Why Swift remains one of Maruti Suzuki's best-selling cars

Maruti Suzuki India's premium hatchback Swift has crossed sales milestone of 13 lakh units since its launch in 2005.

"Over 1.3 million Swift cars have been bought in India so far, transforming the landscape of the Indian auto industry and inspiring new products, market segments and categories," Maruti Suzuki India Executive Director (Marketing & Sales) RS Kalsi said in a statement on Friday.

Swift touched one lakh unit sales mark in 2007 and it crossed two lakh sales mark one year later in 2008. In January 2010, the model touched 5 lakh units mark and in September 2013 the model achieved 10 lakh sales milestone in the country.

According to data released by Maruti Suzuki India earlier this month, it sold 42,297 units of the compact segment comprising Swift, Estilo, Ritz and Dzire in April.

Here's what you need to know about one of the company's top-selling models -

1. Launched in 2005, the Swift swept Car of the Year Awards in India in the same year of its launch and again in 2011.
2. The model saw minor alterations in 2010 and 2014. However, in 2011, it went a complete overhaul. Head lamps, tail lamps, hatch door and interiors, among other things, were improved upon. The engine and suspension was re-tuned to ramp up the car's fuel efficiency.
3. Swift became the most fuel efficient car in the segment. Maruti launched Swift diesel in 2007 and improved its fuel efficieny further, with a mileage of approximately 22.35kmpl at present. Swift's petrol version gives a mileage of 18.7 kmpl.
4. The largest car manufacturer of India, Maruti Suzuki India , has 60 per cent sales in the A2 segment. Swift compacted the high-end features into a hatchback, creating an upper A2 segment for itself.
5. Swift is priced at Rs 4.6-7.2 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi). It competes with Hyundai i20 (Rs 5.3-8.1 lakh) and Honda Brio (Rs 4.2-6.8 lakh).