Volkswagen Golf VS Suzuki Swift
Volkswagen Golf
Likes
- Superb engine
- Nice to drive, even around town
- Good space utilisation
Dislikes
- Too much road noise
- Annoying touchscreen
- Pricey
Suzuki Swift
Likes
Dislikes
Summary
Volkswagen Golf
In a world where hatchbacks are being cancelled left, right and centre, it was super refreshing to get into the Volkswagen Golf GTI hot-hatch recently.
I’d driven other Mk 8 Golf models including the R flagship wagon, but this was my go in the car I’d long considered to be the best Golf for the money.
But with prices continuously cruising north - this car is now a $54,990 prospect before on-road costs - does it still make dollars and sense? And what’s it like to live with in the daily grind?
| Safety rating | |
|---|---|
| Engine Type | 2.0L turbo |
| Fuel Type | — |
| Fuel Efficiency | 7L/100km |
| Seating | 5 seats |
Suzuki Swift
You’ve set a new-car budget ceiling of $30,000. Your preference is for a small five-door hatch rather than the ubiquitous ‘compact SUV’ and with fuel price surges now a painfully regular part of life you like the idea of a hybrid.
Well, here are two well-credentialed, just-released contenders fitting that description ready to vie for your attention.
MG’s all-new MG3 replaces a model that’s dominated the light car segment in recent years and brings a new hybrid variant to the party. And Suzuki's Swift is an Aussie small car favourite with this recently launched sixth-generation version adding a mild-hybrid to the range.
We’ll get into how these city-sized newcomers shape up in terms of performance, economy, safety, practicality, value and more. So, stay with us to see which one has the best chance of filling that small car-sized space on your driveway.
Read more about MG3 and Suzuki Swift
- New cut-price small hybrid SUV confirmed: 2025 MG ZS Hybrid locked in for Australia to rival the Hyundai Kona, Haval Jolion and Toyota Corolla Cross
- Look out, Hyundai Venue, Kia Stonic and MG ZS: Hybrid-powered Suzuki Fronx set to finally replace Suzuki Ignis in Australia
- New-car bargain gems: The Nissan X-Trail, Suzuki Swift and - controversially - Subaru WRX and Honda Civic are among the hybrids, SUVs, electric cars and hatches we'd buy | Opinion
- MG 3 2024 review: Hybrid+ Excite
- Suzuki Swift 2024 review: Hybrid
| Safety rating | — |
|---|---|
| Engine Type | 1.5L |
| Fuel Type | Hybrid with Premium Unleaded |
| Fuel Efficiency | 4.3L/100km |
| Seating | 5 seats |
Verdict
Volkswagen Golf8/10
The Volkswagen Golf GTI is still a standard-setter when it comes to the “do it all” style of sporty hatch.
I wish the media screen was simpler, and that it wasn’t so loud inside on rougher road surfaces that are so common around Australia, and I wish it was cheaper, too.
But if you can justify the cost, and you want a five-door hatch with plenty of power and presence, then the Golf GTI could well be the go. But I’d also personally be checking out the Cupra Leon, which I think looks better and has a bit more individual appeal.
Suzuki Swift/10
This is close, with things like safety and these cars’ amazing fuel efficiency too close to call.
In terms of performance, practicality and the ownership package, the MG has the edge. But not by much, and when it comes to driving comfort and dynamics and critically, value for money, the Suzuki takes the lead.
Your particular priorities may drive a different decision, but in this head-to-head our nod goes to the Swift Hybrid Plus.
MG MG3 | Suzuki Swift | |
| Rating | 7.9 | 8.0 |
Design
Volkswagen Golf
You can tell it’s a GTI at a glance, and that means it’s off to a good start. There’s the telltale red grille strip, sitting proud above a very aggressive lower bumper with chequered-flag style daytime running lights.
In profile there’s a GTI badge on the front fender, and I think the 19s on this particular car sit a lot nicer than the ‘Richmond’ 18-inch rims on the standard car. There are red calipers, too, and tinted rear glass.
At the rear there is a minimalist approach to the badging - just the three important letters ‘GTI’ below the VW emblem, which doubles as the boot opening handle. The lower bumper features a pair of round exhaust tips, which poke out a bit more than you might expect.
The inside has the iconic - but not identical between generations - tartan seat trim, and I love it. Got a few really nice compliments on the design, which is called ‘Scale Paper’, in this gen and spec.
Otherwise, it’s a pared back affair, and you could be sitting in any other high-grade Golf.
Suzuki Swift
In terms of exterior design the MG is a mix of hard character lines and sharp angles, for example in the headlights and tail-lights as well as vents front and rear.
Suzuki follows an evolutionary approach when it comes to the Swift’s design. Cover this latest version’s badges and thanks to its chunky proportions and upright stance, any half-decent car-spotter will still pick it.
A relatively high waistline gives the Swift a solid look while our test car’s two-tone premium ‘Frontier Blue Pearl’ paint (an $1145 option) with black turret enhances the signature ‘floating roof’ effect.
The MG3’s interior is clean and simple with the tone set by a twin-screen setup; a 10.25-inch multimedia display in the centre and a 7.0-inch instrument cluster in front of the driver.
But it’s dark, from the roof lining, to the dash, to the seats. And in this part of the market you can forget about soft-touch cabin materials, the plastics are hard save for some padding across the centre level of the dash.
By comparison the Swift’s interior is conventional with a relatively small media screen artificially enlarged by a broad gloss plastic frame. Analogue instruments, albeit with a multi-function digital screen in the centre (including a digital speedometer) look dated by comparison and the layered dash treatment appears fussy next to the MG’s layout.
Some grey and cream elements lighten the tone but, again, it’s a world of hard plastic surfaces inside the Suzuki.
Always a subjective call. We’re giving the design gong to the MG for its more contemporary approach, but I like the Swift, too, analogue instruments and all.
MG MG3 | Suzuki Swift | |||||||
| Rating | 8.0 | 7.0 | ||||||
Practicality
Volkswagen Golf
You’ll fit more in the Golf hatch than you might expect. I took myself, my daughter and both my parents for a few-hour drive in it, and there were no complaints about comfort or space.
The 374-litre (VDA) boot space was large enough to fit the pram, a few shopping bags and a baby backpack, though for families with a baby or toddler, longer trips with more baggage might prove a squeeze. If you need more space and don’t have a child-seat in the back, you’ll get 1230L (VDA) with the back seat folded down. And there’s a space-saver spare under the floor.
The back seat is easily roomy enough for smaller adults and kids, and I could even slot in behind my own driving position (I’m 182cm/6’0” tall) with enough room. Three across will be a squishy, but it is possible.
There are dual ISOFIX and three top-tether points for kid seats, plus there’s a fold-down armrest with cup holders, big door pockets for a bottle or loose items, and a few pockets on the front seat-backs, too. There are USB-C ports (x2), and directional air-vents.
Up front you’ll find similar storage - cup holders between the seats, a pair of big cubbies in the doors, and additional holsters for a phone (with wireless charging) and 2x USB-C ports, a centre console bin, and reasonable glovebox.
The usability of the media system is not terrific. There are menus upon menus, and nothing as intuitive as it could be because so much of it is touchscreen-based. There are only a few hard buttons below, and then you still need to use the screen to get where you need.
I also think the much-criticised lack of knobs and buttons for volume and temperature control is an issue. There are controls below the screen, but they aren’t illuminated, and they aren’t always the most receptive.
I also didn’t love the haptic touch buttons on the steering wheel. I kept bumping buttons inadvertently when driving enthusiastically.
Suzuki Swift
At just over 4.1m long the MG3 is around 250mm longer than the Swift and not surprisingly its wheelbase is 120mm up on the Suzuki.
And there’s more than enough room up front in the MG and storage is good with bins in the doors and space for medium-sized bottles, as well as multiple cup/bottle holders in the centre console with movable dividers to structure the spaces as you see fit.
There’s a box between the front seats with a sliding tray inside it, alongside another partitioned oddments space and there’s a decent glove box.
For power and connectivity you’ve got USB-A and USB-C sockets with a 12-volt socket between them.
Important to note the MG’s steering column only adjusts for height which is a throwback to the 1990s, while the Swift’s adjusts for rake and reach, as you’d expect.
In terms of storage in the front of the Suzuki there are bins in the doors with room for bottles and cup/bottle holders in the centre console with an oddments tray in front of them (this becomes the wireless charging tray in the top-spec GLX).
No centre box/armrest between the front seats, just a low surround for the (manual) handbrake with a single cupholder at the back of it, more for backseaters than those in the front.
Again, there’s a generous glove box and this time around for connectivity there are two USB-A sockets (one for media) and a USB-C with a 12V next to them for power.
The rear of both of these city cars is surprisingly accommodating. Sitting behind the driver’s seat set to my 183cm position I have good foot, leg and headroom in each. Slightly less shoulder room in the Swift, which, after all, is 62mm narrower than the MG3.
Telling that neither car has map pockets on the front seat backs or a fold-down centre armrest with cupholders. But there are door bins in the MG3 with room for bottles while the Suzuki’s back doors have wells in them with just enough size for a mid-size bottle.
Big tick for the MG’s adjustable air vents for those in the back seat, with a small oddments tray and an additional USB-A outlet for power underneath it.
Boot space is surprisingly close with each of these minis able to hold the large and small cases from our three-piece luggage set. The MG3 offers 293 litres of volume with the Swift at 265L.
Worth noting the Suzuki’s rear seat splits and folds 60/40 for extra space and flexibility while the MG’s is a not as flexible single-piece folding backrest.
When it comes to a spare tyre, a repair/inflator kit is your only option for both of these cars, which is less than ideal.
Dimensions | MG MG3 | Suzuki Swift |
Length (mm) | 4113 | 3860 |
Width (mm) | 1797 | 1735 |
Height (mm) | 1502 | 1520 |
Wheelbase (mm) | 2570 | 2450 |
Boot volume (L) | 293/983 | 265/589 |
USB front | 1 x C / 1 x A | 1 x C / 2 x A |
USB rear | 1 x A | ⛌ |
Cupholders front | 2 | 2 |
Cupholders rear | ⛌ | 1 |
Bottleholders front | door bins | door bins |
Bottleholders rear | door bins | bottle tubes |
Adjustable rear A/C vents | ✓ | ⛌ |
12-volt socket | 1 x front | 1 x front |
Rear map pockets | ⛌ | ⛌ |
Spare tyre | repair kit | repair kit |
Glove box | medium | medium |
Front centre box/armrest | ✓ | ⛌ |
| Rating | 8.0 | 7.0 |
Price and features
Volkswagen Golf
As I mentioned, the 2023 VW Golf GTI lists at $54,990 (all prices listed are MSRP, or before on-road costs). So, on the road, you’re up over sixty grand. That used to be more than enough for a Golf R, but times they are a-changin.
And don’t go thinking you’re getting 15-inch touchscreens and leather trim for that money, either. The Golf GTI runs the iconic tartan cloth trim as standard, has the typical exterior styling treatment with red highlights, and it has LED headlights, keyless entry and push-button start, electric heated folding side mirrors, standard-fit 18-inch alloys and adaptive chassis control dampers.
Inside you’ll find a 10.0-inch touchscreen with sat nav, digital radio, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a six-speaker stereo, wireless phone charging, auto-dimming rearview mirror, a digital instrument cluster, front, side and rear parking sensors with auto-parking, sports front seats with manual adjustment, leather-wrapped steering wheel,
The car I drove had the $2500 Sound and Style pack, which adds 19-inch wheels and Hankook Ventus S1 Evo3 (235/35/19) tyres as well as a Harman Kardon stereo with subwoofer, plus a head-up display.
If you want leather trim, you’ll have to option the Luxury Package ($3900) which adds Vienna leather upholstery, a panoramic sunroof, heated front seats, electric driver’s seat adjustment and electric driver’s lumbar adjustment, too.
Colour options include the no-cost Pure White and Moonstone Grey, Atlantic Blue metallic, Dolphin Grey metallic, and Deep Black pearl. Only the eye-catching Kings Red metallic costs $300 more.
Rivals for the VW Golf GTI include the Hyundai i30 N (from $46,200 for the manual; $49,200 for the dual-clutch auto), Renault Megane RS Trophy (from $62,300) and the mechanically related Cupra Leon VZ (from $52,990).
Suzuki Swift
In line with your budget these cars come in under $30K, before on-road costs… one of them, only just.
There are two MG3 Hybrid+ grades, the top-spec Essence and the entry-level Excite we’re testing here that just slips under the price cap at $29,990.
Sitting in the centre of three variants, the Suzuki Swift Hybrid Plus wears a 10 per cent lower price tag than the MG at $26,990 and there are some standard spec differences you should know about.
Both feature 16-inch alloy wheels, six-speaker audio, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity and fabric upholstery, however the MG’s central multimedia screen is bigger and its air-conditioning is auto climate control, where the Swift’s is manual.
But the Suzuki scores a few significant wins like LED headlights compared to the MG’s halogens, heated front seats, digital radio and a leather-trimmed steering wheel. Not to mention keyless entry, built-in nav and wireless Apple CarPlay.
The Swift also includes auto headlights with self-levelling and auto high-beam. Both boast heated exterior mirrors and the MG’s auto fold. But now we’re splitting hairs. Taking its lower cost-of-entry into account the Swift Hybrid Plus comes out in front in terms of price and features.
MG MG3 | Suzuki Swift | |
Price (MSRP) | $29,990 | $26,990 |
Multimedia screen | 10.25-inch | 9.0-inch |
LED headlights | ⛌ | ✓ |
Android Auto / Apple CarPlay | ✓ | ✓ (wireless Apple) |
Heated front seats | ⛌ | ✓ |
Upholstery | fabric | fabric |
Audio | six-speaker | six-speaker |
Nav | ⛌ | ✓ |
Digital radio | ⛌ | ✓ |
A/C | auto (single zone) | manual |
Keyless entry | ⛌ | ✓ |
Leather trimmed steering wheel | ⛌ | ✓ |
Auto rain-sensing wipers | ⛌ | ⛌ |
Alloy wheels | ✓ | ✓ |
Privacy glass | ⛌ | ✓ |
Steering column adjust | height | height & reach |
Wireless charging | ⛌ | ⛌ |
| Rating | 7.0 | 9.0 |
Under the bonnet
Volkswagen Golf
You know the VW Golf GTI formula. Punchy engine, front-wheel drive.
In this iteration, the engine is a 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol with 180kW of power (from 5000-6200rpm) and 370Nm of torque (from 1600-4300rpm).
This generation doesn’t come with the option of a six-speed manual transmission like GTI models before it - instead, you get a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission as standard.
The 0-100km/h claim is 6.4 seconds. But in some situations it feels faster than that.
Suzuki Swift
Markedly different stories under the bonnets of these two.
The MG3 is a full petrol-electric hybrid with a 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine working in concert with a separate electric motor on the front axle. Combined outputs are a healthy 155kW/425Nm.
While the Swift is mild hybrid powered by a 1.2-litre three-cylinder engine with an enhanced starter/generator/electric motor picking up some of the slack in terms of powering the stop-start system and adding 60Nm of torque for a little extra oomph when required. Output stats are 61kW/112Nm (plus 2.3kW/60Nm).
Both send drive to the front wheels, in the case of the MG through a three-speed ‘hybrid’ transmission managing combustion and electric drive simultaneously while the Suzuki uses a continuously variable auto transmission (CVT).
MG MG3 | Suzuki Swift | |
Engine | 1.5L 4cyl atmo petrol | 1.2L 3cyl atmo petrol |
Power (kW) | 75 @ 6000rpm | 61 @ 5700rpm |
Torque (Nm) | 128 @ 4500rpm | 112Nm @ 4500rpm |
Power combined (kW) | 155 @ 8000rpm | 'ISG' adds 2.3kW/60Nm |
Torque combined (Nm) | 425 | - |
Transmission | Three-speed ‘Hybrid’ auto | Continuously variable auto |
Drive | FWD | FWD |
| Rating | 8.0 | 7.0 |
Efficiency
Volkswagen Golf
The official combined cycle fuel consumption figure is 7.0 litres per 100 kilometres. That’s what you should be able to achieve across a mix of driving.
During my time in the Golf GTI, I did a few hundred kilometres of mixed driving, and saw a real-world return of 8.1L/100km. Respectable, I think. Undoubtedly it would be higher if all you do is drive hard - but this test was about how usable the car is in normal life.
It has a 50-litre fuel tank that needs to be filled with 95RON premium unleaded at a minimum.
Suzuki Swift
MG claims the MG3 Hybrid consumes just 4.3L of fuel for every 100km travelled on the combined (urban/extra-urban) cycle, which is amazing for a car with its performance potential, but the featherweight Swift does even better at a miserly 4.0L/100km.
On test, over an extended mix of city, suburban and freeway running we saw the MG sip just 3.9L/100km, with the Swift on 3.8. To all intents and purposes a tie.
Worth noting both cars demand 95 RON premium unleaded fuel and based on our real-world results you can expect a range of around 1250km for the MG3 and 1025km for the Swift, the latter carrying a smaller fuel tank. Brilliant fuel efficiency.
L/100km | MG MG3 | Suzuki Swift |
Official combined cycle | 4.3 | 4.0 |
On test (bowser) | 3.9 | 3.8 |
On test (dash) | 4.3 | 4.3 |
CO2 (Combined cycle - g/km) | 100 | 90 |
Fuel tank (L) | 45 | 37 |
Fuel grade | 95 RON premium | 95 RON premium |
Range - Theoretical (Combined cycle - km) | 1046 | 925 |
Range - Real world (On test - km) | 1250 | 1027 |
Hybrid battery | 1.83kWh | 12-volt/10Ah |
| Rating | 9 | 9 |
Driving
Volkswagen Golf
This was an urban test first and foremost, and the Golf GTI still is one of the most liveable sporty hatchbacks on the market.
There are things you will need to contend with - the amount of coarse-chip road road that intrudes into the cabin is downright nasty at times, and even in the most comfortable drive mode it’s quite firm over Sydney’s pockmarked city roads - but otherwise, this thing is great.
The steering has heaps of weight to it, and is super direct. The heftiness of it might take some getting used to, especially when negotiating tight parking spaces, but there’s always the auto-parking function if you’re nervous.
Now, the adaptive chassis control dampers will be stiffer or softer depending on the drive mode you choose. There are Eco, Comfort, Sport and the configurable Individual setting, and when my family was on board I had the car in Comfort mode. Again, no complaints about ride comfort.
In Sport mode, it is sharper and lumpier, but never lacking in control or refinement. Yes, you do feel sharp edges, and it might be too edgy for full-time use, but it really does help the car feel more confident and planted.
The engine is terrific. It has more than enough grunt to make easy work of daily duties, and you needn’t fear about whether you’ll have enough squirt to make it for overtaking moves. It has an abundance of torque and the linear way in which it builds power from low in the rev range is superb.
I also had no complaints about the dual-clutch auto transmission. The action of it can take some getting used to at lower speeds, where it can feel like it’s slurring a bit, but it really is a super gearbox, with snappy shifts at speed and smooth changes when you want them.
Suzuki Swift
MG claims the MG3 Hybrid will accelerate from 0-100km/h in 8.0sec and it feels quick, especially in ‘Sport’ mode, rather than the ‘Eco’ and ‘Normal’ settings.
No doubt the MG is the quieter of the two and it’s important to point out the MG3 is able to run on pure electric power, while the Suzuki cannot.
Suspension is by struts at the front and torsion beam at the rear and the MG feels bumpier over typical pock-marked and patched urban surfaces. That may have something to do with the MG3’s 1298kg kerb weight and slightly wider and lower profile tyres - 195/55 vs 185/65.
The MG steers nicely through a squared-off steering wheel, a la the ‘quartic’ wheel found in the Austin Allegro and Rover SD1 from the 1970s. Road feel is good.
Disc brakes front and rear do the stopping on the MG with three levels of regenerative braking available. The most aggressive setting slows the car markedly but won’t bring it to a full stop, so no ‘single pedal’ driving.
By comparison, expect the Swift to reach 100km/h in around 12.5sec and first impressions are dominated by the characteristically coarse three-cylinder engine and exhaust sound.
Flick the Sport button on the gear shift and performance becomes more urgent but it can’t match the MG’s punch. That said, you can feel that extra 60Nm of pulling power when you want it.
But it’s the Suzuki’s supple ride and nimble handling that stand it apart. Despite its shorter wheelbase and substantially lighter weight the little Suzuki irons out bumps and thumps beautifully.
The steering is well-weighted, accurate and responsive with excellent road feel. Braking is by disc at the front and, yes, drums the size of a small Tupperware container at the rear.
But jokes aside, in a car this light a good drum brake will work perfectly well and it does here. No levels of regen braking. As soon as you’re off the throttle a small light on the dash lets you know you’re sending energy to the battery.
In terms of miscellaneous observations, the MG’s front seats aren’t as comfy as the Suzuki’s. In fact, all who drove the MG3 noticed the driver’s seat cushion is overly firm towards the rear, pushing into your tailbone.
The driver’s door armrests are hard in both cars and there’s some mild wind noise in the Swift at freeway speeds.
Both are super-easy to park but the Swift is that bit smaller with superior visibility, and neither car has a rotary dial for audio volume with wheel, dash buttons or screen sliders instead.
Overall both of these light hatches offer excellent dynamics and refinement for the money, but the Swift delivers a more relaxed and engaging drive.
MG MG3 | Suzuki Swift | |
0-100km/h (sec) | 8.0 | 12.5 |
Suspension | strut / torsion beam | strut / torsion beam |
Steering | rack & pinion | rack & pinion |
Wheels | 16-inch alloy | 16-inch alloy |
Tyres | 195/55 | 185/65 |
Spare | repair kit | repair kit |
Brakes | vented disc / disc | vented disc / drum |
Kerb weight (kg) | 1298 | 957 |
| Rating | 7.0 | 9.0 |
Safety
Volkswagen Golf
The Golf 8 range scored a maximum five-star ANCAP crash test rating in 2019. Standards have changed a bit since then, but it still has plenty of standard active safety tech.
The list includes forward AEB with pedestrian and cyclist detection, plus it has blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, reversing collision avoidance, lane keeping support, adaptive cruise control, a reversing camera and front and rear parking sensors.
If you’re waiting for a new VW Golf GTI, the brand has confirmed that from November production, the R-Line, GTI and R models pick up a front centre airbag. That’ll make the tally seven airbags, with dual front, front side and full-length curtains fitted to all earlier and future models.
Suzuki Swift
Neither of these cars carries a current safety assessment from ANCAP but both do well in terms of active (crash-avoidance) technology.
Big ticket items like auto emergency braking (AEB), blind-spot monitoring, lane keeping assist and rear cross-traffic alert are present and accounted for, which is impressive in the under-$30K part of the market.
Both also feature adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning and rear parking sensors. But the MG adds lane change assist.
And if a crash is unavoidable it’s a tie on airbags at six each, with neither featuring the increasingly common front centre bag to minimise head clash injuries in a side impact.
Both have three top tethers and two ISOFIX anchors for child seats across the second row, although squeezing three seats into these small cars would be a feat worthy of Harry Houdini himself.
MG MG3 | Suzuki Swift | |
AEB | ✓ | ✓ |
Adaptive cruise control | ✓ | ✓ |
Lane departure warning | ✓ | ✓ |
Lane keeping assist | ✓ | ✓ |
Lane departure prevention | ✓ | ✓ |
Lane change assist | ✓ | ⛌ |
Blind-spot monitoring | ✓ | ✓ |
Traffic sign recognition | ✓ | ✓ |
Pedestrian and cyclist detection | ✓ | ✓ |
Rear cross-traffic alert | ✓ | ✓ |
Reversing camera | ✓ | ✓ |
Parking sensors | Rear | Rear |
Tyre pressure monitoring | ✓ | ✓ |
Driver monitoring | ✓ | ✓ |
ANCAP | Unrated | Not tested |
Front airbags | ✓ | ✓ |
Front side airbags | ✓ | ✓ |
Curtain airbags | ✓ | ✓ |
Child seat top tethers | Three | Three |
ISOFIX anchors | Two | Two |
| Rating | 8.0 | 8.0 |
Ownership
Volkswagen Golf
Buying a VW? You’ll score a five-year/unlimited kilometre warranty. That’s good, but not as good as Skoda, MG, GWM Haval or Kia. But none of those brands have a real hot-hatch like this.
Servicing is every 12 months/15,000km. There’s a capped-price plan or “Care Plan” prepay packs for three years/45,000km ($1600) or five years/75,000km ($2800). Choose the latter and you’re saving heaps over pay-as-you-go ($786, to be precise).
You get a year of roadside assistance included, but that renews each time you service your car with VW.
Suzuki Swift
MG has just made an aggressive move in extending its warranty up to 10 years/250,000km which puts it ahead of Suzuki’s five-year/unlimited km cover, unless you’re a high-mileage driver.
Roadside assist is provided for five years if you have these cars serviced through their respective authorised networks and both offer fixed-price servicing.
Service intervals are 12 months or 10,000km for the MG3, or 12 months/15,000km for the Swift and costs are line ball… at an annual average of around $400 per workshop visit for each.
We’re giving it to the MG3 by a nose.
MG MG3 | Suzuki Swift | |
Warranty | 10-year/250,000km | Five-year/unlimited km |
Service interval | 12 months / 10,000km | 12 months / 15,000km |
Roadside Assist | Five years (conditional) | Five years (conditional) |
Fixed price servicing | Yes | Yes |
Annual average | $409 | $391 |
| Rating | 8.0 | 8.0 |