT. The engine is incredibly smooth and the Swift is a proper fun hatch, whether it's on city commutes, tight and twisty roads, or even long highway hauls. The Swift has superb dynamics, courtesy of a low centre of gravity, the wheels being pushed to all four corners and a responsive front-end.
While it pleases the enthu-cutlets, of course it also packs essential features like a seven-inch touchscreen with mobile phone integration by the Smartplay Studio, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, which gives access to more features like voice commands, navigation and telephony. And of course, it also has adequate cabin space and a boot that is on par with its rivals, making it a great overall package.
Over the years, many manufacturers have made attempts to dethrone the Swift, but its ability to please not just the mass market buyers but also the few enthu-cutlets that we have in the country, without breaking the bank, makes it a formidable contender in the class.