2020 Mazda 2 vs Suzuki Swift

What's the difference?

The Mazda2 has been, to my thinking, the best light car in its class. That doesn't mean it's the cheapest - it isn't - but its mix of styling, engineering and safety mean you know where your money has gone. The plucky 2 continues to duke it out with the all-conquering Toyota Yaris, the VW Polo and all manner of Euro and Asian competition.

Things sure have changed in this segment in the last decade or so, with not one single model cracking 10,000 sales (although the Hyundai Accent came close).

Despite its higher cost against the Accent and various contenders, the Mazda2 still came third in its class in 2019, with just under 8200 sales. Just as the year was winding down, Mazda announced a customary, detail-focused rejig of the Mazda2 line-up.

Often in life, you’ll find the most simple answer to a problem is the best one.

Take Suzuki for example. The brand’s problem? It wants to sell cars. The solution? Don’t overthink it. Forget hybrids and dual-clutch transmissions and trick differentials… the core to Suzuki’s success is one which seems to elude other automakers quite easily.

It builds simple and fun-to-drive cars, which can be easily tailored to universally appeal to both developing markets and some of the most advanced and difficult-to-compete-in markets in the world, like ours here in Australia.

The Swift Sport is perhaps the shining example of that. Essentially just a regular budget Swift hatch turned up to 11 with existing parts from other Suzuki vehicles, the Sport has not only managed to outlive many of its rivals, it’s managed to do so in a form which is cheap but not nasty.

With the arrival of the Series II Swift Sport, what’s been added? Stick with us as we explain…