1995-2001 Suzuki Swift: Full Review
Updated: 11/23/08
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Learn about the year-to-year changes and reliability for the 1995-2001 Suzuki Swift and our price chart details a range of prices based on vehicle mileage and condition.
Pros
- Fuel economy
- Optional antilock brakes
- Maneuverability
Cons
- Rear-seat room
- Ride
Vehicle Highlights
Dual airbags and optional antilock brakes highlighted the redesigned front-drive Swift, as well as the similar Geo Metro. A 2-door hatchback body style returned, now on a longer (93.1-inch) wheelbase. The new Swift measured two inches longer overall, and weighed about 75 pounds more. A 1.3-liter 4-cylinder engine that made 70 horsepower returned as the sole engine. A 5-speed manual gearbox was standard; 3-speed automatic transmission optional.
Expert Ratings Summary (view detailed report)
| Category | Suzuki Swift auto Rating | |
|---|---|---|
| Performance | 2 | |
| Fuel Economy | 8 | |
| Ride Quality | 3 | |
| Steering/Handling/Braking | 2 | |
| Quietness | 2 | |
| Controls/Materials | 4 | |
| Interior Room | 4 | |
| Room/Comfort (rear) | 2 | |
| Cargo Capacity | 3 | |
| Value within Class | 4 | |
| Total Score: | 34 |
Learn about the year-to-year changes of the 1995-2001 Suzuki Swift. Get full details of the styling and performance changes throughout the history of the 1995-2001 Suzuki Swift.
Year to Year Changes
1996 Suzuki Esteem/Swift:
Except for new body colors and seat trim, nothing was new on the redesigned Swift in its second season.
1997 Suzuki Esteem/Swift:
For its third season on the market in this generation, the mini-sized Swift displayed no significant revisions.
1998 Suzuki Esteem/Swift:
Suzuki replaced the engine's 8-valve head with a 16-valve head. This increased hosepower from 70 to 79. Other changes included revisions to the front and rear fascia.
1999 Suzuki Esteem/Swift:
Little change was evident on the '99 Swift.
2000 Suzuki Esteem/Swift:
The base Swift was renamed GA, and a GL model with standard air conditioning and AM/FM cassette was added.
2001 Suzuki Esteem/Swift:
No significant changes were made for 2001, the last year for the Swift.
Our road test for the 1995-2001 Suzuki Swift includes a full evaluation from the inside out. We've evaluated every aspect of the 1995-2001 Suzuki Swift and highlighted the vehicle's performance with pros and cons. Use our comprehensive road test ratings to decide if this generation 1995-2001 Suzuki Swift is right for you.
Consumer Guide® Road-Test Evaluation
Cornering grip remains modest, with lots of body lean. Still, a Swift maneuvers easily around town and can be fun to drive, especially with manual shift. Road, wind, and mechanical noise also are troublesome. Step on the gas and you get more sound than progress. Manual shift provides acceptable acceleration, but an automatic transmission slows things down considerably. Gas mileage remains a virtue. Considering the Swift's modest exterior dimensions, interior space is impressive. Leg room is adequate and head room generous in the front bucket seats. Two folks in back have adequate leg and head space, too, unless they're more than medium-size in stature. Getting in and out of the back seat is a battle, however, and the seat itself is firm and flat. Tall windows and slim roof pillars give the driver great visibility all around. A simple dashboard layout puts controls just where they're easy to see and reach.
Value for the Money
If low price is your top priority, a Swift (and its Metro counterpart) are worth considering. Even so, a larger, more substantial car could be a better bet in the end.
If low price is your top priority, a Swift (and its Metro counterpart) are worth considering. Even so, a larger, more substantial car could be a better bet in the end.
Expert Ratings Summary
| Category | Suzuki Swift auto Rating | |
|---|---|---|
| Performance | 2 | |
| Fuel Economy | 8 | |
| Ride Quality | 3 | |
| Steering/Handling/Braking | 2 | |
| Quietness | 2 | |
| Controls/Materials | 4 | |
| Interior Room | 4 | |
| Room/Comfort (rear) | 2 | |
| Cargo Capacity | 3 | |
| Value within Class | 4 | |
| Total Score: | 34 |
Each vehicle report contains one rating chart for representative model. Consumer
Guide® rates in ten key areas: Performance, Fuel Economy, Ride Comfort, Steering
and Handling, Interior Noise, Controls and Materials, Driver Room, Passenger Room,
Cargo Capacity, and Insurance Costs. These ratings compare the particular vehicle
rated to ALL other vehicles, not a vehicle's standing in a particular class. In the
ratings table, "1" is the lowest rating and "10" is the highest rating.
Our reliability study for this generation Suzuki Esteem/Swift includes details on average repair costs, manufacturer recalls, and everything you need to know to gauge the long-term reliability of this generation Suzuki Esteem/Swift .
Trouble Spots
Consumer Guide's® Auto Editors have scoured repair bulletins and questioned mechanics to search
for commonly occurring problems for a particular vehicle. In some cases we also give possible manufacturer-suggested
solutions. In many instances these trouble spots are Technical Service Bulletins posted by the manufacturer,
however, we have our own expert looking at additional vehicle problems.
Brakes:
Antilock Brake System (ABS) light comes on, especially in hot or humid weather, due to binding in the ABS motor pack. (1995-97)
Brakes:
Vehicle is susceptible to brake-pedal vibrations from warped rotor caused by uneven lug-nut torque. (1995)
Doors:
The rear doors may not open from the outside due to a problem with the latch. (1995)
Consumer Guide® Estimated Repair Costs
This table lists costs of likely repairs for comparison with other vehicles. The
dollar amount includes the cost of the part(s) and labor (based on $50 per hour) for the
typical repair without extras or add-ons. Like the pricing information, replacement
costs can vary widely depending on region. Expect charges at a new-car dealership
to be slightly higher.
| Item Name | Repair Cost |
| A/C Compressor | $540 |
| Alternator | $400 |
| Automatic Transmission or Transaxle | $760 |
| Brakes | $200 |
| Clutch, Pressure Plate, Bearing | $440 |
| Constant Velocity Joints | $700 |
| Exhaust System | $135 |
| Radiator | $335 |
| Shocks and/or Struts | $660 |
| Timing Chain or Belt | $210 |
Our price chart for this generation Suzuki Esteem/Swift details a range of prices in
year-by-year listings based on vehicle mileage and condition.
| Prices | Good | Average | Poor |
|
|
|||
| 2001 | |||
| Swift | $2,200-2,800 | $1,600-2,000 | $400-500 |
| 2000 | |||
| Swift | $2,000-2,500 | $1,400-1,800 | $300-400 |
| 1999 | |||
| Swift | $1,800-2,200 | $1,200-1,500 | $300 |
| 1998 | |||
| Swift | $1,600-2,000 | $1,100-1,300 | $200-300 |
| 1997 | |||
| Swift | $1,400-1,800 | $900-1,200 | $200 |
| 1996 | |||
| Swift | $1,300-1,700 | $800-1,100 | $200 |
| 1995 | |||
| Swift | $1,200-1,600 | $700-1,000 | $100-200 |
|
|
|||
This chart details a range of prices in year-by-year listings for vehicles in three condition levels:
Good: a clean low-mileage, solid-running vehicle that needs little or no repair.
Average: a car with normal miles on the odometer, perhaps a few scrapes or dings;
engine might need a minor repair or two, but runs acceptably well.
Poor: might have potentially dangerous problems with the engine and/or body, or
abnormally high mileage; definitely in need of mechanical attention. Valuations
reflect wholesale prices paid by dealers at auction, and retail prices on used-car
lots. Each range covers all trim levels and engine types for a vehicle with a typical
amount of equipment--usually an automatic transmission, air conditioning, stereo,
etc. Fully loaded vehicles may cost more. Average mileage is 12,000 miles per year. Keep
in mind that these are guidelines only. Actual selling prices vary- especially from
region to region.
Specs for this generation Suzuki Esteem/Swift include everything from fuel mileage to seating capacity to options availability.
Vehicle Dimensions
| Specification | 2-door hatchback | |
| Wheelbase, in. | 93.1 | |
| Overall Length, in. | 149.4 | |
| Overall Width, in. | 62.6 | |
| Overall Height, in. | 54.7 | |
| Curb Weight, lbs. | 1878 | |
| Cargo Volume, cu. ft. | 21.9 | |
| Standard Payload, lbs. | -- | |
| Fuel Capacity, gals. | 10.6 | |
| Seating Capacity | 4 | |
| Front Head Room, in. | 39.1 | |
| Max. Front Leg Room, in. | 42.5 | |
| Rear Head Room, in. | 36.0 | |
| Max. Rear Leg Room, in. | 32.8 | |
|
Specifications Key: NA = not available; "--" = measurement does not exist. |
||
Powertrain Options and Availability
An overhead-cam, 8-valve 1.3-liter 4-cylinder, rated at 70 horsepower and 74 pound-feet of torque was the standard engine till 1998. During that year, Suzuki replaced the 8-valve engine with a 16-valve engine. Still with a single camshaft and 1.3-liter displacement, the new engine made 79 horsepower and 75 pound-feet of torque. Either a 5-speed manual transmission or a 3-speed automatic might be installed.
| Engines | cu. in |
Horse- power | Torque | Transmission: |
Consumer Guide Observed |
| ohc I4 | 1.3 / 79 | 79 | 75 | 5-speed manual: 39/43 3-speed automatic: 30/34 |
5-speed manual: -- 3-speed automatic: -- |
| ohc I4 | 1.3 / 79 | 70 | 74 | 5-speed manual: 39/43 4-speed automatic: 30/34 |
5-speed manual: 38.6 4-speed automatic: -- |
|
Specifications Key: NA = not available; "--" = measurement does not exist. |
|||||
Built In: Canada
Drive Wheels: transverse front-engine/front-wheel drive
Detailed safety information for this generation Suzuki Esteem/Swift include detailed crash test scores from the NHTSA.
NHTSA Crash-Test Results
Vehicle crash test information not available at this time.The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) tests a vehicle's worthiness in front- and side-impact collisions and rates its resistance to rollovers. Front-impact crash-test numbers indicate the chance of serious injury: 5 = 10% or less; 4 = 10-20%; 3 = 20-35%; 2 = 35-45%; 1 = More than 45%. Sideimpact crash-test numbers indicate: 5 = 5% or less; 4 = 6-10%; 3 = 11-20%; 2 = 21-25%; 1 = More than 26%. Rollover resistance numbers indicate the chance for rollover when the vehicle leaves the roadway: 5 = Less than 10%; 4 = 10-20%; 3 = 20-30%; 2 = 30-40%; 1 = More than 40%.
Learn about official auto recalls, reliability issues, and vehicle problems for the 1995-2001 Suzuki Swift directly from the NHTSA and manufacturers.
NHTSA Recall History
1997 w/automatic transmission:
Shift lever may appear to be in "Park," but can easily be moved without use of the key, detent button, or depressing the brake.
2000:
Owner's manual does not have proper instructions for child restraint systems.
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