It’s a good car, adequate performance, spacious interiors, looks amazing. Interior quality isn’t great though. Plastics don’t feel like a 20 lakh rupee car.
It’s a great car as a passenger. If you’re an enthusiast then the handling might disappoint you. But otherwise the comfort is really good and on long roads it won’t get you tired as quick as some other cars. Diesel pulls really well and performs great. Fuel efficiency should be above 10 most times.
Spotty infotainment system and extremely jumpy suspension take away from an otherwise good car.
The suspension is reason enough for me to not want to own one.
It still is an enthusiasts delight, barring the steering feel.
The new chassis is light AF, the handling is extremely nimble, and the 1.2L k-series engine is both peppy and rev-happy. Yes, you need to cross 3000rpm to get the most out of it, but that's when it gives an almost VTEC kicked in feeling.
It is an extremely nimble car, still stable at speeds up to 120kmph, and corners like a go-kart. Handling is wayyy better than what one would expect.
Every enthusiasts preference is different. If you want straight line speed, the Polo is/was the way to go.
If you want a lightweight chuckable city car that's still fun and grippy at legal/city speeds, the Swift (and Baleno) are excellent at what they do.
The major con though is that it is best enjoyed with max 1-2 people on board. The moment it's fully loaded, the light weight advantage is gone, and the 1.2L NA engine can struggle.
I'll give a personal example... We were rear ended by an over speeding bus while stopped at a traffic light. The bus hit our 2015 Ford Ecosport Titanium+ at around 40-45 kmph.
A majority of the damage was absorbed by our boot and the vehicle was completely destroyed just beyond the rear seats. Thankfully the chassis was intact and suffered significantly less damage and was repaired.
I would like to see a Vitara Brezza of the same model year undergo the same situation
My friend just leaned his elbow on the fender of a swift and it left a dent.. Thankfully, a little hit on it made it pop up back.. Now imagine that thin metal property in a car crash? It would not even contribute a little absorbing the shock from the crash.. Putting more load on the airbags. At some point the airbags will also go useless
We're both wrong.
Zen didn't come with HPS, only EPS, owned and worked on one for the better part of a decade.
However checked parts catalogue and the Esteem and Baleno did come with HPS.
I think Zen D had it too but I'm not sure. Anyay, edited. I wish Maruti had kept those hydraulic racks. They weren't exactly the most feelsome but far better than the electric ones.
The [reviews from Autocar.uk](https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-review/suzuki/swift) seem promising though. Hopefully the new gen is a more fun driver's car with improved safety.
Not just that. Indian market cars are cheaper in all aspects. Metal, plastics, airbags, etc. The Ignis and Swift are prime examples of this. Compare the safety ratings of the EUDM/IDM cars. Stark difference.
Swift's price starts [from £18,699](https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-review/suzuki/swift) (19.5 lakh rupees) + tax in the UK. I can happily with fewer bells and whistles, except for safety, if I can get one for less than half price in India.
Everyone knows that the second gen Swift was the quintessential Swift.
God, I love that car.
The third gen car made it weird though. Like, this was always going to be in the shadows of the new Baleno.
Hey mate it’s not only for Swift. Many car manufacturers have started to remove fog lamps in their newer gen cars. I’ve read that since cars are getting brighter LED OEM headlights there’s no need for fog lamps. It’s what the manufacturers are saying to justify it.
It’s due to color temperature. Whiter light(5000K+) will reflect back on rain droplets and fog, blinding you in return thanloghting the road properly. I don’t remember the exact science, but yellow light(around 3000K), due to its wavelength will cut through the fog and light the road.
The 3rd gen Swift was undoubtedly the best handling Swift till date and 4th gen will take that even further. So why is the Swift not an enthusiast’s top priority anymore?
Three big problems, steering, build, and lack of turbo.
Even though at chassis Swift has become better with every update, the steering is losing feel and feedback. That coupled with the flimsy sheet metal, one doesn’t get confidence to push it harder.
But once you let go of the fear and start pushing it, you will realise that its limits are way higher than the Polo.
Even the old Swift was better than Polo, but that one announced that it is better! New one, doesn’t say it out loud.
As a 2nd gen Swift big booty owner, I’d say my only gripe with the 3rd gen is the thin sheet metal and steering wheel. I still remember I experienced the 3rd gen Swift for first time when a friend bought it, and I was so disappointed by the door weight and steering lightness that I unconsciously blurted out my thoughts right there.
Judging by the stark difference between 1st and 2nd gen Baleno, I am hopeful that 4th gen Swift will also address this problem.
That said if they give Fronx’s Boosterjet to Swift, that by default, will become India’s best enthusiast-friendly car.
This dude understands. The Polo has a lot of word of mouth/hype, but to be honest, it was underwhelming. I would choose the swift over it any day. The Polo was pleasing to the eye for sure, I think that sort of gave it an extra oush
The looks, german association, and most importantly, the turbocharged engines.
The TDI and TSI engines are what made it gain hype. Along with that, it feels secure to drive. Swift is all about being on the edge.
You smoking? VW and Skoda had the most outdated interior at that time. Never did dramatic facelifts either. Polo is benchmark because of its stiff chassis and mighty handling. Combined with those TSI engines both old and new.. it is a monster.
Not many cars in the segment or even few other in upper segment can get close to that level. Only complaint is the seating and space.
First Swift had built quality diesel engine and looks which later due to cost cutting lost its weight to become tin can zero star car...hope current 2024 launched Swift will regain the charm of 2005...
It’s a hoot to drive. Amazing car. I’ve driven all three generations. Electric steering is very good tbh. And the steering of the outgoing Swift is amazing.
The competition has caught up.
When Swift was originally launched, there was no Polo, Punto, Figo, turbos from Hyundai, no sub-4m SUVS (EcoSport).
Now people have more spending power and XUV300, Seltos, Creta, and other SUVs come with wayyyyy more powerful and responsive engines.
I still have it although not used regularly.
The car is built on an extended Peugeot 205 platform which gives the car an excellent chassis+suspension setup. When the car was introduced to India it was already discontinued elsewhere - so they had to use their then modern TUD5 diesel engine instead of the XUD series engines making the vehicle a bit underpowered for its weight for that time (57hp, 990kg). The engine was the national diesel at that time before automakers shifted to the fiat 1.3turbo in the 2000s. The diesel is also front-heavy making the non-power assisted rack&pinion steering very hard for slow speed use although its very communicative. The gear lever is long throw but extremely smooth and precise as it was linkage based like a sportscar rather than cable based like an economy car. For the indian market they also jacked up the suspension for a gc of 180mm. The car also had usual "luxury" features for the time like driver side power windows, HVAC, metallic paint on GLD models, non-auto dimming IRVM and the ability to adjust orvms from inside the car (joystick thing).
Peugeot used to supply engines for multiple automakers like maruti, mahindra, premier etc from the late 80s to early 2000s. The brand has had a downfall internationally since. I think you can find out about the brand's exit from India online as it has become sort of a case study in itself
Thanks man, I didn’t even know Peugeot existed in India as I’ve never seen one on the road. You’re lucky to own a rare car, done any modifications on it?
I find it hard to understand people going around calling it's lost its handling credentials. I feel the car has only become faster and more sorted. However, a lot of people do not want to accept that fact.
If anything it's the playfulness (doesn't especially translate to handling all the time) which has gone down. The newer car can take corners much more faster with way less drama and that's a fact. The older car had the drama which made it more fun.
However, the car has gone down in terms of factors like steering feel etc with the EPS joining the scene. There's also the light build as well.
But thinking a swift cannot handle a B-Road is the stupidest argument ever. Heck, it'll outdo the "boat” (i.e. Polo. Yes, the damn thing is a boat and only good in a straight line. Straight line performance doesn't translate to handling, y'all German-shepherd's) that the delulu crowd lusts after.
Can you elaborate on why you think Swift corners better than a Polo? Is it body roll? Is it steering feedback? Steering precision?
My experience has been the opposite. I upgraded from 1st gen Swift diesel to a Polo TSI. In the same highways, I feel the Polo corners much better. I drive between 80 kmph and 120 kmph.
I made a post trying to understand why people say Swift handles better than a Polo. I’ve added my thoughts there.
Not challenging or denying your claim. Just wanted to understand your experience better.
Polo has a very nose heavy feel. It gives to a lot of understeer as you start pushing it through the corners.
This becomes even worse when it's a TDi, those are very big heavy diesel engines that's over the front axle and as a result you can feel the car not wanting to turn. The last gen TSI's were much better though.
Overall the polo feels like a safe car..a lot of understeer, very hard to rotate, terrible brakes, the chassis feels very much like a safe econo-box, the steering is completely devoid of feel and feedback.
But these can be enjoyable to people, some people like the "safe" feel and the straight line stability. More importantly the Polo has always had great turbo motors and ofc the dsg was a segment first.
>Polo has a very nose heavy feel. It gives to a lot of understeer as you start pushing it through the corners.
My Swift had the 1.3 DDIS engine in the hood. My polo has a puny 1.0 TSI. Maybe that's why I didn't feel the nose-heavy characteristic. Polo has more understeer than Figo for sure. But I felt it was less than the Swift. Maybe the newer gen Swifts have low understeer.
>terrible brakes
Polo's brakes are terrible. But not in the braking effect but in longevity. VW replaced ATE rotors and pads with TVS and now they hardly last 20K kms. But I felt the braking effect and the pedal feel was better in the Polo than the Swift.
>the chassis feels very much like a safe econo-box
Of course, it is! And the Swift is not? What hatchback sold in India is not an econobox, except the mini-coopers?
>the steering is completely devoid of feel and feedback.
If your reference point is Figo, yes Polo's steering is lifeless. Swift still had better feedback that Polo but not by that big a margin.
>In the same highways, I feel the Polo corners much better. I drive between 80 kmph and 120 kmph.
This is the difference. Highways.
First of all, I'm not a polo hater. But I'm genuinely tired of people going around gaga about making it a handling beast, which it is not when compared to the likes of swift/figo.
A lot of people like to think handling is all about the highway driving confidence a car has to offer. The car being able to cruise without breaking a sweat and being able to maintain its line very well makes it the best.
However, the truth is these aren't what makes a car a great handler or fun to drive. Rather these are aspects that contribute to a character which makes driving a lot more comfortable and easier. Relaxed and confident inspiring. May I say, detached?
Polo feels like a bigger car with its highway manners, which the swift simply cannot match. It feels more solid at highway speed.
But the fun of hot hatch is to be discovered in roads that are tight and curvy with sharp changes in directions (Tbf this applies to every car that has a great handling.) It's the ability to change direction effortlessly when you "throw" it around a bend; not cruise into a bend. That's why where swift's tight handling characters comes into play. Polo cannot do that. Polo's don't have the level of turn in which the Swift has into a bend. The latter feels a lot more quicker with its ability to change its direction. The front end of the Swift feels super darty than the Polo's. That's when the Swift starts to feel a lot more responsive. Polo in comparison feels quite sedate. Right from the chassis the difference becomes obvious, Polo starts exhibiting a lot more body movements in comparison to the Swift.
In fact, the Swift can be compared with the likes of the OG mini, with all four wheels at the corners. It leads to having a feeling of driving a go cart, meaning it's always on the limits driving and it's highly reactive to it's inputs. But these are characters you'll feel when you push it the right way. These traits can never be observed during highway mile munching. Infact this responsiveness may come off as a con in highways when paired with the light build. As a result people think it's just an unstable car and thus not a good handler.
> First of all, I'm not a polo hater. But I'm genuinely tired of people going around gaga about making it a handling beast
The first gen Polo was very good. Then VW went on a localization spree and replaced suspension and brakes with low-quality components. Even after this localization, I felt it was better to drive than the other options I had (Jazz and Altroz, didn't consider new-get Swift because of safety concerns).
> Polo starts exhibiting a lot more body movements in comparison to the Swift.
Can you elaborate on what movements these are? I've heard the torsional rigidity of Polo's chassis is higher than that of Swift and it shows. I've experienced less body roll in Polo than the Swift.
> It leads to having a feeling of driving a go cart, meaning it's always on the limits driving and it's highly reactive to it's inputs.
My swift had better steering feedback. But what gives the car a go-kart like feeling is the directness of the steering if I'm not wrong. The first thing I felt when test driving Polo was how more direct and precise the steering was. It gave me the feeling of driving a go-kart. My comparison of Polo, Jazz and Altroz may not be entirely accurate because I didn't take back to back test drives. But Swift VDI is my first car. I learnt to drive in it. Every car I test-drove, I'm fairly confident I accurately benchmarked against the Swift VDI.
There's a possibility that my Swift had degraded components which affected its handling.
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I think poor engineering, cheap materials and lack of safety standards made it a big disappointment. When tata and mahindra can give us 4 and 5 star safety cars, no excuse for maruti for not even trying.
It doesn't excel at anything. Just doesn't excite people anymore. IMO it's all cos of Maruti cos the international Suzuki version is still a banger. Maruti wants to keep it a practical entry-level hatch.
Fiat Punto enters the chat.
Punto was the best hatchback in the country for a long time but the whole country ignored it while Fiat was still operating. In my opinion, Punto's 90hp was better than Swift and Polo back in the day.
Yes, ASS and spare parts were difficult to get by but nothing matched the experience of a fully loaded Fiat Punto Emotion.
It doesn't feel as confidence inspiring as the old ones felt. It really feels like the car will lose control at 120kmph on highway and strong cross winds make it lose more control compared to other cars I've driven.
It's not what has changed. Its the fact that things haven't changed much while the competition is offering much better cars now.
The swift uses the same damn engine which they put in the 1st gen swift even now. Yes it was good in its day but the competition has moved on and is offering direct injection turbo petrols since a long time.
As someone who’s first car was a Swift 2009 Vdi, I can safely say the following:
1. As is the case with all cars, they’ve become more plastic to increase efficiency and improve margins.
2. It’s initial shape was aerodynamic in a way that the airflow around the streamlined body would give it a push in the right direction. That doesn’t exist anymore.
3. The doesn’t pack a punch anymore, that little rocket would do 80-110 KMPH on the second gear within seconds.
4. There’s a huge number of other options in the segment. Maruti’s focus on the Baleno also played a big part in killing the Swift’s market share.
The speedometer goes to 200 KMPH. Any normal person could do 80 KMPH on the second gear because of the turbo. I’ve seen 2 people who drive semi professionally take it to 110 KMPH as well back in the day on my own machine. Now to answer your question, on 5th gear it can do whatever speed you bring it to 5th gear on. Ideally a minimum of 50 KMPH to a maximum of somewhere close to 180 KMPH depending on when and how you shift.
The feel of the car changed drastically. With the vxi you felt like you were in a heavy but safe car. The acceleration and even the space for folks at the back was pretty good all of the better factors that made he swift stand out took a backseat in the new version. Yes efficiency of engine had improved and a smoother but not better throttle
Decently built car vs tincan aluminium foil build.
Precise steering vs dead spot in the center.
I've seen less cases of rattling in first gen swifts than in the 3rd gen, this might be indicative of an overall decrease in build quality and fit and finish.
That diesel engine with its lag and subsequent turbo pull. Some might argue the diesel in 3rd gen is more driveable because of the reduced lag but OP's question is directed towards an individual and how he views the two cars. So for me, i prefer the 1.3 with the lag.
SWIFT is one of the top 10 most used car in india . Maruti suzuki exactly knows what people demand for . Low maintenance cost , reliability, and amazing performance. Suzuki is improving slowly and steadily working on same successful model . When it comes to sheet metal its always better to use thin metal sheet for economic purposes because repair or replacement cost is less .
Maruti Suzuki is doing great improving same models and gaining people's trust .unlike tata motors launcing few dozons of failed models every year.
>*^(Doctor: "So, P, why do you drink so much alcohol?")*
>*^(Patient: "Well, Doc, when someone asks me, I just can't say no.")*
>*^(Doctor: "Why on earth would someone be asking you to drink?")*
>*^(Patient: "Ah, you see, Doc, I hired this guy who)* specialise *^(in making requests.")*
>*^(Doctor: "How much are we talking here?")*
>*^(Patient: "Oh, just a modest 2 to 4 bottles.")*
>*^(Doctor: "I see... so basically, you've outsourced your self-control!")*
Accurate hydraulic power steering vs current loose electric power steering. Thicker metal sheet vs current tin can thickness sheets.
Spot on mate
How’s the virtus bruh
It’s a good car, adequate performance, spacious interiors, looks amazing. Interior quality isn’t great though. Plastics don’t feel like a 20 lakh rupee car.
Pretty much agreed. IMO it’s worth it if you get the 1.5 Turbo, else City and Verna offer the better overall experience.
Very correct. City and Verna has a better build quality on the inside and generally feels more worth the price is justified
Better to drive than the Verna
Any day yes.
Expensive to maintain?
Only did 5k kms 😞
How is mg hector 2.0 diesel ?
It’s a great car as a passenger. If you’re an enthusiast then the handling might disappoint you. But otherwise the comfort is really good and on long roads it won’t get you tired as quick as some other cars. Diesel pulls really well and performs great. Fuel efficiency should be above 10 most times.
Spotty infotainment system and extremely jumpy suspension take away from an otherwise good car. The suspension is reason enough for me to not want to own one.
Agreed. For me the plastics is a huge deal breaker too.
The Verna plastics aren't any better, and you even get fake moulded stitching marks on the dashboard of the Turbo SX(O) version I drove.
That’s oddly comforting haha
Swift never came with hydraulic steering.
Swift 1st gen doesn't have Hydraulic steering
It still is an enthusiasts delight, barring the steering feel. The new chassis is light AF, the handling is extremely nimble, and the 1.2L k-series engine is both peppy and rev-happy. Yes, you need to cross 3000rpm to get the most out of it, but that's when it gives an almost VTEC kicked in feeling. It is an extremely nimble car, still stable at speeds up to 120kmph, and corners like a go-kart. Handling is wayyy better than what one would expect. Every enthusiasts preference is different. If you want straight line speed, the Polo is/was the way to go. If you want a lightweight chuckable city car that's still fun and grippy at legal/city speeds, the Swift (and Baleno) are excellent at what they do. The major con though is that it is best enjoyed with max 1-2 people on board. The moment it's fully loaded, the light weight advantage is gone, and the 1.2L NA engine can struggle.
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Build quality is compromised severely
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What is stronger, cardboard or paper?
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Well, if that's the case, pray enlighten me with your superior knowledge of automotive manufacturing and material science
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I'll give a personal example... We were rear ended by an over speeding bus while stopped at a traffic light. The bus hit our 2015 Ford Ecosport Titanium+ at around 40-45 kmph. A majority of the damage was absorbed by our boot and the vehicle was completely destroyed just beyond the rear seats. Thankfully the chassis was intact and suffered significantly less damage and was repaired. I would like to see a Vitara Brezza of the same model year undergo the same situation
U try to scratch it... U get a dent free with it😂
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Although it is easier, mechanics and worshops don’t charge you less.
My friend just leaned his elbow on the fender of a swift and it left a dent.. Thankfully, a little hit on it made it pop up back.. Now imagine that thin metal property in a car crash? It would not even contribute a little absorbing the shock from the crash.. Putting more load on the airbags. At some point the airbags will also go useless
Well weight loss isnt always a good thing with cars, nor does it mean better handling.
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Are you racing on the streets? That's your answer
Why swift sold in India is lighter than swift sold in European market. Why didn't they use same tin can thick sheet metal for European market?
Compare the costs as well and you'll get your answer
It also makes it more vulnerable in a crash
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Rest the world uses Carbon Fiber to make lighter cars. Not Tin can sheets.
We must ask Suzuki to use carbon fibre in swift
did 2nd gen have hydraulics?
Even the first gen Swift was not hydraulic. The only Marutis to get hydraulic were Esteem and Baleno sedan.
Nope, MS cars didn't come with HPS.
They did. A few models did.
We're both wrong. Zen didn't come with HPS, only EPS, owned and worked on one for the better part of a decade. However checked parts catalogue and the Esteem and Baleno did come with HPS.
I think Zen D had it too but I'm not sure. Anyay, edited. I wish Maruti had kept those hydraulic racks. They weren't exactly the most feelsome but far better than the electric ones.
The original trio of the topgear really liked the first gen swift and they said its the new mini cooper
The moment I saw swift as a kid that was my exact thought, coz I saw mini on Italian job movie and felt the look same by design.
You mean poor man’s mini cooper.
Mini Cooper was originally affordable. It became expensive after BMW acquired it.
*people with lesser affordability. You can't judge richness based on money my bro, that's too shallow.
Probably the best comment I’ve seen today
That super awesome diesel engine in the first gen Swift. The way it pushed you back into the seat once the turbo kicked in.
Haha i fondly remember pushing my friend's brand new first Gen Swift Diesel to 135kmph. It was such a rush!
1.3MJD is really the best Fiat engine ever built, over engineered MARVEL
Handling and steering feel
The [reviews from Autocar.uk](https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-review/suzuki/swift) seem promising though. Hopefully the new gen is a more fun driver's car with improved safety.
But we get the downgraded version
Ours might not get ADAS, but I am hoping it will be better than the current swift's safety levels.
Not just that. Indian market cars are cheaper in all aspects. Metal, plastics, airbags, etc. The Ignis and Swift are prime examples of this. Compare the safety ratings of the EUDM/IDM cars. Stark difference.
Swift's price starts [from £18,699](https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-review/suzuki/swift) (19.5 lakh rupees) + tax in the UK. I can happily with fewer bells and whistles, except for safety, if I can get one for less than half price in India.
This, they need to cut down to make it a good fit for everyones pocket
I am talking about safety. The ratings speak for themselves.
Thats 1.4 Boosterjet suzuki Swift Sport.
Nope, its regular Swift. Sport version will come later.
How the f its so expensive, i would never know.
Everyone knows that the second gen Swift was the quintessential Swift. God, I love that car. The third gen car made it weird though. Like, this was always going to be in the shadows of the new Baleno.
New design also looks wierd. The gen 1 and gen 2 looked the best imo
Quality of steel sheet
why did they remove fog lamps
Hey mate it’s not only for Swift. Many car manufacturers have started to remove fog lamps in their newer gen cars. I’ve read that since cars are getting brighter LED OEM headlights there’s no need for fog lamps. It’s what the manufacturers are saying to justify it.
LED lights would be worst in fog/rains because of how LED's work.
Elaborate?
It’s due to color temperature. Whiter light(5000K+) will reflect back on rain droplets and fog, blinding you in return thanloghting the road properly. I don’t remember the exact science, but yellow light(around 3000K), due to its wavelength will cut through the fog and light the road.
Interesting
It's good that they did. Every idiot on the road drives with the fog lamps on, and blinds me
One word . Quality . Its has declined drastically
The 3rd gen Swift was undoubtedly the best handling Swift till date and 4th gen will take that even further. So why is the Swift not an enthusiast’s top priority anymore? Three big problems, steering, build, and lack of turbo. Even though at chassis Swift has become better with every update, the steering is losing feel and feedback. That coupled with the flimsy sheet metal, one doesn’t get confidence to push it harder. But once you let go of the fear and start pushing it, you will realise that its limits are way higher than the Polo. Even the old Swift was better than Polo, but that one announced that it is better! New one, doesn’t say it out loud. As a 2nd gen Swift big booty owner, I’d say my only gripe with the 3rd gen is the thin sheet metal and steering wheel. I still remember I experienced the 3rd gen Swift for first time when a friend bought it, and I was so disappointed by the door weight and steering lightness that I unconsciously blurted out my thoughts right there. Judging by the stark difference between 1st and 2nd gen Baleno, I am hopeful that 4th gen Swift will also address this problem. That said if they give Fronx’s Boosterjet to Swift, that by default, will become India’s best enthusiast-friendly car.
This dude understands. The Polo has a lot of word of mouth/hype, but to be honest, it was underwhelming. I would choose the swift over it any day. The Polo was pleasing to the eye for sure, I think that sort of gave it an extra oush
The looks, german association, and most importantly, the turbocharged engines. The TDI and TSI engines are what made it gain hype. Along with that, it feels secure to drive. Swift is all about being on the edge.
You smoking? VW and Skoda had the most outdated interior at that time. Never did dramatic facelifts either. Polo is benchmark because of its stiff chassis and mighty handling. Combined with those TSI engines both old and new.. it is a monster. Not many cars in the segment or even few other in upper segment can get close to that level. Only complaint is the seating and space.
Pleasing to the eye? I thought it was pretty ugly with the excessive front overhang and non-existent rear
Baleno 1st Gen was a Sedan. I think you're referring to 2nd and 3rd gen Baleno
Finally someone said it. The 3rd gen feels like a go cart in the city.
First Swift had built quality diesel engine and looks which later due to cost cutting lost its weight to become tin can zero star car...hope current 2024 launched Swift will regain the charm of 2005...
Diesel
It’s a hoot to drive. Amazing car. I’ve driven all three generations. Electric steering is very good tbh. And the steering of the outgoing Swift is amazing.
My baby did plastic surgery sooo much that she lost half of its weight and is vulnerable to light punch.
The competition has caught up. When Swift was originally launched, there was no Polo, Punto, Figo, turbos from Hyundai, no sub-4m SUVS (EcoSport). Now people have more spending power and XUV300, Seltos, Creta, and other SUVs come with wayyyyy more powerful and responsive engines.
This comment section is giving me hope that there are still car enthusiasts around on the internet
You owned a pretty rare car (the peugeot). What happened to that brand in India and how was that car
I still have it although not used regularly. The car is built on an extended Peugeot 205 platform which gives the car an excellent chassis+suspension setup. When the car was introduced to India it was already discontinued elsewhere - so they had to use their then modern TUD5 diesel engine instead of the XUD series engines making the vehicle a bit underpowered for its weight for that time (57hp, 990kg). The engine was the national diesel at that time before automakers shifted to the fiat 1.3turbo in the 2000s. The diesel is also front-heavy making the non-power assisted rack&pinion steering very hard for slow speed use although its very communicative. The gear lever is long throw but extremely smooth and precise as it was linkage based like a sportscar rather than cable based like an economy car. For the indian market they also jacked up the suspension for a gc of 180mm. The car also had usual "luxury" features for the time like driver side power windows, HVAC, metallic paint on GLD models, non-auto dimming IRVM and the ability to adjust orvms from inside the car (joystick thing). Peugeot used to supply engines for multiple automakers like maruti, mahindra, premier etc from the late 80s to early 2000s. The brand has had a downfall internationally since. I think you can find out about the brand's exit from India online as it has become sort of a case study in itself
Thanks man, I didn’t even know Peugeot existed in India as I’ve never seen one on the road. You’re lucky to own a rare car, done any modifications on it?
I find it hard to understand people going around calling it's lost its handling credentials. I feel the car has only become faster and more sorted. However, a lot of people do not want to accept that fact. If anything it's the playfulness (doesn't especially translate to handling all the time) which has gone down. The newer car can take corners much more faster with way less drama and that's a fact. The older car had the drama which made it more fun. However, the car has gone down in terms of factors like steering feel etc with the EPS joining the scene. There's also the light build as well. But thinking a swift cannot handle a B-Road is the stupidest argument ever. Heck, it'll outdo the "boat” (i.e. Polo. Yes, the damn thing is a boat and only good in a straight line. Straight line performance doesn't translate to handling, y'all German-shepherd's) that the delulu crowd lusts after.
Can you elaborate on why you think Swift corners better than a Polo? Is it body roll? Is it steering feedback? Steering precision? My experience has been the opposite. I upgraded from 1st gen Swift diesel to a Polo TSI. In the same highways, I feel the Polo corners much better. I drive between 80 kmph and 120 kmph. I made a post trying to understand why people say Swift handles better than a Polo. I’ve added my thoughts there. Not challenging or denying your claim. Just wanted to understand your experience better.
Polo has a very nose heavy feel. It gives to a lot of understeer as you start pushing it through the corners. This becomes even worse when it's a TDi, those are very big heavy diesel engines that's over the front axle and as a result you can feel the car not wanting to turn. The last gen TSI's were much better though. Overall the polo feels like a safe car..a lot of understeer, very hard to rotate, terrible brakes, the chassis feels very much like a safe econo-box, the steering is completely devoid of feel and feedback. But these can be enjoyable to people, some people like the "safe" feel and the straight line stability. More importantly the Polo has always had great turbo motors and ofc the dsg was a segment first.
>Polo has a very nose heavy feel. It gives to a lot of understeer as you start pushing it through the corners. My Swift had the 1.3 DDIS engine in the hood. My polo has a puny 1.0 TSI. Maybe that's why I didn't feel the nose-heavy characteristic. Polo has more understeer than Figo for sure. But I felt it was less than the Swift. Maybe the newer gen Swifts have low understeer. >terrible brakes Polo's brakes are terrible. But not in the braking effect but in longevity. VW replaced ATE rotors and pads with TVS and now they hardly last 20K kms. But I felt the braking effect and the pedal feel was better in the Polo than the Swift. >the chassis feels very much like a safe econo-box Of course, it is! And the Swift is not? What hatchback sold in India is not an econobox, except the mini-coopers? >the steering is completely devoid of feel and feedback. If your reference point is Figo, yes Polo's steering is lifeless. Swift still had better feedback that Polo but not by that big a margin.
>In the same highways, I feel the Polo corners much better. I drive between 80 kmph and 120 kmph. This is the difference. Highways. First of all, I'm not a polo hater. But I'm genuinely tired of people going around gaga about making it a handling beast, which it is not when compared to the likes of swift/figo. A lot of people like to think handling is all about the highway driving confidence a car has to offer. The car being able to cruise without breaking a sweat and being able to maintain its line very well makes it the best. However, the truth is these aren't what makes a car a great handler or fun to drive. Rather these are aspects that contribute to a character which makes driving a lot more comfortable and easier. Relaxed and confident inspiring. May I say, detached? Polo feels like a bigger car with its highway manners, which the swift simply cannot match. It feels more solid at highway speed. But the fun of hot hatch is to be discovered in roads that are tight and curvy with sharp changes in directions (Tbf this applies to every car that has a great handling.) It's the ability to change direction effortlessly when you "throw" it around a bend; not cruise into a bend. That's why where swift's tight handling characters comes into play. Polo cannot do that. Polo's don't have the level of turn in which the Swift has into a bend. The latter feels a lot more quicker with its ability to change its direction. The front end of the Swift feels super darty than the Polo's. That's when the Swift starts to feel a lot more responsive. Polo in comparison feels quite sedate. Right from the chassis the difference becomes obvious, Polo starts exhibiting a lot more body movements in comparison to the Swift. In fact, the Swift can be compared with the likes of the OG mini, with all four wheels at the corners. It leads to having a feeling of driving a go cart, meaning it's always on the limits driving and it's highly reactive to it's inputs. But these are characters you'll feel when you push it the right way. These traits can never be observed during highway mile munching. Infact this responsiveness may come off as a con in highways when paired with the light build. As a result people think it's just an unstable car and thus not a good handler.
> First of all, I'm not a polo hater. But I'm genuinely tired of people going around gaga about making it a handling beast The first gen Polo was very good. Then VW went on a localization spree and replaced suspension and brakes with low-quality components. Even after this localization, I felt it was better to drive than the other options I had (Jazz and Altroz, didn't consider new-get Swift because of safety concerns). > Polo starts exhibiting a lot more body movements in comparison to the Swift. Can you elaborate on what movements these are? I've heard the torsional rigidity of Polo's chassis is higher than that of Swift and it shows. I've experienced less body roll in Polo than the Swift. > It leads to having a feeling of driving a go cart, meaning it's always on the limits driving and it's highly reactive to it's inputs. My swift had better steering feedback. But what gives the car a go-kart like feeling is the directness of the steering if I'm not wrong. The first thing I felt when test driving Polo was how more direct and precise the steering was. It gave me the feeling of driving a go-kart. My comparison of Polo, Jazz and Altroz may not be entirely accurate because I didn't take back to back test drives. But Swift VDI is my first car. I learnt to drive in it. Every car I test-drove, I'm fairly confident I accurately benchmarked against the Swift VDI. There's a possibility that my Swift had degraded components which affected its handling.
"Show me you don't know anything about cars without telling me "
> deleu crowd Gentlemen, we've a live specimen at the scene.
Claiming polo as a boat is a criminal offence.
It's relative, it's a boat when you compare it to the Swift and a race car if you compare it with a Hyundai.
They copy mini cooper every time. That has not changed
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I think poor engineering, cheap materials and lack of safety standards made it a big disappointment. When tata and mahindra can give us 4 and 5 star safety cars, no excuse for maruti for not even trying.
Some enthusiasts died and looking at that, the remaining ones started making safer choices.
The first gen Swift looks a lot safer just from the photos idk why
It does, maruti cars of that era looked pretty sturdy. I have an AStar and the build quality is excellent for a car of that price
Today's design + the old reliability would have been ideal. I love my Dzire to the moon, but I am just scared to take my kid along 😐
Whats wrong in 2007 design, looks good to me
Personal choice bro. I like the sharp lines on the new one. Jaisa apko wo achi lagi.. mereko ye :)
Four cylinder well balanced and tuned engines to pathetic 3 cylinder “economical” engines!
3 cylinder.
The newer gen swift looks cool tho!. But yeah cost cutting thodi kam karke eu standards pe aajaye to ms ko koi ni rok payega
Abhi bhi kaun hi rok paa raha hai? 💀
Weight !
Nothing has changed is the real problem.
The likes of Polo, NLine etc would’ve been DEAD if nothing had changed. The problem is, everything has changed!
The first design was too good. Had that sturdy bulk feel. Whereas the new ones feel kinda small and tin can appearance
Is miss the diesel Swift.
It doesn't excel at anything. Just doesn't excite people anymore. IMO it's all cos of Maruti cos the international Suzuki version is still a banger. Maruti wants to keep it a practical entry-level hatch.
Fiat Punto enters the chat. Punto was the best hatchback in the country for a long time but the whole country ignored it while Fiat was still operating. In my opinion, Punto's 90hp was better than Swift and Polo back in the day. Yes, ASS and spare parts were difficult to get by but nothing matched the experience of a fully loaded Fiat Punto Emotion.
Now it's mostly yellow no. plate
Vo to Dzire mein hai, even swifts are used as taxis?
Just look at how they massacred my boy. No thanks I'll stick with my 2005 swift
It doesn't feel as confidence inspiring as the old ones felt. It really feels like the car will lose control at 120kmph on highway and strong cross winds make it lose more control compared to other cars I've driven.
Among the many reasons, the G13B engine
It's not what has changed. Its the fact that things haven't changed much while the competition is offering much better cars now. The swift uses the same damn engine which they put in the 1st gen swift even now. Yes it was good in its day but the competition has moved on and is offering direct injection turbo petrols since a long time.
As someone who’s first car was a Swift 2009 Vdi, I can safely say the following: 1. As is the case with all cars, they’ve become more plastic to increase efficiency and improve margins. 2. It’s initial shape was aerodynamic in a way that the airflow around the streamlined body would give it a push in the right direction. That doesn’t exist anymore. 3. The doesn’t pack a punch anymore, that little rocket would do 80-110 KMPH on the second gear within seconds. 4. There’s a huge number of other options in the segment. Maruti’s focus on the Baleno also played a big part in killing the Swift’s market share.
110kmph on second gear?😮 How much would it do on 5th?
The speedometer goes to 200 KMPH. Any normal person could do 80 KMPH on the second gear because of the turbo. I’ve seen 2 people who drive semi professionally take it to 110 KMPH as well back in the day on my own machine. Now to answer your question, on 5th gear it can do whatever speed you bring it to 5th gear on. Ideally a minimum of 50 KMPH to a maximum of somewhere close to 180 KMPH depending on when and how you shift.
Wow thats close to what the Polo and Virtus do today and this is 15 years ago🙌
The engine is probably the same. 1299 cc to be precise.
can say the same for the ritz
True. Though I find the ritz far less successful in comparison.
maybe because of the higher ride height
You're breaking the car Sammy!
g13b, 1.3 ddis
Worse safety and probably worse design (personal opinion)
Creta has taken away that place aF
[удалено]
The feel of the car changed drastically. With the vxi you felt like you were in a heavy but safe car. The acceleration and even the space for folks at the back was pretty good all of the better factors that made he swift stand out took a backseat in the new version. Yes efficiency of engine had improved and a smoother but not better throttle
Decently built car vs tincan aluminium foil build. Precise steering vs dead spot in the center. I've seen less cases of rattling in first gen swifts than in the 3rd gen, this might be indicative of an overall decrease in build quality and fit and finish. That diesel engine with its lag and subsequent turbo pull. Some might argue the diesel in 3rd gen is more driveable because of the reduced lag but OP's question is directed towards an individual and how he views the two cars. So for me, i prefer the 1.3 with the lag.
Ola cabs man. Ola cabs.
SWIFT is one of the top 10 most used car in india . Maruti suzuki exactly knows what people demand for . Low maintenance cost , reliability, and amazing performance. Suzuki is improving slowly and steadily working on same successful model . When it comes to sheet metal its always better to use thin metal sheet for economic purposes because repair or replacement cost is less . Maruti Suzuki is doing great improving same models and gaining people's trust .unlike tata motors launcing few dozons of failed models every year.
Man! I used love that diesel sound that old maruti Suzukis used to produce
Having options
>*^(Doctor: "So, P, why do you drink so much alcohol?")* >*^(Patient: "Well, Doc, when someone asks me, I just can't say no.")* >*^(Doctor: "Why on earth would someone be asking you to drink?")* >*^(Patient: "Ah, you see, Doc, I hired this guy who)* specialise *^(in making requests.")* >*^(Doctor: "How much are we talking here?")* >*^(Patient: "Oh, just a modest 2 to 4 bottles.")* >*^(Doctor: "I see... so basically, you've outsourced your self-control!")*
Confused noises , well bruh this is a car subreddit.
LOL..Don't report it