Used Suzuki Swift 2017-present reliability

Category: Small car

Fun to drive, generously equipped and ultra-reliable, the Swift is a fine choice for those in the market for a well priced small car.

Used Suzuki Swift 17-present
  • Used Suzuki Swift 17-present
  • Suzuki Swift climate controls
  • Used Suzuki Swift 17-present
  • Used Suzuki Swift 17-present
  • Used Suzuki Swift 17-present
  • Used Suzuki Swift 17-present
  • Used Suzuki Swift 17-present
  • Used Suzuki Swift Hybrid (17-present) long term test review
  • Used Suzuki Swift 17-present
  • Used Suzuki Swift 17-present
  • Used Suzuki Swift Hybrid (17-present) long term test review
  • Suzuki Swift rear seats
  • Used Suzuki Swift 17-present
  • Suzuki Swift climate controls
  • Used Suzuki Swift 17-present
  • Used Suzuki Swift 17-present
  • Used Suzuki Swift 17-present
  • Used Suzuki Swift 17-present
  • Used Suzuki Swift 17-present
  • Used Suzuki Swift Hybrid (17-present) long term test review
  • Used Suzuki Swift 17-present
  • Used Suzuki Swift 17-present
  • Used Suzuki Swift Hybrid (17-present) long term test review
  • Suzuki Swift rear seats
Used Suzuki Swift 2017-present review
Star rating

What should I look for in a used Suzuki Swift hatchback?

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.

Used Suzuki Swift 17-present

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.

Is a used Suzuki Swift hatchback reliable?

The Swift should be a highly dependable small car choice because it came in first place out of 19 cars in the 2023 What Car? Reliability 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 brand also did really well overall, getting fourth place out of 32 car manufacturers in the same survey.

If you would like to see the full reliability list, head to the What Car? Reliability Survey pages for more information.

Suzuki Swift rear seats