Swifter than thou

The 2021 Maruti Suzuki Swift gets a tweaked fascia, more power and an improved cabin. We take it for a spin to see how much has really changed

- Dipayan Dutta

It’s 2021 and that means that almost every single hatch on sale has a down-sized turbo petrol three pot raging like a neglected adolescent under the hood. But what of the naturally aspirated purists. Well, there’s always this, the Maruti Suzuki Swift. This is the 2021 Maruti Suzuki Swift, and the headline as far as I’m concerned is that it has a PROPER 4-cylinder motor and NO forced induction. It’s got more power than before too but before I jump into the specifics, let’s talk a little about the kerb appeal.

Keep in mind, the new generation of the Swift was only launched three years ago, meaning that this is only a mid-life nip and tuck for the gold old Swift. For 2021, the biggest cosmetic change is the slightly tweaked grille that now features a prominent chrome strip running through the center. The rest, including the fog lamps, the LED DRLs and the bumpers have been carried forward as is. Thanks to the new fascia though, the 2021 Swift’s fresh appeal is instantly recognisable, setting it apart from the previous model. Of course, on this ZXi+, you also get the option of a blacked out roof and very sporty looking 15-inch alloy wheels. Then again, the Swift was always a good looking car. Question is does the cabin feel fresh enough for 2021?