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The Suzuki Swift has shed its one-star security ranking following security upgrades for fashions touchdown in Australia imminently, however its new, larger ranking received’t push native costs up.
Security authority ANCAP has lifted the Swift a full two stars larger after the city-sized hatchback was reassessed underneath the most recent 2023-2025 ANCAP testing protocols.
The present fourth-generation Swift went on sale in Australia in 2024 with fewer security options than the model bought in Europe, which noticed ANCAP apply a one-star ranking for the 2024 mannequin 12 months.
This included a 47 per cent rating for grownup occupant safety, 54 per cent for security help, and 59 per cent for little one occupant safety. Nevertheless, its weak highway person safety end result was a commendable 76 per cent.
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In Europe, it achieved a three-star ranking – which noticed a 67 per cent grownup occupant rating, 62 per cent security help rating and 65 per cent little one occupant safety end result – and the identical 76 per cent weak highway person determine.
That set of numbers – other than the protection help class, which solely improved to 55 per cent – is relevant to new Australian-market Swifts manufactured from August 2025, due in showrooms from this month.
“The up to date ANCAP three-star ranking displays adjustments to the Australian-spec Swift, which now incorporates the identical security reinforcements because the Euro-spec mannequin,” a Suzuki Australia spokesperson advised CarExpert.
“The Euro spec car included extra front-end reinforcements that weren’t current within the earlier Australian-spec model. These reinforcements have now been utilized to Australian fashions.”
ANCAP had dinged the Swift for the absence of absorption bars across the radiator and on both facet of the wheel arch when it was initially examined.
Suzuki Australia stated the upgrades got here after the native arm seemed to align its merchandise with Euro-spec automobiles – and never as a consequence of stress from ANCAP. It additionally confirmed there are not any adjustments to pricing for the upgraded hatch.
Whereas the development is commendable, the Swift nonetheless lacks options akin to a centre airbag which might enhance its ANCAP ranking additional. Suzuki Australia advised CarExpert it has no particular plans so as to add options to the present mannequin.
The earlier technology Swift had a five-star ANCAP ranking for fashions bought between June 2017 and July 2024, although this was underneath older, much less rigorous testing protocols.
Within the section the present Swift competes in, the rival Mazda 2 is unrated – the present technology now being greater than 10 years previous – with its earlier five-star ranking expiring in 2022.
ANCAP rankings have a six-year expiry to offer a extra correct comparability between automobiles as testing protocols change.
Alongside the Swift, the MG 3 has additionally had an improve to 4 stars – beforehand three – however this nonetheless leaves the Toyota Yaris as the one five-star rated automotive within the section, albeit with a 2020 date stamp.
Suzuki at the moment has no automobiles with present ANCAP rankings, together with its lately launched Fronx crossover SUV, a Kia Stonic and Hyundai Venue competitor. Rankings for the Vitara and Jimny have now expired.
Manufacturing of the Ignis, S-Cross and Swift Sport ended for Australia earlier this 12 months as they didn’t meet a brand new Australian Design Rule (ADR) mandating particular technical necessities for autonomous emergency braking, which got here into impact on March 1, 2025.
This ADR additionally pressured Suzuki to stop importing the three-door Jimny, of which an up to date model – that will likely be compliant with the brand new laws – is due in the course of the first quarter of 2026.
It’s set to obtain extra security tools to match the five-door Jimny XL, which has but to be assessed by ANCAP.
MORE: Discover the Suzuki Swift showroom
