Photo: Suzuki UK
The Swift might be one of the smallest cars Suzuki offers, but because the Japanese are good at making small things, it's also their best. We're not saying this because we like it, but because buyers are still very keen on it, even though the current generation is kind of old.
Suzuki's UK press office has just issued a statement saying 4 million Swifts have now officially been bought. This achievement is even more amazing when we consider that the jump from 3 to 4 million was made in just eight months.
Unless we're mistaken, that means the Swift is more popular than the Ford Fiesta or VW Polo. So how are they doing this? 90,000 little Suzukis have been sold in Britain since 2005. However, you need a global audience to sell a million cars in such a short period and Suzuki seems to be targeting emerging markets.
First built in Japan in 2004, the Swift then expanded production to Hungary, India and China in 2005, Malaysia (2007), Pakistan (2009), Thailand (2012) and most recently, Vietnam at the start of the year. About half of the sales come from India, where its affordability and small engines make it attractive to younger buyers. The domestic Japanese market is also very important, with 11% of the Swifts currently being sold there.
Frequent updates have also helped this small hatchback keep a level footing in Europe. Last year, a facelift was launched, along with new variants. Although the LED daytime running lights made little difference to the look of the car, standard equipment has been increased, adding to the appeal.
In Britain, DAB digital radio and Satellite Navigation as standard equipment on SZ4 and Swift Sport models. The cheapest model you can buy starts at only £8,999, which makes the Swift comparable to the Dacia Sandero.
Unless we're mistaken, that means the Swift is more popular than the Ford Fiesta or VW Polo. So how are they doing this? 90,000 little Suzukis have been sold in Britain since 2005. However, you need a global audience to sell a million cars in such a short period and Suzuki seems to be targeting emerging markets.
First built in Japan in 2004, the Swift then expanded production to Hungary, India and China in 2005, Malaysia (2007), Pakistan (2009), Thailand (2012) and most recently, Vietnam at the start of the year. About half of the sales come from India, where its affordability and small engines make it attractive to younger buyers. The domestic Japanese market is also very important, with 11% of the Swifts currently being sold there.
Frequent updates have also helped this small hatchback keep a level footing in Europe. Last year, a facelift was launched, along with new variants. Although the LED daytime running lights made little difference to the look of the car, standard equipment has been increased, adding to the appeal.
In Britain, DAB digital radio and Satellite Navigation as standard equipment on SZ4 and Swift Sport models. The cheapest model you can buy starts at only £8,999, which makes the Swift comparable to the Dacia Sandero.
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