Used Suzuki Swift Sport 2018-2024 reliability

Category: Hot hatch

The Suzuki Swift Sport is a great choice for those seeking a cheap, pint-sized hot hatch. It's lightweight, agile and perky.

Used Suzuki Swift Sport 2018-2024 rear
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  • Used Suzuki Swift Sport 2018-2024 infotainment
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  • Used Suzuki Swift Sport 2018-2024 panning
  • Used Suzuki Swift Sport 2018-2024 rear
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  • Used Suzuki Swift Sport 2018-2024 dash
  • Used Suzuki Swift Sport 2018-2024 interior
  • Used Suzuki Swift Sport 2018-2024 panning
  • Used Suzuki Swift Sport 2018-2024 rear
  • Used Suzuki Swift Sport 2018-2024 interior
  • Used Suzuki Swift Sport 2018-2024 front three-quarters
  • Used Suzuki Swift Sport 2018-2024 front
  • Used Suzuki Swift Sport 2018-2024 infotainment
  • Used Suzuki Swift Sport 2018-2024 dash
  • Used Suzuki Swift Sport 2018-2024 panning
  • Used Suzuki Swift Sport 2018-2024 rear
  • Used Suzuki Swift Sport 2018-2024 boot
  • Used Suzuki Swift Sport 2018-2024 dash
  • Used Suzuki Swift Sport 2018-2024 interior
  • Used Suzuki Swift Sport 2018-2024 panning
  • Used Suzuki Swift Sport 2018-2024 rear
  • Used Suzuki Swift Sport 2018-2024 interior
  • Used Suzuki Swift Sport 2018-2024 front three-quarters
Used Suzuki Swift Sport 2018-2024 review
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by
Mark Pearson
Published26 February 2025

What should I look for in a used Suzuki Swift Sport hatchback?

When viewing a used car, always follow our used car buying checklist.

Check the rear bumper for any signs of parking damage because the Sport doesn’t come with parking sensors. You do get a colour reversing camera, but this gets covered in dirt quite easily which may obscure the view somewhat.

Make sure the brakes don’t judder when you try them on a test drive, otherwise you’ll need to budget for new ones.

The alloy wheels are diamond cut and, if they have suffered kerb damage, could cost you more to fix than regular painted alternatives.

Make sure the clutch engages as it should and doesn’t slip under hard acceleration. You can also access the condition of it by trying to pull away from a stop in a high gear: if the car stalls, then the clutch still has plenty of life left in it.

Used Suzuki Swift Sport 2018-2024 boot

What are the most common problems with a used Suzuki Swift Sport hatchback?

Battery

A software issue on some Swift models built between 7 Jan and 1 November 2017 could lead to the main battery (the one used to start the car) not being charged while driving, leading to it going flat. Find out if your Swift is affected by this because an update will be required to fix this.

Integrated starter generator

A problem has been found with the belt snapping on the integrated starter generator that forms part of the mild-hybrid system. It only affects a small number of examples made between 3 February and 13 March 2017, but make sure you check whether the work has already been carried out by speaking with a Suzuki dealer.

Side curtain airbags

The side curtain airbags and seat belt pretensioners fitted to Swifts manufactured between 3 February 2017 and 13 February 2019 could deploy if one of the rear doors is slammed shut. Find out if your car is affected by this because it'll need to have a software update carried out to prevent this from happening.

Click here for more information. Contact your local Suzuki dealer if you believe your vehicle is involved in a recall.

Used Suzuki Swift Sport 2018-2024 front three-quarters

Is a used Suzuki Swift Sport hatchback reliable?

The regular Suzuki Swift finished in seventh place out of 20 cars in the small car class in our 2024 What Car? Reliability Survey with an overall score of 95.7%. This is a terrific result, although the year before it actually finished in first place with a score of 99.5%.

A mere 4% of the owners who completed our survey reported any issues with their cars, and the only area to give them any grief was the interior trim. All remedial work was completed in a day or less, demonstrating that faults were minor. Even better, all work was done for free.

Reliability rating 95.7%

What went wrong? Interior trim 4%

As a car brand, Suzuki came third out of 31 manufacturers in the same survey with a great overall score of 97.7%. Based on that and the above, the Swift Sport should be a very reliable car, more so than the Ford Fiesta and Mini Hatch.

Used Suzuki Swift: owners' reliability data

Suzuki Swift owners are a happy bunch, reporting dependable, strong reliability of their cars.

As part of our annual Reliability Survey, What Car? readers were largely positive about the Swift’s reliability. Owners praised the car for being dependable, with very few reporting major mechanical issues. A small number mentioned minor electrical glitches, such as occasional warning lights and faulty sensors, but these were generally resolved quickly.

Dealer service received mostly favourable feedback. Many owners found Suzuki dealerships to be helpful and efficient, with repairs carried out promptly and at a reasonable cost. Some did note that parts availability could sometimes cause slight delays, but this was not a widespread issue.

Overall, the Swift has proven to be a reliable choice, with owners appreciating its trouble-free ownership experience. While minor electrical niggles were mentioned, they did not significantly impact satisfaction, and Suzuki’s dealer network was generally well-regarded for its service and support.