It’s the end of 2024 and 2025 Suzuki Swift is all set to be introduced in the UAE after a successful history in the west. Al Rostamani Trading Company (ARTC), the group that owns Suzuki’s franchise just introduced the 2025 new generation of Swift which will be open for booking from 23rd November, 2024.
Now, at this stage, this dinky hatchback competes with the Picanto and both are so close, like they are built to compete with each other. Suzuki, known for reliability and superb dependability and Kia, known for their cyberpunk stylings and practical design languages.
Let’s see what two cars bring to the table and which is best for who:
Suzuki Swift
While Swift is not the best car, it’s surely a great car if you need no fuss and just want a machine that’s fun to drive, reliable, and offers all the necessary features. Suzuki says the design is “muscular,” and surely it is, especially the headlights, which now have a black tint and look better than older ones.
The side profile seems like an inspiration from Mini Cooper, but looks good to us, the back profile also looks like a sister of Cooper Roadster due to the boxy design and side curves.
The hybrid tech in this dinky car can save you a lot, especially when you’re stuck in traffic jams in Dubai and Sharjah.
Inside, the dashboard is pretty simple, but very logically laid out. You need compartments, Swift got you; you need good infotainment, checked; you need good audio, checked; you need comfort during the drive, also checked; it’s just a very logical car, no fuss and built to last.
The back seats are also roomy and 2 full-size or 3 kids can easily fit on the back.
Under the hood, there’s a 1.2 liter Suzuki’s super fuel efficient engine + 48-volt battery under the seat to power electronics in the traffic.
Kia Picanto
This Picanto is probably the cheapest but most futuristic looking car you can buy right now in the UAE. The lightbar DRLs and super glossy looking interior, doesn’t look like a 50,000 AED car, but more like a Skoda Fabia’s competition. A 1.2-liter MPI engine, doesn’t mean it’s an all show, no go, it still got some nice techs’ and it’s affordable.
The side profile, to be honest, is not as good as Swift’s. It seems like a hammered Sportage or Mirage. However, under the top body, it’s the same thing as it used to be in 2018, and nothing has changed. It’s the same 1.2-liter engine that produces 83 HP, and the chassis is the same.
Inside, we all know that Kia makes good, practical and logically laid out interiors with solid built quality, and Picanto is no different. Of course, it has a plastic dashboard as per the price and seats are fabric seats, but by no means they feel cheap. Everything is solid and doesn’t wobble.
You got all the necessary features, and the drive quality is also good. It’s not as fancy as Swift, but it’s still good if we consider its price. Most of the controls are mechanical, and even AC got manual knobs and no climate control that you get in the Swift.
Calling it “premium” is relative for everyone, but we got no complaints from Picanto’s interior.
The engine is 1.2-liter naturally aspirated and not hybrid like Swift, and its fuel economy is also not as efficient as Swift’s, mainly due to the engine technology that Kia uses. It is more oriented towards performance than economy, like Suzuki engines.
1-1 Comparison of Both Cars:
Here’s a 1-1 comparison of both cars:
| Specification | Suzuki Swift 2025 | Kia Picanto 2024 |
| Engine | 1.2L DualJet Petrol, 4-cylinder | 1.2L, 4-cylinder, DOHC |
| Maximum Power | 82 hp (61 kW) | 83 hp (61.7 kW) at 6000 rpm |
| Maximum Torque | 107 Nm at 2800 rpm | 121.6 Nm at 4000 rpm |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 37 liters | 35 liters |
| Transmission | CVT | 4-Speed Automatic |
| Dimensions (L×W×H) | 3,845 × 1,735 × 1,495 mm | 3,595 × 1,595 × 1,485 mm |
| Steering | Electric Power Steering | Motor Driven Power Steering |
Interior Features
Here are the interior highlights of both cars:
| Interior Features | Suzuki Swift 2025 | Kia Picanto 2024 |
| Audio System | Smart Audio with Android Auto & Apple CarPlay | 8″ Smart Audio with Android Auto & Apple CarPlay |
| Infotainment Screen | 7″ or 8″ touchscreen (trim dependent) | 8″ touchscreen with high-resolution display |
| Rear Camera | Yes | Yes |
| Seats | Fabric with adjustable headrests | Artificial Leather (EX trim) |
| Steering Wheel | Leather-wrapped (in higher trims) | Leather-wrapped (EX trim) |
| Driver Information | Color Multi-Information Display | Super Vision Cluster (EX trim) |
| Keyless Entry | Yes (higher trims) | Yes |
| Push Button Start | Available in higher trims | Available in EX trim |
| Climate Control | Manual or Automatic (trim dependent) | Manual or Automatic (EX trim) |
| Power Windows | Front and rear | Front and rear |
| Interior Trim | Satin Chrome Accents | Chrome Accents (EX trim) |
| Storage | Multiple cupholders and storage compartments | Multiple cupholders and storage compartments |
| Smartphone Integration | Yes | Yes |
Exterior Features
Here are the exterior features:
| Exterior Features | Suzuki Swift 2025 | Kia Picanto 2024 |
| Headlights | Halogen multi-reflector (GL variants); LED projector with DRL (GLX variant) | LED headlamps with daytime running lights |
| Fog Lamps | Available in higher trims | Rear fog lamps |
| Daytime Running Lights | LED (GLX variant) | LED daytime running lights |
| Wheels | 14-inch steel (GL); 15-inch alloy (GL+); 16-inch polished alloy (GLX) | 15-inch alloy wheels |
| Side Mirrors | Electrically adjustable and foldable with integrated turn signals | Electrically adjustable and foldable with side repeaters |
| Sunroof | Not available | Available in EX trim |
| Rear Combination Lamps | LED (GLX variant) | LED type |
| Exterior Accents | Body-colored bumpers and door handles; blacked-out pillars for floating roof effect | Body-colored bumpers and door handles; chrome finish on grille and window line (EX trim) |
Safety Features
Here are the safety features of both cars:
| Safety Features | Suzuki Swift 2025 | Kia Picanto 2024 |
| Airbags | 2 | 2 |
| ABS | Yes | Yes |
| ESC | Yes | Yes |
| TPMS | Yes | Yes |
| Child Anchor | ISOFIX | Available in EX trim |
| Rear Parking Sensors | Yes | Yes (EX trim) |
Let us know what you think of both hatchback cars.
