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Suzuki Swift vs Volkswagen Golf

What's the difference?

VS
Suzuki Swift
Suzuki Swift

$20,872 - $37,490

2024 price

Volkswagen Golf
Volkswagen Golf

$38,690 - $72,490

2025 price

Summary

2024 Suzuki Swift
2025 Volkswagen Golf
Safety Rating

Engine Type

Turbo 4, 1.4L
Fuel Type
-

-
Fuel Efficiency
-

6.3L/100km (combined)
Seating
-

5
Dislikes
  • Needs 95 RON premium unleaded
  • Spare wheel now an option
  • Base model loses seat-height adjustment

  • Getting pricey
  • Rear knee-room a bit tight
  • No manual transmission option
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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2025 Volkswagen Golf Summary

While we all mumble about the SUV taking over the passenger car world, a quick glance over at Volkswagen proves the traditional hatchback is still a viable train of thought.

Of course, with the original 1970s Golf, VW more or less invented the modern hatch, but even so, its decision to stick with the concept speaks volumes when many other makers are moving to an SUV-only (or, at least, SUV-dominated) stance.

So, any new or even facelifted VW Golf is big news, and an important model that VW can’t afford to have fail.

What we’re not seeing with the VW Golf yet is any form of hybridisation, let alone, full electrification, despite the Golf being available in EV form in Europe for some years now. At which point the question becomes one of whether Volkswagen is giving he Golf concept the best chance of survival. As in, can a conventionally powered, conventionally packaged hatchback still do the business in 2025. I mean, evolution is one thing, but – sticking with the metaphor - extinction has always been a possibility, too.

 

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Deep dive comparison

2024 Suzuki Swift 2025 Volkswagen Golf

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