Suzuki Swift vs Ford Focus

What's the difference?

VS
Suzuki Swift
Suzuki Swift

$19,290 - $37,180

2024 price

Ford Focus
Ford Focus

$19,990 - $45,888

2021 price

Summary

2024 Suzuki Swift
2021 Ford Focus
Safety Rating

Engine Type
Inline 3, 1.2L

Turbo 3, 1.5L
Fuel Type
Unleaded Petrol/Electric

Unleaded Petrol
Fuel Efficiency
3.8L/100km (combined)

6.4L/100km (combined)
Seating
5

5
Dislikes
  • Needs 95 RON premium unleaded
  • Spare wheel now an option
  • Base model loses seat-height adjustment

  • Optional advanced safety
  • Better tyres would be nice
  • Too many optional colours
2024 Suzuki Swift Summary

Few cars have had the sheer staying power of the Suzuki Swift.

Except for a four-year hiatus as the original Ignis from 2001, the Japanese supermini has been a segment mainstay since 1983, winning over consumers worldwide as an inexpensive, economical and reliable yet fun option in the Toyota Yaris class.

In Australia, its impact has been even more profound, providing Holden with its famous “beep-beep” Barina for two early iterations from 1985, while also introducing us to the pocket rocket decades before the Volkswagen Polo GTI, with the Swift GTi of 1986.

Now there’s this – the sixth-gen model in 41 years if you exclude that Ignis – doing what the little Suzuki has always done: offering buyers a great budget alternative. But this time, in this new-electrification era, where precious few attainable choices remain.

Is it any good? Let’s dive straight in.

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2021 Ford Focus Summary

Ford's small hatch, the Focus, is criminally under-bought in Australia. The latest model is  one of the best hatchbacks on the road and when you chuck in the decent price, impressive equipment and absurdly powerful engine for its size, it's a winner.

But you lot? You don't buy it in nearly the kinds of numbers it deserves. Partly because there isn't a bait-and-upsell boggo model to lure you in, partly because it's got a badge that is not exciting Australians any more and partly because it's not a compact SUV.

Or is(n't) it? Because alongside the ST-Line warm hatch is the identically priced and therefore technically a co-entry level model; the Focus Active. Slightly higher, with plastic cladding, drive modes and a conspicuous L on the transmission shifter, it's a little bit SUV, right?

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Deep dive comparison

2024 Suzuki Swift 2021 Ford Focus

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