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Honda Civic vs Suzuki Swift

What's the difference?

VS
Honda Civic
Honda Civic

$47,200 - $72,600

2024 price

Suzuki Swift
Suzuki Swift

$21,249 - $37,880

2023 price

Summary

2024 Honda Civic
2023 Suzuki Swift
Safety Rating

Engine Type
Turbo 4, 2.0L

Inline 4, 1.2L
Fuel Type
-

Unleaded Petrol
Fuel Efficiency
8.9L/100km (combined)

4.6L/100km (combined)
Seating
4

5
Dislikes
  • Price, maybe
  • Limited availability
  • Likely a swansong

  • Modest performance
  • Firm ride
  • Small boot
2024 Honda Civic Summary

Before we dive in, this isn’t your typical road test. 

That’s because there’s no road, per se. Instead, the majority of what you’re about to read comes from The Bend Motorsport Park in South Australia.

You’ve read the headline, though, so you’re probably putting it all together: a Honda Civic Type R on a well-liked race track must be bliss. Let’s find out.

A very quick catch-up for those not in the know. The Honda Civic Type R (or CTR if you like) is the brand’s only performance model on sale after the demise of the NSX supercar. 

The current (FL5) CTR is a little over a year old, having been launched internationally in late 2022, but has only been on Aussie shores for a little while. In fact, we’ve already reviewed it for the road, back in April.

But Honda Australia was keen to get media behind the wheel in a setting it says the CTR thrives in - a racetrack. Its predecessor was a car loved almost universally, can this one live up to the new standard?

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2023 Suzuki Swift Summary

Your preference is for a conventional car because SUVs don't do it for you. It needs to be small because the urban jungle is your natural habitat. The budget is set at 'around' $25K. And an economical combustion engine is the best bet, because charging an EV at home or elsewhere isn't on the cards at this point.

The good news is there are numerous choices out there from Japan, South Korea, and Europe. And one that hits the brief bang-on is a long-standing Aussie favourite from small car specialist, Suzuki.

The Swift hatch slips naturally into the urban landscape, and we spent a week with a mid-spec version to see how it measures up in terms of value, economy, cost of ownership, utility and driving performance.

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Deep dive comparison

2024 Honda Civic 2023 Suzuki Swift

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