As opposed to the largest Japanese automaker in the world, the folks at Suzuki are specialized in both automobiles and motorcycles. When it comes to cars and crossovers, the Shizuoka-based company further specializes in sensibly priced small automobiles.
The Swift and Jimny are the best examples in this regard. Speaking of which, the Swift has recently been redesigned for the 2024 model year on the HEARTECT B vehicle architecture of its predecessor. You can think of the newcomer along the lines of an extensive facelift rather than an all-new model. Similar to its predecessor, it comes exclusively as a five-door hatchback. That wasn’t the case before, but consumer preferences did change dramatically in the past two decades or thereabouts.
Three-door hatchbacks are all but extinct in this day and age due to rising demand for more practical automobiles. That's precisely the reason for crossovers reigning supreme in the Old Continent, where the most popular body styles of the lot used to be the humble sedan and more practical hatchback.
Hungarian pixel artist X-Tomi Design took the liberty to imagine the redesigned Swift with three doors, a setup that makes the Japanese supermini that little bit cooler. Be that as it may, a three-door wouldn't sell. With Suzuki struggling to move the five-door hatchback, it would be crazy for the Japanese company to invest research & development money into a vehicle that's prone to sit on the lots.
Last year, for example, Suzuki moved 29,873 units in Europe as opposed to 59,217 in 2021 and 51,134 in 2020. Back in 2007, the year stock prices around the world tanked due to subprime mortgages targeting low-income buyers and the buildup of toxic assets within banks, Suzuki moved 121,038 units.
Photo: Suzuki
Not even the Swift Sport hot hatchback is available with three doors. Previously offered with hidden rear door handles, the Swift now features visible rear door handles. It's as if Suzuki has come to terms with consumer preferences. On the other hand, there are exceptions. The Toyota Yaris and GR Yaris come to mind, with the Yaris a five-door and GR Yaris a three-door exclusively. The GR Corolla, by comparison, also rocks five instead of three doors.
Other small cars with three or two doors that come to mind include the Fiat 500 and its Abarth equivalents and the redesigned MINI Cooper. Both the 500 and Cooper are available with more doors, though. The 500 3+1 is arguably the more stylish design of the two, whereas the Cooper 5-Door follows in the footsteps of the previous-gen MINI Hatch 5-Door.
Turning our attention back to the Swift, the fourth generation is offered with a 1.2 three-cylinder engine with or without mild-hybrid assistance. Transmission choices include a five-speed manual and a continuously variable box, and – somewhat rare in this segment – Allgrip all-wheel drive is available.
Pricing has yet to be confirmed for the European market. Over in Japan, the non-MHEV version starts at 1,727,000 yen (make that 12,145 dollars at current exchange rates). With all-wheel drive, that would be 1,892,000 yen or 13,305 dollars. In the case of the mild hybrid, the starting prices are 1,922,800 yen with either transmission and front-wheel drive or 2,087,800 yen with the CVT and all-wheel drive.
After a 1:43 scale model of a Ferrari 250 GTO sparked Mircea's interest for cars when he was a kid, an early internship at Top Gear sealed his career path. He's most interested in muscle cars and American trucks, but he takes a passing interest in quirky kei cars as well. Full profile
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