Introduction

Maruti Suzuki is now a household name because of cars like the 800 and the Alto, however, it’s the old Swift that can truly be coined as the game changer in the intensively competitive hatchback segment. Introduced in mid-2005, the old Swift was thoroughly modern and unlike anything else in the market back in the day. Unsurprisingly, it went on to become a monumental success for Maruti Suzuki throughout its five year lifecycle.

A decade later, the old Swift continues to soldier on as an ideal buy in the used car market with mechanically sound examples (in LXi and VXi spec) available for as low as Rs 1.5 lakh.

Why I'd buy it

Putting it simply, I’d buy the old Swift for its drivetrain. After all, it was predominantly designed for global markets – something that was pretty much apparent within a few minutes of getting behind the wheel. With its well weighted steering, good grip (in ZXi spec featuring wider tyres) and a slick 5-speed gearbox, the Swift hauled itself like a much bigger car. Better still, it came with the frankly brilliant G13B four-cylinder petrol engine from the old Esteem. The 1298cc, 87bhp all-aluminium engine, in fact, turned out to be a hit especially among the tuner crowd, thanks to its free-revving nature and immense mod potential.

The second best bit of the old Swift is the way how it manages to not look entirely outdated to this day. Looks are subjective I admit but there’s no belying the aircraft-style glasshouse, muscular fenders and that broad shoulder line, all adding up to the overall appeal of the car.

Why I'd avoid it

As good as it is to drive and look at; the old Swift isn’t the most practical buy in its class. Despite its generous proportions, it’s nowhere as spacious as its similarly priced rivals and its best to describe the rear legroom and the 230-litre boot with a joke.

Besides overall lack of space, the old Swift’s cabin is also notorious for developing odd rattles and squeaks in abundance although it’s not to say that the interior is badly put together. In fact, the cabin is decently hardwearing and has stood the test of time.

My favourite version

The old Swift can be had in either petrol or diesel form and is available in up to five variants. Our pick, meanwhile, remains the petrol-powered ZXi variant that gets all the essential bells and whistles such as ABS, dual airbags, climate control, alloy wheels, electrically adjustable mirrors and a decent sounding audio system. As for the prices, the Swift commands a fairly high price for its age, with well-kept 2007-2010 model year ZXi cars listed for anywhere between Rs 1.8 lakh to Rs 2.5 lakh.

Quick facts

Price: Rs 1.5 to Rs 3 lakh

Engine: 1.3-litre, 4-cylinder petrol or 1.3-litre, 4-cylinder diesel

Gearbox: 5-speed manual

Fuel efficiency: 11 to 18kmpl

0-100kmph: 13 seconds