Ever since Maruti Suzuki launched the Swift in 2005, it broke the hatchback segment’s utilitarian image and added a sporty flair that this class seriously lacked. Since then, Swift has managed to rule the roost being a driver-oriented car that boasts a youthful design. Not sitting on its past laurels, India’s most successful automobile manufacturer has given the third-generation Swift a minor facelift. Is the 2021 Swift all about a nip-and-tuck job or is there a lot more to it than that? Let’s find out.

Engine:

We will get into the design and cabin tweaks a bit later as the biggest update Swift has received is a new, more powerful petrol engine. In terms of capacity, the new powertrain remains 1.2-litre, but the new Dualjet motor gets two injectors in each cylinder instead of one. Due to this, the new 1.2-litre engine churns out 89 bhp roughly 6 bhp more than the older one. This is the same engine that also powers the Dzire. On paper, the torque output remains the same at 113 Nm but it’s much better distributed, resulting in an improved and balanced response.

Step on the pedal, and it accelerates smoothly. Two things that you’ll notice is the lack of mechanical vibrations from the engine and, more importantly, Maruti has negated the turbo lag, ensuring that the power delivery is effortless. This makes the driving experience enjoyable. The Swift doesn’t fire up the afterburners from the word go, but the low-end torque offers a linear hassle-free pickup. Things start getting more interesting in the mid-range power band, where the power surge can be felt from around 4,000 rpm and easily goes beyond the 6,000 rpm mark. In terms of refinement, even when the powertrain is pushed, it remains and feels stress-free.

Another new addition to the Swift is the start/stop system, which shuts off the engine if it’s idling for a long span. This helps in improving the fuel economy and Maruti Suzuki claims that the Swift manual returns a mileage of 23.30 kmpl while 23.76 kmpl in the AMT (automatic) trim, increasing the figures by 2 kmpl.

Driving experience:

The Swift continues to be mated with a 5-speed manual transmission and 5-speed AMT. We drove the former trim and the gear stick slots in easily. The steering wheel, on the other hand, feels a bit too light and lacks the feedback one would have liked. Practically speaking, the featherweight steering does make it easy to drive in the city or park the car in tight spots, but it doesn’t compliment Swift’s handling prowess. The hatchback tames sharp corners like a hot knife through butter while remaining planted to the tarmac. The Heartect platform makes the hatch light and agile and continues to offer a go-kart-like experience.

The ride quality is slightly on the firm side though it manages to insulate the bumps and undulations on the road. But it’s best to slow down once it encounters potholes.

Exterior and cabin tweaks:

From the outside, the Swift remains more or less the same apart from the new honeycomb or mesh front grille with a smart looking chrome strip running across it and sporting the Suzuki logo. Apart from that, the 2021 Swift now gets three dual-tone colour options — white with black roof, red with black roof and blue with white roof.

The cabin, on the other hand, does come with some new upgrades and the first thing that will catch your attention is the new 7-inch touchscreen, or as Maruti calls it,

SmartPlay Studio. With colours like orange, blue, green and yellow on the display, it’s brighter than the previous version and easier to read. The touchscreen is responsive and it supports Apple CarPlay and Google’s Android Auto. Moving on to the instrument cluster, Swift gets a new colour multi-information display (MID) placed between the speedometer and the rev meter. The MID was initially launched in Maruti’s Nexa range. Then there’s great news for those who drive long distance, especially on highways regularly. Keeping convenience in mind, the Swift now comes with Cruise Control and also gets automatic folding outside rearview mirrors.

The Swift isn’t the biggest hatchback in its segment; therefore, this translates into limited space for the rear passengers. Compared to its competition, Swift’s cabin plastic quality is fairly average and it lacks some features like a wireless phone charger, rear AC vents or connected technology. Even though it may be showing its age, the car is fully loaded with safety features like twin airbags, reverse parking sensors, Anti-Lock Braking System and Electronic Brakeforce Distribution with brake assist and Electronic Stability Program with Hill Hold Assist, which is standard in AGS or AMT variants.

Verdict:

The 2021 Swift, no doubt, remains very popular among young buyers and continues to offer a fun driving experience. It comes with basic features, but the ace in the pack for the Swift is its new 1.2-litre engine, which offers more power and better fuel economy. But priced from INR 573,000 to INR 841,000, ex-showroom Delhi, the Swift is expensive when compared to its competition, especially when others are offering top-end diesel trims at the same price. Of course, one can’t deny that it’s still backed by the country’s most comprehensive service network. The Swift remains a force to reckon with. (MT)

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!

Tata Motors Passenger Vehicles (TMPV) has announced consumer offers and vehicle special editions across its internal combustion engine and electric vehicle portfolios in Kerala for the Onam festive period.

The festival promotions run through August 2026, offering financial benefits up to INR 225,000, priority delivery slots and vehicle financing packages. As part of the seasonal campaign, the manufacturer has introduced the Sierra Jubilee Edition, Nexon Camo Edition and Punch HBX Pack to its product line-up.

The maximum benefits vary by model across both powertrain platforms – Internal combustion engine (ICE) models include benefits up to INR 54,500 on the Altroz, INR 72,500 on the Nexon and INR 77,500 on the Curvv.

The Harrier and Safari both get benefits up to INR 47,000, while the Sierra includes a loyalty benefit of INR 30,000. In the electric vehicle segment, savings up to INR 60,000 for the Nexon.ev and INR 55,000 for the Curvv.ev is being offered by the automaker. The Harrier.ev features benefits reaching INR 225,000, which includes a loyalty benefit of INR 100,000 alongside complimentary insurance coverage.

Vivek Srivatsa, Chief Commercial Officer, Tata Passenger Electric Mobility, said, “Onam is a celebration of cherished traditions, meaningful reunions and the progress that every family takes pride in. It is a season of gratitude for how far they have come and optimism for the road ahead. Through our 'Celebrate How Far You've Come' campaign, we are celebrating the aspirations, achievements and milestones that make every customer's journey and success unique. Kerala has always been a deeply important market for TMPV, and we are delighted to mark this festive season with special editions, attractive offers and seamless ownership solutions across our safest and most diverse range of cars and SUVs. We look forward to celebrating with our customers their next milestone and creating many more joyful memories.”

At present, Tata Motors Passenger Vehicles operates 85 service centres across Kerala to support vehicle maintenance during and after the sales campaign.

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!

Tata Motors Passenger Vehicles (TMPV) has launched the Nexon CAMO, a new special edition of its popular compact SUV, with prices beginning at INR 999,000 ex-showroom in Delhi. The introduction coincides with the brand’s celebration of a decade since the Nexon’s original debut and the trust of over 1.1 million customers, marking the model’s enduring success in the Indian automotive market.

The new CAMO variant distinguishes itself with two exclusive premium paint schemes, named Munnar Mist and Coorg Cloud. The former is a dynamic dark green that shifts to a sophisticated grey in shadows and reveals rich green and golden tones under sunlight. In contrast, the latter is a contemporary grey-silver finish with subtle metallic highlights, designed to offer an understated yet premium aesthetic that complements the SUV's rugged character.

TMPV has equipped the Nexon CAMO with a significant technology upgrade, headlined by an Ultra View Twin HD Digital Cockpit. This features a 31.24-cm infotainment system and a 26.03-cm digital instrument cluster, both from Harman, with the latter including embedded navigation. The technology package is further enhanced by an integrated dashcam recorder that is part of the 360-degree camera surround view system, which also includes a blind spot view monitor.

The special edition is not solely about aesthetics and screens, as it also incorporates a comprehensive suite of comfort and safety features. The cabin includes ventilated leatherette front seats, a voice-assisted panoramic sunroof, and an immersive nine-speaker JBL audio system with a subwoofer. Safety is addressed through seven Advanced Driver Assistance Systems functions calibrated for Indian roads, six airbags and electronic stability control, ensuring the CAMO is as secure as it is stylish.

Maintaining the Nexon’s hallmark versatility, the CAMO is offered across all three powertrain options: a 1.2-litre turbocharged petrol, a 1.5-litre diesel and the segment-exclusive 1.2-litre turbocharged iCNG with twin-cylinder technology. With multiple transmission choices available, the automaker has positioned the Nexon CAMO as a distinctive and aspirational package for a wide range of SUV buyers, reinforcing the model's legacy of innovation as the festive season approaches.

Vivek Srivatsa, Chief Commercial Officer, Tata Passenger Electric Mobility, said, "Since its launch a decade ago, the Nexon has provided comfortable, safe and enjoyable journeys for over 1.1 million families, becoming one of India's most iconic nameplates with an unmissable presence on the roads. This success has been built on constantly raising the bar in safety, technology and design while keeping these innovations accessible to a wider set of customers. The Nexon CAMO carries that spirit forward, with two striking new colours and an elevated technology package that makes it the most distinctive Nexon yet. Timed perfectly for the festive season, it gives customers an even stronger reason to make the Nexon their own."

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!

Mumbai-headquartered automotive major Mahindra & Mahindra has announced a suite of technology and equipment updates for its Scorpio-N SUV model line-up.

The updates introduce a panoramic sunroof, a 540-degree surround view camera system with a blind view monitor and R18 alloy wheels to select variants.

On the inside, the updated model features a 31.24 cm floating touchscreen infotainment display, a 26.03 cm digital instrument cluster with three display modes, a 65W USB Type-C fast-charging port in the front row and integrated vehicle dynamics displays covering engine data, pitch, roll and g-force metrics.

The Scorpio-N platform continues to offer the G20 TGDi mStallion petrol and D22 mHawk diesel engine options, available with rear-wheel drive and four-wheel drive configurations.

Pricing for the updated Scorpio-N range begins at INR 1.36 million for the entry-level Z2 petrol manual variant, with the line-up extending to INR 2.54 million for the top-specification Z8L diesel automatic four-wheel drive version (all prices ex-showroom).

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!

Japanese automotive company Mitsubishi Motors Corporation has shared an update regarding its upcoming new Pajero SUV launch scheduled for premiere this autumn.

The automaker confirmed that the vehicle combines off-road driving capabilities across weather and road conditions with on-road ride refinement.

The SUV utilises a ladder frame chassis paired with a re-engineered suspension system designed to maintain road-holding performance over uneven surfaces, bumps and terrain impacts. The setup aims to reduce body movement and cabin vibration to support occupant comfort during long-distance driving.

Handling and drive distribution are managed by Mitsubishi Motors' Super-All Wheel Control (S-AWC) technology. The integrated vehicle dynamics control system manages power output and braking to optimise stability and traction across driving conditions.

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!