The Swift used to be India's go-to fun hatchback. The old one had a 4-cylinder engine with real punch. Today's version lost a cylinder and makes just 80 bhp, which is why keen drivers grumble. Now Suzuki has shown a new 1.2 turbo making 125 bhp. The question for you: buy the proven Swift now, or wait for a turbo that may never come?
The rumour: a 1.2 turbo with 125 bhp and 230 Nm
Here's what's actually confirmed, and what isn't. Suzuki in Japan announced a new direct-injection turbo petrol engine programme (DITC). It's a 1.2-litre, 3-cylinder unit making 125 bhp and 230 Nm of torque (pulling power). It's built to run on E100 flex-fuel, CNG and CBG (gas from waste). That's the global news. What's NOT confirmed is any India launch, date or price for a Swift with this engine. Suzuki could put it in the Swift, Dzire, Baleno or Brezza. For now, treat this scenario as a strong possibility, not a done deal.
Maruti Suzuki Swift
HatchbackThe Swift you can buy today: 80 bhp, ₹5.84–8.89 lakh
Let's anchor on reality. The current Maruti Suzuki Swift uses a 1.2-litre naturally aspirated (no turbo) petrol making 80 bhp. The CNG version makes 69 bhp. Mileage is strong: 24.8 kmpl on the manual, 25.75 kmpl on the AMT (auto-clutch gearbox), and 32.85 km/kg on CNG by ARAI (a government test, always higher than real driving). There are five variants: LXi (₹5.84 lakh), VXi (₹6.68 lakh), VXi(O) (₹6.94 lakh), ZXi (₹7.62 lakh) and ZXi Plus (₹8.29 lakh). The top three trims offer a CNG option. All prices are ex-showroom; add road tax, registration and insurance for on-road, which varies by state.
How the turbo stacks up: vs i20 N-Line and the old Swift Sport
If it lands, the jump would be big. We're talking 125 bhp vs today's 80 bhp, a gain of 45 bhp. Its direct rival would be the Hyundai i20 N-Line, which makes 118 bhp and 172 Nm. The Swift turbo would beat it on paper, mainly on torque (230 Nm vs 172 Nm). More torque means stronger pull in gear, so overtaking on the highway feels easier. That 230 Nm figure is huge for a small hatchback; it would bring back the old Swift Sport feel India never officially got. The same engine in the Brezza would also leapfrog the Tata Nexon's 1.2 turbo (118 bhp, 170 Nm).
Flex-fuel and CNG: what it means for your running costs
The new engine is built to handle different fuels, and that is relevant for your wallet. In plain words: E20 means petrol mixed with 20% ethanol, E85 means 85%, E100 is pure ethanol. India is pushing hard toward higher ethanol blends, so a flex-fuel engine future-proofs you. The catch: ethanol gives slightly lower mileage than petrol, and E85/E100 pumps are still rare in most cities. The CNG side is more useful day-to-day. CNG costs far less per km than petrol, and Suzuki is now developing under-floor cylinders, which means you keep more boot space. That fixes the biggest complaint with factory CNG cars.
If it launches, expect a higher price, likely a new top trim.
Don't expect turbo power at today's base price. A 125 bhp Swift would almost certainly sit above the current ₹8.29 lakh ZXi. Plus, likely as a new sporty top variant rather than replacing the 80 bhp engine. The regular Swift would carry on for value buyers. We have no confirmed figure, so treat any price talk as a guess until Maruti says so. Look at the i20 N-Line's positioning for a rough idea of where a hot Swift might land.
Maruti Suzuki Swift — Price by variant
| Variant | Ex-showroom price |
|---|---|
| LXi | ₹5.84 lakh |
| VXi | ₹6.68 lakh – ₹7.92 lakh |
| VXi (O) | ₹6.94 lakh – ₹7.83 lakh |
| ZXi | ₹7.62 lakh – ₹8.51 lakh |
| ZXi Plus | ₹8.29 lakh – ₹8.89 lakh |
(Prices* as of October 2026)
Buy the current Swift now, or wait for the turbo?
Simple call. If you want a fun turbo hatchback today, the i20 N-Line is your only real option,ase the Swift turbo is still just a rumour with no India date. If you want a frugal, proven, easy-to-own hatchback right now, the current Swift makes sense, especially the VXi(O) at ₹6.94 lakh as the value sweet spot. On a tight budget, the Tata Tiago (from ₹4.77 lakh) and Maruti Celerio (from ₹4.7 lakh) undercut it. Waiting for the turbo is a gamble; Maruti hasn't confirmed it for India at all. Buy for what's on sale, not for maybe.
References: Maruti Suzuki India — official website
