2018 Maruti Suzuki Swift review, road test

The Swift has long been India’s most-loved hatchback. Does the bond deepen with the new third-generation model?

Published on Mar 29, 2018 06:00:00 AM

1,35,549 Views

2018 Maruti Suzuki Swift review, road test

Grip and body control are great but the lifeless steering is a killjoy.

Just like its predecessors, the latest Swift has a youthful air about it.

Despite its light weight, the Swift feels confident at high speeds and stability is good.

Swift is attractive but top-spec versions' jazzier wheels and LED headlights make a big difference.

Being fun to drive has always been part of the Swift experience, so it pains us to say this but that fun
factor is missing on the latest car. And it’s solely down to the steering which just feels lifeless. The electric steering is devoid of feedback and that lack of connect with the front wheels just sucks the joy out of the driving experience. Still, show commitment and throw the Swift into a corner and you can tell all the other ingredients are in place. It’s grippy, quick to turn in and exhibits excellent body control. Even the brakes are on point. You can almost hear the chassis crying out for a better steering.

But it’s not only through the corners and twisties that the steering disappoints. At town speeds, there’s inadequate return to centre, so you have to have a firm hand on the steering wheel at all times to keep the Swift going in the direction you intend it to.

Where the Swift has made the right kind of progress is in ride quality. There is some pitter-patter at low speeds (more pronounced in the petrols), and the suspension can’t completely iron out tiny imperfections, but bump absorption is impressive and the suspension does its job quietly. The ride quality gets better, with speed and body movements being well contained; even the diesel Swift with its heavier engine doesn’t unduly bob or pitch, and actually feels the more sorted in its setup. High-speed stability is good for such a small and light car (the wider front and rear track come into play), and what helps the experience on long intra-city journeys is that road and wind noise are pretty well contained too.