Maruti Suzuki Swift is undoubtedly one of the most common hatchbacks you can find on Indian roads. Swift has ruled the Indian automotive market for over a decade and is still going strong in the used vehicle market. So whether you are a newbie trying to get used to driving or a value buyer looking for a fuel-efficient, low-maintenance hatchback, the Maruti Suzuki Swift is always a good choice.
However, as with any used car, you need to be careful and thorough when inspecting it. Purchasing a used car can either help you save big bucks or drown you in maintenance costs, which is why you need to be cautious. With the right advice and help, it shouldn’t be too hard to find a good Maruti Suzuki Swift, since there are so many of them on the resale market. Based on data from all platforms that list used cars, around 25% of the premium hatchbacks are used Maruti Suzuki Swifts.
To get you started, we have curated a list of things to check before you buy a used Maruti Suzuki Swift.
Pre-owned Maruti Suzuki Swift Generations
Launched in May 2005, the Maruti Suzuki Swift held the lion’s share in the Indian market. Starting off as a nimble, fuel-efficient performer, the Swift soon gained the trust of millions of Indians. All thanks to the first gen’s success and popularity, Maruti Suzuki brought out multiple updates and facelifts and released the second and third gen in 2011 and 2018, respectively.
Generation 1: 2005-2010—Maruti Suzuki Swift
Maruti Suzuki Swift is the first model where Maruti engineers and designers got an opportunity to work in collaboration with the team at Suzuki, Japan. This collaboration came as a result of the brilliance of the Indian team of engineers of Maruti who proved it to the folks at Suzuki Motor’s headquarters in Japan time and again that India can be so much more than just a manufacturing post.
The first-gen Maruti Suzuki Swift was Suzuki’s first global market car launched in India. It immediately became one of the most popular hatchbacks because of its distinct design and pricing. Swift had three trim options: LXi, VXi, and ZXi. Starting at Rs.3.8 lakh, the high-end models were priced at Rs.5.2 lakh.
Maruti Suzuki offered two engine options with the Swift. The first engine was a 1.3-litre G13BB petrol engine that produced 87 bhp and 115 Nm of maximum torque. The second engine was the Fiat-sourced 1.3-litre DDiS engine that churned out 75 hp and 190 Nm of peak torque. Both engines are paired with a five-speed manual transmission.
Furthermore, the first-gen Maruti Suzuki Swift won the Indian Car of the Year award in 2006.
Generation 2: 2011-2017—Maruti Suzuki Swift
Launched around 2010, Maruti Suzuki made several upgrades to both the exterior and interior. The Swift was built with a new type of steel, making the body lighter and stiffer. In addition, the Swift also got a larger radiator grille and upsized headlamps. The second-gen Swift was 100mm longer and 5mm wider than the first-gen Swift. Furthermore, while Suzuki made no major changes to the front end, the rear end had more curves, giving it a more pouty look.
The second-gen Maruti Suzuki Swift was priced from Rs.4.22-6.38 lakh. It easily hit ten lakh sales figures in September 2013 and received a mid-life facelift a year later. All thanks to the additional hi-tech features like Bluetooth telephony and new colours, cosmetic and mechanical revisions helped it achieve the 13 lakh sales milestone in April 2015.
Generation 3: 2018-Till Date—Maruti Suzuki Swift
Unveiled at the 2018 Auto Expo, the third-gen Maruti Suzuki Swift came out with a starting price of Rs.4.99 lakh and went up to Rs.7.96 lakh. Moreover, the premium hatchback got a diesel automatic version with a more premium interior and a sportier exterior for the first time. Within around five months, it became the fastest car in India to reach one lakh sales.
Keeping up with its popularity, the Maruti Suzuki Swift is still one of the top-selling cars in India.
With its introduction out of the way, here are five things you better check before buying a used Maruti Suzuki.
Clutch Issues
Clutch slipping is one of the most common and widely experienced issues with the Maruti Suzuki Swift. What basically happens when you feel your clutch “slipping” is that the disc that joins your flywheel doesn’t mesh or catch as well as it should, sometimes even completely failing to engage. Due to this, even when connected to the right gears, your vehicle cannot function at full power.
If you feel the clutch juddering while driving or experience difficulty changing gears, your car might be suffering from clutch failure. At times, drivers have also noticed a burning smell while revving the engines. Many Swift owners have reported a lag when shifting from third to second gear or engaging reverse gear.
In addition to clutch slipping, Swift owners experienced other problems like resistance while driving, lower mileage and the vehicle shuddering upon shifting gears. Most of these issues were resolved upon changing the clutch system.
You should thoroughly inspect the pre-owned Maruti Suzuki Swifts for any clutch- or transmission-related issues, as their repair work can be quite expensive. Many swift owners have reportedly changed their clutch at around 45,000 km, with some having to change it as much as 14,000 km.
Diesel Engine Issues
The Fiat-sourced 1.3-litre engine powered the earlier generations of the Maruti Suzuki Swift. Based on consumer reviews, the second and third gen Swift diesel engines have poor NVH due to poor insulation. Hence, you should check the diesel engine noise when you take the used Maruti Suzuki Swift for a spin, if it seems to be higher than usual, inspect the condition of the insulation.
Another problem with Swift’s diesel engines is faulty injectors. Good-quality fuel injectors usually have a lifecycle of around 150,000 km. Check for misfires, dirty emissions, and trouble in starting or even idling the car. If you find any of these issues during the test drive of your pre-owned Maruti Suzuki Swift diesel, you might want to get the fuel injection system thoroughly inspected.
Only a thorough inspection by a professional mechanic can help you get down to the roots of the problem.
Suspension Issues
Thanks to the Indian roads and the kind of kilometres many Swift owners accumulate, the suspensions experience a lot of wear and tear. So when you are inspecting a used Maruti Suzuki Swift, check for any unusual sounds while driving over speed breakers or uneven roads. Suspensions, like all other mechanical parts, come with a life cycle. Good suspensions last around 5 years or approximately one lakh kilometres, depending on the usage.
Noisy and faulty suspensions will not only ruin your driving experience, but they will also cost you a fortune in the near future. Also, make sure you keep an eye out for any visible damage to the suspensions during the inspection. If you come across a used Swift where poor suspensions are the only problem, you can negotiate and bring the buyer down to a lower price, offsetting the cost of the new suspensions.
Engine Oil Consumption
Rapid engine oil consumption is more closely associated with the Swift diesel from the first and second gen. Over the years, many Swift owners have complained that the engine oil wears out quickly, sometimes within a few weeks after service. The cause for rapid engine oil consumption is primarily due to a leak in the head gasket. If you see your engine oil draining rapidly, you should consider getting it replaced. That will cost you a few thousand rupees.
Driving around with low engine oil levels can adversely affect your car. You risk causing damage to the moving parts of your engine, where the parts could heat up and eventually deform or break.
AC Compressor Issues
Who likes to take a pitstop on the road because of a peculiar, loud noise coming from the hood? Nobody!
Swift owners have reported their AC making dreadful sounds as if the cooling fan is hitting the radiator or condenser. Compressor issues are common in used cars that have accrued thousands of kilometres. But when it comes to the Maruti Suzuki Swift, if the compressors start making dreadful sounds, you are left with no option other than replacing the compressor, which can set you back thousands of rupees.
Hence, if you are planning to purchase a Swift, you should definitely take a look into the maintenance records to see how the owner has maintained the car, especially the compressor. Whether it’s ever been replaced or repaired, and if the compressor fluid has been changed routinely or not. In the absence of maintenance records, a long test drive and thorough inspections are your only hope.
Summary
The Maruti Suzuki Swift has seen three generations and millions of units in sales over the last few decades in India. It’s arguably one of the most common hatchbacks that you can spot each time you head out. The Swift badge carries the trust of millions of Indians as it’s been a trouble-free car that’s easily clocked thousands, if not lakhs, of kilometres in the long run. But like with any other used car, if you come across a pre-owned Maruti Suzuki Swift, you must proceed cautiously.
Moreover, you should always get the car inspected by a professional beforehand and ask for the maintenance record for the past few years while you’re at it. A thoroughly inspected used Maruti Suzuki Swift is definitely a good deal if you are a fan of iconic, reliable hatchbacks. With many owners clocking over 1,00,000 kilometres, buying a used Maruti Suzuki Swift with an odometer reading anywhere around 50k can be considered a great deal.
