2024 Suzuki Swift Gets CVT With New Petrol Engine – Will It Come To India?

Will 2024 Maruti Suzuki Swift Come With CVT In India?

The fourth-generation Swift that was unveiled at the 2023 Japan Mobility Show was equipped with a brand new 1.2-litre 3-cylinder engine with mild hybrid technology. The new 1.2-litre 3-cylinder petrol engine, codenamed the Z12, will replace the older K12 engine in global markets. It will be paired with a continuously variable transmission (CVT) only. The new engine is expected to be more fuel efficient and also offer more torque lower down the rev range for better acceleration. Reports suggest that this new 1.2-litre engine equipped with a mild hybrid system returns a fuel efficiency or mileage of over 30kmpl. While various reports suggest that this engine will make its way to India in 2024 with the new Swift, we have our doubts. A brand new mild hybrid engine paired to a CVT would make the new Swift more expensive than current model and it could even turn out to be pricier than the Baleno and Fronx, both of which are premium Nexa products.

Instead, we expect Maruti Suzuki to offer the 2024 Swift with the current 1.2-litre 4-cylinder K12C petrol engine with a 5-speed manual and automated manual transmission (AMT) as the current model, at least initially. In India, the Swift is perceived as an enthusiast’s choice when compared to the more premium and spacious Baleno. While the stronger low end torque of the new engine will be appreciated by many, the loss of the Swift’s rev happy nature combined with a CVT will not. Furthermore, Maruti Suzuki do not offer a CVT in any of their sub-Rs. 10 lakh cars anymore after the discontinuation of the last-generation Baleno. The new Baleno and Fronx, like other hatchbacks from MSIL’s stable, utilise a tried-and-tested AMT and automatic car buyers seem to be lapping up the frugal nature of this powertrain combo. Hence, there isn’t any reason why Maruti Suzuki should fix something that isn’t broken.      

For our domestic market, we expect Maruti Suzuki to offer the new Swift 2024 with the current engine and gearbox options at launch. Later, the brand could offer the new Swift with the 1.0-litre 3-cylinder turbo petrol for those craving more performance. Like the Fronx, the Swift turbo petrol could come with 2 transmission options – a 5-speed manual and a 6-speed TC automatic. Meanwhile, Maruti Suzuki could introduce the new 1.2-litre Z12 mild hybrid engine with the introduction of the new-gen Dzire and could even offer it with the Baleno, when it receives a facelift in a couple of years. By taking this route, Maruti could keep the Swift enthusiast, the Baleno family car buyer and the Dzire fleet operator happy. To know more about the latest Swift 2024, check out the links below.