2017 Suzuki Swift vs 2020

What's the difference?

The Suzuki Swift was a mainstay of the first-new-car market, offering bulletproof reliability, good dynamics and, above all else, accessible pricing.

But then it went from mainstay to just staying. And staying. And staying. In fact, it barely changed between 2005 and 2011, and then changed only a little bit for what Suzuki called its “second generation”.

So, this 2017 all-new model is a pretty big deal. A new platform, new engines and new technology headline the dramatically overhauled Swift line-up, as Suzuki tries to stoke the fires of interest in one of its most enduring and important models.

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…