Fourth-gen Swift 1.2-litre CVT model confirmed for Singapore launch after June, estimated sub-$90k pricing

SINGAPORE – After a Japanese launch late last year and a global unveiling at the Geneva Motorshow in March, the fourth-generation Suzuki Swift compact hatch will be launched in Singapore in the second half of 2017, according to dealer Champion Motors, and by our estimates it will probably cost under $90,000 with COE.

Singaporean cars will have the 1.2-litre four-cylinder engine with 90bhp and 118Nm, paired to a CVT transmission. Dubbed Dualjet, the naturally-aspirared engine uses twin fuel injectors for better fuel economy.

Official figures for CVT model, other than fuel consumption (Japanese cycle) of 4.2L/100km, are yet to be confirmed.The manual model does 0-100km/h in 11.9 seconds, fuel economy of just 4.3L/100km, and CO2 of 98g/km, which would qualify it for $15,000 CEVS rebates under the current structure, although the new VES scheme will replace it in January 1, 2018.

Sadly it looks like we’ll miss out on the more exciting models in the Swift range, the turbo and hybrid as previously reported: There’s also a 1.0-litre three-cylinder turbo ‘Boosterjet’ engine with 111bhp and a six-speed automatic, but that’s not going to be available to us due to cost and that it would be in a higher CEVS bracket. Likewise the hybrid model, which has the 1.2-litre CVT as its basis, but with a 31hp power generator and hybrid system. International reports state that the three-door has been dropped from many markets, and that’s likely to be the same for Singapore.

The new Swift, which runs on a new platform dubbed ‘Heartect’ with more hi-tensile steel, is shorter overall, but wider and with a longer wheelbase and greater interior room. The 1.2-litre engine might sound small in comparison to the industry standard 1.5, but the new Swift has seen weight loss to an already lightweight car – the lightest model, the 1.2-manual, now weighs just 890kg, which should spell great things for efficiency and the fun-to-drive factor.

Champion Motors hasn’t confirmed it’s offering both a manual and the CVT, but the latter is a dead certainty for Singapore.

International right-hand drive market pricing for the 1.2-manual offers a rough idea of how much the Swift would cost in Singapore. The Swift is on-track for a market launch in Australia in June, which strengthens the idea of a Singapore launch around the same time. The third-gen, basic 1.4 manual Swift costs AUD16,000, with new model pricing expected to start at $15,000, while a basic-spec Honda Jazz 1.5 costs AUD16,500, a Mazda 2 hatch 1.5 manual costs AUD16,990.

For the UK, the 1.2 manual starts at £10,999, the comparable Honda Jazz 1.5 manual costs  £13,000, while the Mazda 2 1.5-manual costs  £12,595.

In Singapore, the least expensive Honda Jazz, the 1.3 auto, costs $90,999 with COE, while the least expensive Mazda 2 hatch costs $95,800 with COE. Given the pricing of the competition, we expect the Swift 1.2 CVT to retail around $85,000 or perhaps even less, with COE.

Ever since the Swift nameplate was re-introduced in 2005, Suzuki has sold more than 5.4 million of them, making it the most important model in the range. Sure, Suzukis also known for compact SUVs like the Jimny and Vitara (which is now a crossover), and has dabbled in making small sedans like the Ciaz, but it’s tiny kei-cars and hatchbacks that the company really excels at.