The Suzuki Swift is still one of the most sensible small cars you can lease in 2026. It's a light 1.2-litre mild hybrid supermini that uses very little fuel and has more standard kit than many dearer rivals. Below, the team at First Vehicle Leasing covers current Swift prices, specs, running costs and tax, plus what to check before you pick a lease deal.
Key Takeaways
- List prices run from £19,999 for the Motion manual to £22,349 for the Ultra CVT or Ultra ALLGRIP.
- There's one engine: a 1.2-litre three-cylinder 12V mild hybrid with 82hp. It returns up to 64.2mpg (WLTP) and emits from 99g/km of CO2.
- Every Swift comes with adaptive cruise control, heated front seats, a reversing camera and keyless entry.
- For 2026/27, the manual Swift falls in HMRC's 25% Benefit in Kind band. First-year road tax is £365, then £200 a year.
- The old SZ-L trim is no longer made. Today's range is simply Motion and Ultra.
What Happened to the Suzuki Swift SZ-L?
The SZ-L was a special edition of an earlier Swift generation, and it's no longer made. The current fourth-generation Swift went on sale in the UK in spring 2024 and comes in two trims, Motion and Ultra. Both have more standard kit than the SZ-L did, including adaptive cruise control and heated front seats.
The things that made the SZ-L popular with younger drivers are still there: sharp looks, low running costs and a fun drive. The Swift Sport has also been dropped. Today you get one engine and two trims, with a manual gearbox, an automatic or four-wheel drive.
How Much Does the 2026 Suzuki Swift Cost?
According to Parkers' Suzuki Swift review, list prices start at £19,999 for the Motion manual and top out at £22,349. Moving up from Motion to Ultra costs about £1,100. The CVT (continuously variable transmission) automatic adds £1,250 to either trim, and so does ALLGRIP, Suzuki's four-wheel-drive system.
| Version | Gearbox | List price (inc. VAT) |
|---|---|---|
| Motion | 5-speed manual | £19,999 |
| Motion | CVT automatic | £21,249 |
| Ultra | 5-speed manual | £21,099 |
| Ultra | CVT automatic | £22,349 |
| Ultra ALLGRIP | 5-speed manual | £22,349 |
A lease isn't priced from the list price alone. Your rental covers the gap between what the funder pays for the car and its residual value (what it's forecast to be worth at the end of the term), plus interest charges. We buy in volume, so the starting cost comes down while the forecast end value stays the same. That narrows the gap. Rentals change daily, so check the model page for current figures.
What Are the Suzuki Swift's Key Specs?
Every Swift has a 1,197cc three-cylinder petrol engine with a 12-volt mild hybrid system, producing 82hp. The car weighs under a tonne and returns 57.6–64.2mpg on the official WLTP test (the standard lab test for fuel economy and emissions). CO2 starts from 99g/km, and the manual does 0–62mph in 12.5 seconds.
In this case, mild hybrid means a small lithium-ion battery and a starter-generator that help the engine and recover energy when you brake. The Swift can't drive on electric power alone, and there's nothing to plug in.
| Specification | Suzuki Swift 1.2 Mild Hybrid |
|---|---|
| Engine | 1.2-litre three-cylinder petrol, 12V mild hybrid |
| Power / torque | 82hp / 112Nm |
| 0–62mph (manual) | 12.5 seconds |
| Official economy (WLTP) | 57.6–64.2mpg |
| CO2 | From 99g/km (manual) |
| Boot | 265 litres (seats up), 589 litres (seats folded) |
| Length x width x height | 3,860 x 1,735 x 1,520mm |
| Insurance groups | 20–22 |
Motion or Ultra: Which Swift Trim Should You Lease?
Motion is the right choice for most drivers. It already has adaptive cruise control, heated front seats, keyless entry, a reversing camera and a 9-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Ultra mainly adds comfort and styling touches. It's also the only trim you can get with four-wheel drive.
Swift Motion
LED headlights, a 9-inch touchscreen with sat nav, wireless smartphone mirroring, adaptive cruise control, heated front seats, keyless entry and start, rear parking sensors, a reversing camera, blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert.
Swift Ultra adds
Automatic air conditioning, polished 16-inch alloy wheels, electrically folding mirrors with built-in indicators, rear-seat air vents and height-adjustable seatbelts. It's also the only trim offered with ALLGRIP four-wheel drive, which comes with the manual gearbox only.
On a car at this price, £1,100 more on the list price makes a noticeable difference to the rental. Only step up if you'll use the extras.
Will I be approved?
Five questions, no sign-up, and an honest answer before you apply for anything.
Check my eligibilityWhat Is the Suzuki Swift Like to Drive and Live With?
The Swift is light, nimble and easy to drive in town. Real-world economy comes close to the official figure: Parkers' long-term test car averaged 56.5mpg. The downsides are road and wind noise on the motorway, a fairly small 265-litre boot and cabin plastics that feel built to a budget.
The CVT automatic is fine in town but gets noisy when you accelerate hard. That's another reason to choose the manual if you can.
So is the Swift safe enough?
You should know this before you sign. Euro NCAP gave the current Swift three stars in 2024. It scored 67% for adult occupant protection and 65% for child occupant protection. It has six airbags and automatic emergency braking, but many rivals score higher. If you often carry children, keep this in mind when you compare cars.
How Much Does a Suzuki Swift Cost to Run and Tax in 2026?
Running costs are low. For the 2026/27 tax year, a manual Swift at 99g/km pays £365 of Vehicle Excise Duty (VED, or road tax) in its first year, then the £200 standard rate. As a company car it falls in HMRC's 25% Benefit in Kind band. The CVT and ALLGRIP versions emit a little more CO2, so they sit in higher bands.
Road tax (VED)
Under the DVLA vehicle tax rate tables, cars first registered from April 2026 that emit 91–100g/km pay £365 in the first year. Cars emitting 101–110g/km pay £405. No Swift comes close to the £40,000 list price that triggers the expensive car supplement. On a lease, road tax is normally included in your rentals for the length of the contract.
Company car tax (BIK)
Benefit in Kind (BIK) is the tax employees pay for using a company car privately. You start with the P11D value, which is broadly the list price including VAT and options. Multiply it by HMRC's appropriate percentage for the car's CO2 emissions, then by your income tax rate. According to HMRC's appropriate percentage tables, the 95–99g/km band is 25% for 2026/27. The CVT is quoted at 108g/km, which puts it in the 105–109g/km band at 27%.
Illustrative example: take a Swift Motion manual with a £19,999 P11D value. At 25%, the taxable benefit is £4,999.75. A basic-rate (20%) taxpayer would pay about £1,000 a year, and a higher-rate (40%) taxpayer about £2,000.
Depending on emissions, petrol company cars are taxed at roughly 15–37% of list price. Electric cars are taxed at 4% in 2026/27. That gap is why salary sacrifice usually makes most sense with an electric car rather than a petrol supermini.
Is Leasing a Suzuki Swift a Good Idea?
For drivers who change car every three or four years, it often is. With Personal Contract Hire (PCH), you get a new Swift for fixed monthly rentals and you carry no resale risk. If the car is worth less than forecast when you hand it back, the funder takes the loss, not you. Business Contract Hire (BCH) works the same way for companies, and its rentals are shown excluding VAT.
Suzuki's three-year, 60,000-mile manufacturer warranty covers a typical three-year lease. When you return the car, it's assessed against the BVRLA's fair wear and tear guidelines. FVL is authorised and regulated by the FCA and is a BVRLA member. To be fair to buying: if you plan to keep a small car for ten years, buying can work out cheaper. Suzuki's service-activated warranty can extend cover to 10 years or 100,000 miles, which suits long-term owners.
Which Rivals Should You Compare With the Swift?
The two closest alternatives to lease are the Toyota Yaris and the MG3. Both are full hybrids that can run on electric power for short distances, so they're quieter in town. Compare them on the same term, mileage and initial rental (the upfront rental, usually a set number of monthly rentals) so the figures line up fairly.
Toyota Yaris
A hybrid supermini that charges itself as you drive and has a strong reputation for reliability. It's a good fit if you do a lot of town driving. See Toyota Yaris lease deals.
MG3
A full hybrid with much more power than the Swift, aimed at buyers who want good value. See MG3 lease deals.
Pick the Swift if you want the lightest, simplest option with a long list of standard kit. Four-wheel drive counts in its favour too, since very few superminis offer it.
How Do I Choose the Right Suzuki Swift Lease Deal?
Start with what you need and what you can afford, then look for the best value within that, rather than settling on a trim first. Our leasing experts recommend working through this checklist before you apply:
- Mileage: set your annual allowance a little above what you really drive, because excess mileage is charged at the end.
- Gearbox: go for the manual unless you need an automatic. It's cheaper, uses less fuel and sits in a lower tax band.
- Trim: Motion covers most needs. Choose Ultra only if you want automatic air con or ALLGRIP.
- Initial rental: compare the total rentals over the term, not just the monthly figure.
- Insurance: get a quote first. Groups 20–22 are mid-range, and a lease requires fully comprehensive cover.
- Company car: work out the BIK for your tax band before you commit.
Call our team on 0333 003 3325 or see current Swift offers online.
Related guides
How to Compare Lease Deals and Spot a Good OneHow to Choose the Right Annual Mileage for a Car LeaseWhat Lease Length Should I Choose? 24 vs 36 vs 48 MonthsWhat to Do If Your Leased Car Breaks Down (UK Guide)View all guidesFrequently Asked Questions
Sources
- Suzuki Swift (2026) review - Parkers
- Vehicle tax rates - GOV.UK / DVLA
- Work out the appropriate percentage for company car benefits (480: Appendix 2) - GOV.UK / HMRC
Written by Andy Bell, First Vehicle Leasing.
