In another instance of ‘cool things we can’t have in Malaysia’, Suzuki Thailand has just unveiled the 2021 Suzuki Swift facelift in the Kingdom, a couple of months after the updated model was introduced in its home country.
Just like the outgoing model, the 2021 Suzuki Swift will be locally-assembled in Thailand. However, the variant offerings for the updated Suzuki Swift have now been trimmed to just two – GL and GLX, with prices starting from THB557,000 (~RM75k).
On the styling changes, the Suzuki Swift facelift can be described as a minor nip and tuck at best, with the only visible difference being the grille, now featuring a slim horizontal chrome strip in place of the larger plastic trim. The mesh pattern has also been updated with a new design, now covering the entire grille.
Even on the inside, the entire interior is also essentially carried over wholesale, with no changes to the dashboard architecture.
In terms of kit, standard equipment across the board for the new Suzuki Swift in Thailand include keyless entry and start, automatic air-conditioning, fabric upholstery with manually-adjustable front seats, LED positioning lights and tail lights, ABS, EBD, ESP, hill hold control, traction control, and an idling-stop system.
The entry-level GL variant is equipped with a 15-inch steel wheels with covers, halogen headlights, drum rear brakes, two front airbags, and a basic head unit (with AUX, CD, and USB inputs) inside.
Stepping up to the GLX will net you larger 16-inch alloys, LED headlamps, front fog lamps, rear disc brakes, four additional airbags, a silver interior trim, and a new eight-inch touchscreen infotainment display with HDMI, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity, alongside a rear-view camera.
No changes are made to the powertrain underneath the bonnet, too, which continues to feature the 1.2-litre naturally-aspirated four-cylinder engine, making 83 hp and 108 Nm of torque. The Suzuki Swift in Thailand is offered solely with a CVT gearbox with six virtual gears, with drive sent to the front wheels.
The Suzuki brand has been out of Malaysia since 2016, and while the brand does have a partnership with Proton, no new models under the Suzuki marque has made it into the country ever since.
There were rumours recently suggesting that several parties are interested in representing the brand in Malaysia once again, but these have sizzled out due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. Here’s to hoping, though!
GALLERY
