Most of us know or are accustomed to Swift. The singer and the car! (Let us get that pun out of the way) And in the dying world of hatchbacks, the Swift has become an ever-so-important car for people who don't want an SUV or people who have the enthusiast’s fire in their hearts. So how has the 2024 Swift performed? Well, to give you a short overview, the Swift is a very good answer for people who don’t want to buy an ugly compact SUV. And when you hear what mileage it gives… Oh boy, you are going to run with your money to the nearest MS Arena and buy it without even reading the brochure….
But keep the mileage aside for a second. I think that is a given since there is a power drop as well as a cylinder drop, the mileage on this would be pretty good. But let me tell you what happened with this iteration of the 2024 MS Swift. It became “MATURED”. Yes, enthusiasts, please don’t see this as the wet dream you had in the name of Hot Hatches. This is a mature car that is peppy. But it has lost a little of that speed and flair in order to put other important things forward. Other things that make it attractive to a wider bandwidth of people. Comfort, Safety, Practicality, and basic liveability with the car have been raised far up to cater to a larger audience. But this is not bad, don’t let it sway you away from the car. We hatchback lovers should be rooting for a car like this. This is our shining hope for the survival of the pure hatchback breed. And this is a good car, through and through. But now, let me break down why this is a good car.
Verdict
So, to end this, I have just a few things to say. This has become a capable car that is mature enough to cater to a larger audience. It has enough power to do all the activities that a regular human being can think of. Being inside it also doesn’t feel bad one bit and on top of that it gives the fuel efficiency of a motorcycle. This may have lost a little bit of swiftiness, but it has gained a plethora of other attributes that will make it one hell of a car to own. This is the one thing that will keep the hatchback breed alive in a world of compact SUVs.
I hate numbers, but here it goes… The new Swift has claimed fuel efficiency of 24.8 kmpl for the MT variants and 25.75 kmpl for AMT. The new engine called the Z Series, puts out 82 hp of power and 112 Nm of torque. With these things out of the way, let me tell you what these stupid numbers feel like.
Yes, there is a drop in power. 7 bhp and 1 Nm of torque. Let me not take that away. This Swift is heavier than the previous generation as well. But its nimbleness is adjusted by its superior suspension and the false feeling that it creates. What I mean is that when you want to go fast in this car, you really have to work the gears. And that creates some really nice tones from the engine. All that theater makes you feel like you are going faster than you really are. It also revs happily till 6000 rpm and the gear shifts are oh so smooth. I only had the chance to drive the manual one so my review will stick to that. You may think that the three-cylinder engine will be noisy, but MS had thought of this.
This three-cylinder doesn't give back or rather any vibrations when you driving in city conditions. They just creep in when you are idling or are pushing that red dial to the absolute limit. And for the most part, it is efficient like no one’s business. We were pushing the car throughout the shoot and even then we had a mileage of 18kmpl. However, if you do want to save the earth and save fuel, you can get more than the claimed efficiency in particular conditions. Someone in the first drive got a 35kmpl!!! What would you say to that?
There is a sense of weight on the car. However, it is something that can be manageable even if you are planning to push the car to the limits. What you have to worry about is how cool you want to look when you’re doing stupid stuff in it. That’s all. The seats are kept comfortable as well and will hold you in place when the G-forces go high.
The features list has been kept large. It now entertains you with a 9-inch music system that supports both wireless Apple Carplay and Android Auto. You also get rear AC vents which also add to the experience. Furthermore, you get a plethora of accessories that come with the package. In terms of features, they have tried to put in a lot of usuals, but I will only talk about safety once the NCAP ratings come in.
The first thing that you will notice is the clamshell bonnet-style design. It almost feels like the car is wearing a cap on its head. It is a little weird to look at first. But the design grows on you especially if you pair it with the LED headlamps and how the bonnet line extends to the side of the car to become a very prominent shoulder line. The side of the car is kept clean but the two-tone paint job along with the aggressive shoulder line does make the car pop out. The 15-inch diamond-cut alloy wheels do look adequate, however the bigger options could have accentuated the appeal. Once you move the rear, that is a classic Swift rear end. I would like to use the word ass, but I want to be classy about it. All the design elements are classic Swift, but the rear lights now feature fancy stuff that will surely set it apart from the previous generations. All in all, it is a modern car while being not too shouty or not too subtle.
Specs
Engine - 1.2-litre naturally aspirated
Power - 82hp
Torque - 112Nm
Weight - 920 kg
Ground clearance - 163mm
Prices - Rs. 6.49 to 9.46 lakh
