Launched way back in the year 2005, the Swift has remained one of Maruti's best sellers in the country. Fun to drive with sporty looks and a practical interior, this mid-size hatchback has been the answer for lakhs of enthusiasts when it comes to an affordable pocket rocket. The car has now completed 15 years in India's tough car market with the current-gen Maruti Swift 2020 continuing to sell in high demand.
Having won as many as three ICOTY (Indian car of the year) awards, Maruti has sold as many as 2.2 Million, or in other words, 22 lakh Swifts till date. Into its third generation in the market, the current model was launched in 2018. The original Swift was initially launched with a 1.3 litre petrol, followed by the famous 1.3 litre diesel unit. The more efficient 1.2 K series petrol was launched a few years later and the long serving diesel discontinued earlier this year due to BS6 emission norms kicking in. As of today, the Maruti Swift 2020 comes with the 1.2 K series petrol unit with both 5 speed manual and 5 speed AMT on offer.
Speaking on the success of Swift, Mr Shashank Srivastava, Executive Director (Marketing & Sales), Maruti Suzuki India Limited, said, 'Brand Swift was the first model that challenged many notions around hatchbacks. More than a car, it was a refreshing new thought process. It was designed to be bold and aggressive, and at the same time be reliable and economical. It had features offered in a large car, contemporary, yet functional appealing to a younger audience. With a European touch and feel, the hatchback also embodies the sturdiness to handle Indian road conditions. It questioned the inevitability of compromise. In many ways, it was the 'coming of age' of the Indian customers'
Swift has also been recognized internationally for its dynamic design and has received global recognition by winning the Good Design Award in 2017 operated by the Japan Institute of Design Promotion. It was amongst the three finalists at the 'World Urban Car Of The Year 2018'. For FY 2019-20, the Maruti Swift enjoyed a market share of almost 30%. Prices today start at Rs 5.19 lakh for the base LXi, going all the way to Rs 8.02 lakh for the top end ZXI+ AGS version.
