Suzuki Swift gets a facelift for 2014

While Suzuki's big unveil at Frankfurt was the iV4 SUV concept that could rival the likes of the Ford EcoSport and the Renault Duster, the Japanese car maker's top selling hatchback got a makeover. The 2014 model year Swift Facelift adds a range of features and cosmetic changes. Suzuki has also improved the fuel efficiency of the diesel engined variants of the 2014 Swift hatchback. Due to go on sale in European markets by the end of this year, Maruti Suzuki might bring the facelifted model to India next year, as a mid career refresh for the country's best selling B+ hatchback. 

Launching into the changes that the 2014 Swift comes with, the cosmetic bits include LED day time running lights mounted into the fog lamp housing of the car. The front bumper features a slightly different profile while the LED treatment continues to the roof mounted stop lamp at the rear. 16 inch alloy wheels are standard on the top end variants of the 2014 Swift. In India, the current version of the car comes with 14 inch steel wheels and 15 inch alloy wheels. These are pretty much the visual changes that the 2014 Swift comes with, apart from the new "Boost Blue Pearl" metallic paint job.  

On the inside, visual changes on the 2014 Swift include new upholstery for the seats. The dashboard remains unchanged and so do the other trims on the car's interiors. Features wise, Suzuki has added the Auto-Up one touch function to the driver's side power window (previously, only the Auto-Down function was available). Also, the car gets automatic headlamps and electrically adjustable wing mirrors that now fold inwards automatically. On the engines and transmissions front, Suzuki has retained the 1.2 liter K-Series petrol engine and the 1.3 Liter Fiat Multijet turbo diesel engine. 

The gear ratios on the 5 speed manual transmission on the diesel variant are said to be altered, resulting in higher fuel efficiency for the diesel engined 2014 Swift variants. The diesel engined model's claimed fuel consumption per 100 kilometers reduces from 4.2 liters to 3.9 liters. Apart from the revised gear ratios, the start-stop (idle stop) system contributes to better fuel economy and lower CO2 emissions on the 2014 Swift Diesel. Top end models of the Euro-spec 2014 Swift also feature cruise control, a start-stop button and heated seats.