The Maruti Suzuki Swift has been my long-termer for the past couple of months, and with 10,000 km on the odometer, it’s safe to say this hatchback has been put through its paces. From the routine Pune-Mumbai-Pune sprints to a relaxing Goa trip, the Swift has managed to impress with its versatility, though not without a few quirks creeping in.
The nicest thing I’ve experienced is how smooth the automatic gearbox is. It just cruises through the traffic, but then the fun begins when I put it into manual mode. Here, it allows me to hold the revs and extract more performance from the punchy three-pot mill, especially while tackling the winding ghat sections. Everyone tells me the Swift is all about efficiency, but it handles quite well, too, if you drive it hard, which actually makes it a whole lot more enjoyable.
However, the aging signs are beginning to show. There’s now a slight rattling sound from the body, very Maruti Suzuki-like. That said, the overall driving experience remains solid, with the Swift handling both city roads and highways with ease. The ride quality is comfortable, and the car’s compact size makes darting through urban traffic effortless.
In peak summer, I do find myself wishing for ventilated seats — something that would be a welcome addition in a car that sees long hours on the road. The fuel efficiency has remained pretty consistent at around 15.0-15.4 kmpl, which is pretty good for a three-cylinder petrol car. I have no doubt it could extract better numbers with a gentler hand at the wheel or had our roads been a little less chaotic.
From a practicality standpoint, the Swift’s boot space has been just about sufficient for carrying my gear, making it an ideal fi t for getting those ultra-low tracking motion blur-induced tracking shots. Having crossed 10,000 km now, it’s time to give it some TLC before I hit the next milestone. Here’s hoping the Swift remains as dependable as it has been so far, as I look forward to another 10,000 km of spirited driving.
