Used Suzuki Swift 2017-2024 reliability
Category: Small car
Fun to drive, generously equipped and ultra-reliable, the Suzuki Swift is a fine choice for those in the market for a well-priced small car.
What should I look for in a used Suzuki Swift hatchback?
When viewing a used car, always follow our used car buying checklist.
Top-spec SZ5 models come with diamond-cut alloy wheels that are more costly to repair if they’re kerbed, so have a good look at the car to spot any damage.
Some models come with a reversing camera, but there are no parking sensors, so check the bodywork and bumpers for any dents or scrapes. Paint repairs can be expensive, and if not done correctly, could lead to future rust issues.
Have a good look at the interior for evidence of damaged plastics. While it is tough, shiny plastic trim does show up scratches quite easily.
If you want to set up a smartphone connection using Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, you will need to have the handbrake on before the system will allow you to do this.
What are the most common problems with a used Suzuki Swift hatchback?
Battery: A software issue on some Swift models built between 7 Jan and 1 November 2017 could lead to the main battery (the one used to start the car) not being charged while driving, leading to it going flat. Find out if your Swift is affected by this because an update will be required to fix this.
Integrated starter generator: A problem has been found with the belt snapping on the integrated starter generator that forms part of the mild-hybrid system. It only affects a small number of examples made between 3 February and 13 March 2017, but make sure you check whether the work has already been carried out by speaking with a Suzuki dealer.
Side curtain airbags: The side curtain airbags and seat belt pretensioners fitted to Swifts manufactured between 3 February 2017 and 13 February 2019 could deploy if one of the rear doors is slammed shut. Find out if your car is affected by this because it'll need to have a software update carried out to prevent this from happening.
Click here for more information. Contact your local Suzuki dealer if you believe your vehicle is involved in a recall.
Is a used Suzuki Swift hatchback reliable?
The Suzuki Swift is a reliable car. It came in first place out of 19 cars in the 2023 What Car? Reliability Survey, besting the likes of the Fiesta, Mazda 2 and Fiat 500, with san overall score of 99.5%.
In our most recent 2024 survey, it slipped back slightly to seventh place out of 15 cars with an overall score of 95.7%.
This is what went wrong from the 2023 survey.
Reliability rating 99.5%
What went wrong? Interior trim 4%
The Suzuki Swift trumped all its rivals to take the accolade of most dependable small car. A mere 4% of the owners who completed our survey reported any issues with their cars, and the only area to give them any grief was the interior trim. All remedial work was completed in a day or less, demonstrating that faults were minor. Even better, all work was done for free.
Suzuki, as a car brand, also did really well overall, getting third place out of 34 car manufacturers in the same survey.
Used Suzuki Swift: owners' reliability data
Suzuki Swift owners are a happy bunch, reporting dependable, strong reliability of their cars.
