Frugal Suzuki Swift just what doctor ordered amid record fuel prices
Little hatchback sipped just 4.5 litres per 100km on round trip between Joburg and the Vaal.
When Suzuki introduced the fourth generation Swift in 2024, they boasted an 11% improvement in fuel consumption compared to its third generation counterpart. The updated powertrain replaced the naturally aspirated four-cylinder 1.2-litre petrol engine with a free-breathing three-pot mill of the same displacement. However, this resulted in a slight decrease in power and torque, down to 60kW/112Nm.
Despite the reduced output, Suzuki claimed that the new engine would be lighter, cooler, and provide more low-down torque, allowing the hatchback to consume only 4.4 litres per 100km on the five-speed manual configuration. Predicting real-world fuel efficiency is often challenging, as it is heavily influenced by factors like weight, weather, and driving conditions.
To test the Suzuki Swift's claimed fuel efficiency, we conducted two long-term tests in real-world conditions. The first trip covered 370km between Johannesburg and Middelburg and the second 180km between Johannesburg and Vereeniging. Both tests were conducted with air conditioning on full blast to reflect real-world conditions.
The Suzuki Swift GLX manual, equipped with a nine-inch infotainment system, surprisingly averaged 5.0L/100km during the tests, slightly below the claimed figure. The reduction in fuel consumption was largely attributed to the lighter weight of the vehicle after the removal of three additional occupants during the second test. After just over 2,000km of driving, our long-term Suzuki Swift GLX manual has an overall average consumption of 5.3L/100km, slightly higher than the claimed figure but still a significant improvement that eases the financial burden on drivers facing record fuel prices.
Written by urgent.news from The Citizen's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
