Should I think 2wice before I buy a Swift?. Review on Maruti Suzuki Swift

Hi! Before you read this review, I request you that I dont intend to defend or offend anyone. what I've written is purely my opinion about the car. I dont boast that this car is best, neither worst. This review is written purely based on my requirement.

I had one of my colleague's Swift VXI with me for a week when he had gone to his native. I used the car twice to go to the hospital. Accept the fact that it helped me reach the hospital quick. Damn good. The engine is really powerful. AC is too good. The vehicle responded exactly the way I used the pedals.

I was in the verge of buying a new car when I drove this swift. I had test driven Wagon R, Santro, Swift, Getz and again Swift, Turbo Indica and Wagon R again before I got my colleagues's swift with me. My choice was getz. Why? You can read my review on Getz. But the Getz GLS was Rs.70,000/- more than the Swift VXi. Also, my neighbours friend is using getz for the past one year. When I asked his feedback he told me that if fuel is not a constraint for me then go for it because it gives you good comfort, space and quality interiors and its a hatch-back. I asked him how much will getz give in city. He said his car gives 9.5-10 kmpl after 3rd service. It was giving around 8-9 kmpl before the service. So I dropped getz. Then the bigger vehicle in that segment is only Swift and Indica.

Built Quality

I finalized on Swift as I never liked Indica till I test drove it. (Want to know more about Indica, read my review on the Turbo Indica I purchased finally). The sales man took me to their yard to show me the silver color swift so that we could pay him advance to book the silver car. We went in a Swift Demo car. On that journey, I found out that the hardly 4 months old demo car had its door padding faded to green color, power window buttons faded to little grayish color, rattling from the boot and front doors, power window buttons were kinda loose in its socket.

Mileage

My friend told me that he is getting 10kmpl in city with AC and 13kmpl on long. The company claims 14kmpl in city and 17kmpl on long. Its too hard to believe what the company says.

Riding Comfort

While going to the yard to finalize the color, the sales person was driving the demo car pretty fast to and in that journey to finalize the color of my swift I changed my mind not to buy the Swift. Why? Myself, my wife and children did not get a chance to sit on the seat firmly. We were literally in air inside the car. Absolutely there is no comfort to sit at the back. It is a bumpy bumpy bumpy ride, though the back seat is spacious. I noticed the car was bumpy at the rear in my first test drive also, which was on the second day maruti launched swift. But the sales person at that time told me it is because its a new car. I did not go for an argument with a guy who made such a statement.

Whats wrong according to me

--> While coming back from yard, I drove the car. Should say that the front seating position, driving comfort are really good. But what dipressed me is the quality of the material used for interior. That upsets me. I feel Wagon R has more liveliness inside than Swift. Swift interior is very dull.

--> One major thing I noticed both in my friend's car and in the demo car was that the gear was pretty hard to shift, especially the second and third gear.

--> The glass area at the rear is very less and so myself and my wife really felt that we were locked in a shell. That was a bad mental feeling. If the car has dark sun-control film fixed to it, the passengers sitting at the back will have no connection with the outside world.

--> While returning from hospital the second time, in the night, I was not able to drive as usual because the lights from opposite side vehicles we spreading in the windshield and affecting my eyes, making it difficult to drive.

--> The front door window begins from above my shoulder position. According to our driving habbits, its difficult to rest our arm on the door pad.

--> The C Pillar really obstructs driver's vision

--> According to me, the car has too much of buldging outside. It is one of the main reason why people who drive swift in India have more tendency to lean forward to see the fender or bonnet of the car to get their car going without touching anywhere. But no arguments as it is one of the trendy design today. But I dont like the design. Will get back to you on that. Its the same case when talked about the rear also making it difficult to reverse. According to me, on Indian roads, this much of buldging on the exterior makes it difficult for the driver to move through our congested cities. The mirrors for example look real fat from outside. But see the size of the mirror, it is so small. Getz in that matter has perfect body curves and best interior spacing.

--> Its funny to watch the Swift Lxi and VXi moving on road. The big body with lean tyres look exactly like a morris. Why spend nearing 5 lakhs to get a vehicle like morris. Instead buy a good morris itself for half the price of swift.

--> The design of the car according to me is not trendy. The car has a mix of trendy and vintage looks. But more it falls towards the vintage class, according to me. The design of the car is well connected from the front with some descent curves. But when it reaches the rear portion of the car, it feels as if the design engineers got really confused on what to do. I've noticed that any car that has too much of curves will look very old very fast, though new.

-->The car when its a bit dirty looks vry dull and old. Especially the red color.

Marketing Gimmick

Another important thing we should notice is that, when the vehicle was launched, atleast for the first 2-3 months maruti claimed there was a waiting period of upto 4 months after booking. To meet the requirements of the excess booking, maruti increased the production to 30% the next month. But within 2 months after increasing production, we hear that Swift is readily available. With a waiting period of 4 months, how can this requirement be met in less than 2 months by increasing the production by just 30%? According to me it was only a hype.

Overall

Poor mileage, low quality interior, lean tyres, too many curves, bulky exterior, dull interior, small windows - less light inside. Need not say more.

Todays trend is that we use a car only for 5 years max, whether petrol or diesel. Both have running costs and maintenance costs. Resale value of these cars are not at all great in the second hand market. In that case, I 'll go for the Turbo Indica. With an extended warranty, the car will be under warranty for 4 years. You will not have to spend much from your pocket. If so, then you dont lose much money buying an Indica. Also, recent Indicas are good. Swift, I say is only good for teenagers for their college going and hangouts. It can be used as a second car for a family.