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Suzuki Baleno vs Suzuki Swift

What's the difference?

VS
Suzuki Baleno
Suzuki Baleno

$10,750 - $18,990

2020 price

Suzuki Swift
Suzuki Swift

$20,872 - $37,490

2024 price

Summary

2020 Suzuki Baleno
2024 Suzuki Swift
Safety Rating

Engine Type
Inline 4, 1.4L

Fuel Type
Unleaded Petrol

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Fuel Efficiency
5.1L/100km (combined)

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Seating
5

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Dislikes
  • Expensive servicing
  • Cheap interior
  • Dull

  • Needs 95 RON premium unleaded
  • Spare wheel now an option
  • Base model loses seat-height adjustment
2020 Suzuki Baleno Summary

The fact of the Suzuki Baleno's existence is one of the more puzzling features on the automotive landscape. It's a car that pits itself against all manner of worthy competition - some of it exceedingly so - in the small hatch segment.

People still buy what the industry calls light cars (in ever-diminishing numbers) so perhaps Suzuki thought offering two would be a good idea, as its Swift occupies the same patch of sales ground in this city-sized segment.

In this part of the market, you've really, really got to want it. You need to be stylish, sophisticated and packed with tons of safety gear if you've any hope of so much as laying a fingernail on the Mazda2. Or, let's face it, be dirt cheap to counter Yaris and (the soon to depart) Accent.

It's all the more puzzling because Suzuki does interesting cars like the Jimny, Swift, Vitara and Ignis. And the oddball S-Cross (RIP).

The Baleno seems far too tame, timid and, well, blergh. But according to VFacts, Suzuki shifts at least a hundred of these per month, sometimes over 200.

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2024 Suzuki Swift Summary

Few cars have had the sheer staying power of the Suzuki Swift.

Except for a four-year hiatus as the original Ignis from 2001, the Japanese supermini has been a segment mainstay since 1983, winning over consumers worldwide as an inexpensive, economical and reliable yet fun option in the Toyota Yaris class.

In Australia, its impact has been even more profound, providing Holden with its famous “beep-beep” Barina for two early iterations from 1985, while also introducing us to the pocket rocket decades before the Volkswagen Polo GTI, with the Swift GTi of 1986.

Now there’s this – the sixth-gen model in 41 years if you exclude that Ignis – doing what the little Suzuki has always done: offering buyers a great budget alternative. But this time, in this new-electrification era, where precious few attainable choices remain.

Is it any good? Let’s dive straight in.

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Deep dive comparison

2020 Suzuki Baleno 2024 Suzuki Swift

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