Ranked #84 car in the UK · Hatchback · 10,825 units sold last year

Suzuki Swift

The Suzuki Swift is a light, fun and genuinely reliable supermini that prioritises low weight and low running costs. A new generation arrived in 2024 with a frugal 1.2 mild-hybrid three-cylinder; the 2017-2023 car (1.0 Boosterjet, 1.2 Dualjet, plus the cult Swift Sport) is plentiful used. Cross-shop the Toyota Yaris, Mazda 2, Hyundai i20 and Dacia Sandero.

Suzuki Swift
Photo: Alexander-93 via Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
Body
Hatchback
Years
2018–2026
Fuel
Petrol / Mild Hybrid
Economy
61 mpg

combined

Insurance
Group 14

The short version

56/100

Forecourt score

Value 82 · Reliability 17 · Insurance 84

The Suzuki Swift holds its value well and is cheaper to run than most. Its MOT-based reliability is average, 64 out of 100, ahead of 17% of the cars we track. On three-year value retention it ranks better than 82% of models.

The Forecourt score blends how this car ranks against the catalogue on value retention, reliability and insurance cost (weighted 40/40/20). Higher is better; running cost is not yet folded in.

Pick your version

Estimates are tuned to the version you choose.

Fuel

Mild Hybrid · 1197cc

Power

83 ps

Drivetrain

FWD

Cam drive

Chain

Quoted MPG

64 mpg

The volume Mk5 Swift. 1.2L 3-cyl with 12V mHEV, 83 PS, 5-speed manual. Motion trim includes 16-inch alloys, 9-inch screen, adaptive cruise, climate. 60+ mpg achievable. The supermini that just works.

Tell us about the one you're looking at

2023
20182026
20,166 mi
0Expected: 20,166180k
good
PoorFairGoodExcellent

Tidy and well looked-after for its age — the typical car.

Remembered as you browse other cars.

Optional — fills in the exact year and ULEZ status for your specific car. The registration isn’t stored.

Estimated market value

How we got this number — click for the breakdown, or to challenge it.

£10,900

Range £9,150£12,750

medium confidence

When new (2023)£16,500Age-based value£10,725Mileage adjustment+£0Condition & region+£7Market calibration+£918Forecourt price£11,650Private sale£10,150Part-exchange£8,900
Buythis 3-year-old

Past the steep drop — most of the depreciation is behind it.

At 20,166 miles it’s about the ~22,576 typical for a 3-year-old.

Seen one for sale?

£

A data-led guide from the depreciation curve, UK parc trend and reliability — not financial advice.

The depreciation curve

How a 2023-registration Suzuki Swift loses value over time.

What it costs to own

Over

Based on the 2023 car with 20,166 miles you entered above — worth about £10,900 today — here is the cost of owning it for the next 5 years, at roughly 6,722 miles a year.

5-year total

£12,988

Per year

£2,598

All-in per mile

£0.39

Fuel per mile

11.4p

If a company carAround £175/mo Benefit-in-Kind tax at the 40% rate (£88/mo at 20%) — 25% band

Depreciation£2,309
Fuel / energy£3,839
Servicing£1,765
Road tax£975
Insurance£4,100

If you're a company-car driver

At 25% BIK, a 40% taxpayer would pay about £175/month in company-car tax (£88/month at 20%) — on top of the running costs above. Full BIK table below for context.

Best age to buy — around 4 years

A 4-year-old example loses roughly £1,150 a year — under half the £2,850 a one-year-old sheds. The steepest drop is behind it.

Uses current UK pump and home-charging prices (DESNZ weekly), typical-driver insurance and manufacturer service intervals. "Fuel per mile" is just the energy input — so an EV at ~9p and a diesel at ~22p make running-cost comparison direct. A guide; your own costs will vary.

How it compares

Where this car ranks against the 340 vehicles in our index — higher is better.

Holds its valuebetter than 82%
Reliabilitybetter than 17%
Fuel economybetter than 98%
Cheap to insurebetter than 84%

Percentile rank across our full index. A measure is shown only where the data spreads meaningfully across the index.

Petrol, diesel, hybrid or EV?

How the available versions compare on price, running cost, and the headaches each tends to develop.

1.2 K12D mHEV

Honest supermini. 60+ mpg achievable. Suzuki's reliability genuinely class-leading. Cheaper than Yaris hybrid by ~£3-4k but lower mpg. The car you buy for daily transport that never lets you down.

New price
£19,500
Annual fuel / energy
£1,250
3-yr depreciation
42%

Watch for

  • ·Minimal — Suzuki 5th of 32 in 2024 Driver Power
  • ·Cabin feels basic vs Polo/Fabia
  • ·1.2 underpowered for motorway with full load

Fuel/energy costs based on this week’s UK averages (w/c 22/06/2026) · Petrol 153.3p/L, Diesel 172.5p/L, Electricity 27.0p/kWh · DESNZ

Estimated insurance

Group 15 of 50 (low — cheaper end of the scale) · Comprehensive · 3 years NCB

Indicative annual comprehensive premiums for this car, by driver age band and risk profile. Pick the combination closest to your circumstances.

3 years
0 yearsBaseline: 3 years15+
Risk profile:

Estimated annual premium · typical, age 33-39

£820/ year

Roughly £68 per month

Typical

Average UK driver — 3 years NCB, average postcode, no recent claims.
Age bandLower riskTypicalHigher risk
Age 17-25£1,870£2,337£3,038
Age 26-32£976£1,148£1,401
Age 33-39Selected£722£820£968
Age 40-49£613£681£789
Age 50+£546£607£716

How we estimate this

Indicative annual comprehensive premium estimates. The 'Typical' figure represents an average UK driver in each age band; Lower and Higher risk show the realistic spread driven by factors UK insurers legitimately price on (postcode, occupation, claims history, NCB, voluntary excess, modifications). Based on 10,000 miles/yr, £250 voluntary excess, and the no-claims bonus selected above. Always get individual quotes before buying.

Expected annual costs

Adjust the annual mileage to match how you'll actually use the car. Insurance is what you selected above (age 33-39, typical risk, 3 yrs NCB).

6,722 mi/yr
2,000UK avg for this model: 6,72230,000

Routine service

£185

Annual main-dealer service

Major service

£210

Every 2 years, annualised

Road tax

£195

Standard rate, post year-one

Fuel

£711

61 mpg, £1.49/L

Insurance

£820

Age 33-39, group 14

Clean-air zones

ULEZ compliant
  • Mild Hybrid variants are compliant with London ULEZ and all UK clean-air zones.
  • All petrol variants meet Euro 4 standards and are ULEZ compliant.

Based on London ULEZ standards — Birmingham, Bath, Bristol, Sheffield, Glasgow and other UK clean-air zones generally follow the same rules.

Total expected£2,121 / year

Excludes depreciation and unscheduled repairs (see next section).

Unexpected costs

What out-of-warranty repairs typically run, by mileage band. Your selected mileage is highlighted.

0-30k miles

£80

per year · low risk

30-60k miles

£240

per year · low risk

60-100k miles

£520

per year · medium risk

100k+ miles

£900

per year · high risk

Tyres

195/65 R15 · 205/55 R16 · 215/45 R17

What a full set of four will cost you (including fit and balance), and which brand each tier of buyer should pick. A typical set lasts about 24,000 miles.

Budget

£300

set of 4, fitted · £60 per tyre

Mid-range

£440

set of 4, fitted · £95 per tyre

Premium

£620

set of 4, fitted · £140 per tyre

What to fit

Optional extras worth paying for

Factory options ranked by how much of their original cost they recover at resale. Anything above 70% return tends to make money back; below 40% is paying for your own enjoyment.

OptionNew costAdded used valueReturn

Tow bar (factory-fit)

Niche, but the buyers who want one will pay for it.

£650£45069%

Parking sensors & reversing camera

Near-expected now — its absence costs more than its presence returns.

£500£30060%

Heated seats / cold-weather pack

£450£20044%

Metallic or premium paint

Almost universal — an unusual colour is the bigger resale risk.

£600£20033%

Panoramic / opening roof

£1,100£35032%

Larger alloy wheels

£700£20029%

Parts most likely to fail

Drawn from owner reports and warranty data. Filtered for relevance to 20,166 miles.

Watch now

Failure typically happens around your current mileage.

Upcoming

A known weak point — but you haven't reached its usual mileage yet.

Already due

Past its usual failure mileage. Either already fixed, or about to.

BrakesUpcoming

Typical at over 100k milesCost £150-£500medium severityParts high

Recorded in 12.9% of MOT tests over 100k miles — from 2,377,652 DVSA MOT tests analysed.

SuspensionUpcoming

Typical at over 100k milesCost £150-£450medium severityParts high

Recorded in 14.6% of MOT tests over 100k miles — from 2,377,652 DVSA MOT tests analysed.

Tyres & wheelsUpcoming

Typical at over 100k milesCost £80-£500medium severityParts high

Recorded in 7.1% of MOT tests over 100k miles — from 2,377,652 DVSA MOT tests analysed.

Lighting & signallingUpcoming

Typical at over 100k milesCost £15-£120medium severityParts high

Recorded in 8.7% of MOT tests over 100k miles — from 2,377,652 DVSA MOT tests analysed.

Driver's viewUpcoming

Typical at over 100k milesCost £60-£300low severityParts high

Recorded in 4.2% of MOT tests over 100k miles — from 2,377,652 DVSA MOT tests analysed.

EmissionsUpcoming

Typical at over 100k milesCost £150-£800medium severityParts high

Recorded in 2.9% of MOT tests over 100k miles — from 2,377,652 DVSA MOT tests analysed.

"Parts low/medium/high" indicates how easy the replacement part is to source — discontinued or specialist parts mean longer workshop time and bigger bills.

Safety rating

Euro NCAP's independent crash-test rating for the Suzuki Swift, from its 2017 assessment.

3/5
TEST YEAR2017
Rating expired (test protocol superseded)

The passenger compartment of the Swift remained stable in the frontal offset test.

Independent crash-test data from Euro NCAP. Star ratings reflect the test protocol of the year shown — newer protocols are stricter, so a 5-star from 2024 represents a higher bar than a 5-star from 2014.

MOT outlook

How this model fares at its MOT as it ages — from 2,407,108 real DVSA test records.

MOT pass rate by age

A 3-year-old Swift passes its MOT 88.9% of the time; by 25 years that has slipped to 67.3%. The y-axis is zoomed to this model’s range so the trend is readable.

Longevity

0%of 41-year-old examples are still taxed and on the road — a useful read on how well the model lasts.

From 678 vehicles registered in 1985.

Survival by registration year

25%50%75%100%19852026

Each point is one registration cohort. Older cars on the left, newer on the right. A flatter line means the model holds up over time; a steep drop means cohorts disappear from UK roads faster.

What’s on the road

The fuel-type split of every Swift currently MOT’d in the UK. From 262,587 vehicles.

  • Petrol 75.0%
  • Hybrid 21.8%
  • Diesel 2.0%
  • Other 1.2%

Common MOT failures by mileage

The defect categories this Swift fails on most often, and how the failure rate climbs as the miles add up — from the same DVSA test records.

Category0-30k30-60k60-100k100k+
Brakes3%6%11%13%
Suspension2%4%10%15%
Tyres & wheels3%4%6%7%
Lighting & signalling1%2%6%9%
Driver's view2%3%4%4%
Emissions1%1%3%3%

Share of MOT tests in each mileage band with at least one defect in that category. The peak band for each is highlighted.

Typical mileage by age

The average odometer reading for a Swift at MOT, by age — measured from the same DVSA records, not assumed. A useful yardstick for whether a given car has done more or fewer miles than its age suggests.

  • 0 yr29,843
  • 1 yr20,416
  • 2 yr20,467
  • 3 yr22,576
  • 4 yr29,467
  • 5 yr36,422
  • 6 yr43,191
  • 7 yr49,625
  • 8 yr55,634
  • 9 yr61,075
  • 10 yr65,998
  • 11 yr70,416

Mean recorded mileage at MOT by vehicle age, from DVSA test records (ages with at least 10 tests shown).

Reliability

64/ 100

Average

Composite of MOT pass rate, defect prevalence and cohort survival from 2,377,652 tests — high confidence.

MOT outlook · age 5 years

84%first-time pass rate

39th percentileBelow catalogue average

Based on 207,114 MOT tests · ranked against 248 catalogue models with comparable data

Where this car sits in the catalogue

0%50%90%

Pass-rate distribution across 248 catalogue models

Things owners say

  • 01Suzuki's reliability record is excellent and the cars are light and cheap to run - a low-stress used buy.
  • 02The Swift Sport is a brilliant, light hot hatch - check for hard use if buying one.
  • 03AllGrip four-wheel drive is available on some - useful if you need extra traction.

Safety recalls

Manufacturers occasionally issue safety recalls to fix a fault free of charge. You can check whether the Suzuki Swift, or your exact vehicle, has any outstanding recalls on the official DVSA service.

Check on GOV.UK

Opens the Driver & Vehicle Standards Agency recall checker. Choose the make, model and year of manufacture — no registration needed.

Theft risk

A general indicator from UK 2025 theft data and this car’s characteristics — not a prediction for any one vehicle.

Whole-car theft

Around average

Theft risk is around the UK average. Like most modern cars it has keyless entry, so relay theft is the method to guard against.

Parts theft

Higher

Hybrid versions are a catalytic-converter target — a hybrid cat is rich in precious metals and can be cut out in about a minute.

Worth doing

  • Keep keys in a Faraday pouch and away from the front door to block relay attacks.
  • A catalytic-converter guard or forensic marking makes a hybrid far less appealing to cut.

Clean-air zones

Whether driving a Suzuki Swift into a UK clean-air zone will cost you anything. Rules use the same Euro standard across most zones — petrol from 2006 and diesel from 2015 onwards are exempt; pure electric is always exempt.

Charging zones for cars

CityAreaDaily chargeLikely outcome
LondonAll of Greater London (within the M25)£12.50
Likely exempt
Petrol from 2006 meets Euro 4.
BirminghamInside the A4540 Middleway£8.00
Likely exempt
Petrol from 2006 meets Euro 4.
BristolCity centre and part of the Portway£9.00
Likely exempt
Petrol from 2006 meets Euro 4.
GlasgowCity centre
Likely exempt
Petrol from 2006 meets Euro 4.
EdinburghCity centre
Likely exempt
Petrol from 2006 meets Euro 4.
AberdeenCity centre
Likely exempt
Petrol from 2006 meets Euro 4.
DundeeCity centre
Likely exempt
Petrol from 2006 meets Euro 4.

Zones that don't charge private cars

  • BathCity centre (Private cars and motorbikes are not charged).
  • BradfordOuter ring road and the Aire Valley (Private cars are not charged).
  • SheffieldInside the A61 inner ring road (Private cars are not charged).
  • Newcastle & GatesheadCity centres and the Tyne, Swing, High Level and Redheugh bridges (Private cars are not charged).
  • PortsmouthPart of the city centre (Applies to taxis, PHVs, buses, coaches and HGVs only).

Model-level guidance only. To check a specific registration, use the official gov.uk clean-air zone checker. Zone charges and boundaries are set by local councils and change over time.

Company car tax

What HMRC's Benefit-in-Kind charge looks like if you ran this Suzuki Swift as a company car, by tax year and income-tax band. Calculated from a CO₂ of 104 g/km, using £21,000 as the P11D value.

Tax yearBIK %Tax @ 20%Tax @ 40%Monthly @ 20%Monthly @ 40%
2025-2625%£1,050£2,100£88£175
2026-2726%£1,092£2,184£91£182
2027-2827%£1,134£2,268£95£189
2028-2927%£1,134£2,268£95£189
2029-3027%£1,134£2,268£95£189

P11D value is approximated from the latest new price; the exact figure on your tax code will depend on options fitted. The 4% diesel surcharge applies only to non-RDE2 (pre-2021) diesels — we assume RDE2 compliance for current models. Bands and rates from HMRC's Autumn Budget 2024 confirmation through 2029/30.

Servicing & the dealer network

How well-supported Suzuki is across the UK — a practical read on how easy servicing, parts and warranty work will be to find.

Franchised UK dealers

~135

Large network

Mass-market

Network size relative to the UK's largest (Suzuki is 3% of all franchised outlets)

Servicing, parts and warranty work are easy to find UK-wide, and most independent garages know the brand well — which keeps maintenance competitive.

For context, the UK has roughly 4,500 franchised car-dealer outlets in total, plus about 15,500 independent garages.

Approximate figures, curated from public UK industry sources (NFDA, Car Dealer Magazine). Franchised networks shrink year on year — these indicate network size, not an exact count.

Dimensions & weight

Length

4,300 mm

Width

1,790 mm

Height

1,460 mm

Kerb weight

1,350 kg

Boot

380–1,250 L

Fuel tank

48 L

How many are still out there

Of every Suzuki Swift ever registered in the UK, this is what's actively on the road, parked off the road on a SORN, or gone for good.

Total ever registered

163,594

Currently taxed & on road

155,407

95% of all registered

SORN (off road)

8,187

5% of all registered

Scrapped or exported

0

UK fleet trend — 2014 to 2025

+3.1% vs 2024
104,186155,407

Source: DfT VEH0124 vehicle licensing statistics (year-end 2025) · Updated 1 Jul 2026

Common questions

Suzuki Swift, answered

Is the Suzuki Swift ULEZ compliant?
Most petrol Suzuki Swifts from 2006 and diesels from September 2015 meet the Euro standards for London ULEZ and other UK clean-air zones, so they are generally exempt from the daily charge. Pure-electric versions are always exempt.
What insurance group is the Suzuki Swift in?
The Suzuki Swift sits in insurance group 15 of 50, towards the cheaper end of the scale. Your actual premium still depends on age, postcode, annual mileage and no-claims history.
Is the Suzuki Swift reliable?
Our reliability score for the Suzuki Swift is 64 out of 100 (about average), derived from DVSA MOT records, with a first-time MOT pass rate of about 84% at the reference age.
What economy does the Suzuki Swift get?
Expect roughly around 61 mpg combined for a typical Suzuki Swift, based on official figures and our running-cost model. Real-world figures vary with driving style, load and conditions.
What are the common problems on the Suzuki Swift?
On the Suzuki Swift, the issues that come up most by mileage include Brakes, Suspension and Tyres & wheels. The section above breaks down each one with its typical mileage, repair cost and severity.
How many Suzuki Swifts are on UK roads?
About 155,407 Suzuki Swifts are currently taxed and on the road in the UK, from DfT vehicle-licensing data.

Common questions

Suzuki Swift, answered from the data

Is the Suzuki Swift reliable?
The Suzuki Swift scores 64/100 on Forecourt's MOT-based reliability measure, ahead of 39% of the cars we track. That is computed from 2,407,108 real DVSA MOT test results.
How much does a used Suzuki Swift cost?
A 2023 Suzuki Swift with around 20,166 miles is worth roughly £10,900 today (typical range £9,850–£11,950). Dealer forecourt prices sit higher and part-exchange offers lower; newer or lower-mileage examples cost more.
How quickly does the Suzuki Swift depreciate?
A new Suzuki Swift typically loses about 35% of its value over the first three years, then depreciates more slowly. Buying at three to five years old avoids the steepest part of the curve.
What insurance group is the Suzuki Swift?
The Suzuki Swift sits in insurance group 15 of 50 — the cheaper end of the scale. Exact premiums depend on the trim (some versions sit a few groups higher or lower), your age, postcode and no-claims history.
What goes wrong on a used Suzuki Swift?
The most common age-related issues we track for the Suzuki Swift are: brakes (typically around over 100k miles, £150-£500 to put right); suspension (typically around over 100k miles, £150-£450 to put right); tyres & wheels (typically around over 100k miles, £80-£500 to put right). A full service history and a recent MOT with no advisories are the best protection.
What does the Suzuki Swift cost to run?
Expect around 61 mpg combined, £195 a year in road tax, about £185 for a standard annual service. The full cost-of-ownership table above breaks this down per year and per mile for the exact year and mileage you choose.

Answers are generated from this car's Forecourt data — DVSA MOT records, DfT licensing statistics and our valuation model — and update with the weekly data refresh.

SearchCompare with