Kia Picanto vs Suzuki Swift
A detailed look at how two of Australia's most popular Hatchbacks compare on price, running costs, safety, and everyday livability.
Specifications and pricing correct at time of publishing. Prices are RRP before on-road costs unless stated otherwise. Always confirm with the manufacturer or dealer before purchasing.
Track the Kia Picanto & Suzuki Swift
Get price-drop alerts on these models plus our free weekly new-car rundown. Unsubscribe anytime.
Price Breakdown
The Kia Picanto starts from $19,190 before on-road costs, while the Suzuki Swift opens at $23,990. That makes the Kia Picanto the more affordable entry point by $4,800.
Once you factor in stamp duty, registration, CTP insurance, and dealer delivery, expect to add roughly 8-12% on top of the RRP depending on your state. That puts estimated driveaway prices in the ballpark of $21,109 and $26,389 respectively.
Over 5 years, the running costs favour the Suzuki Swift by roughly $1,995 in fuel alone.
Safety Rundown
ANCAP safety ratings have not been published for both models yet. We will update this section when crash test results are available.
Feature Showdown
The Kia Picanto features a 8-inch touchscreen paired with a 4.2-inch digital dash, while the Suzuki Swift gets a 9-inch display. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard across both.
Drivetrain
The Kia Picanto uses a Petrol producing 62kW and 122Nm of torque, sent through a manual to a FWD layout. It covers the 0-100km/h sprint in 12.2 seconds.
The Suzuki Swift responds with a Petrol making 59.6kW and 109Nm, paired to a cvt driving the front wheels. It gets to 100km/h in 12.4 seconds.
The Kia Picanto has the clear power advantage at 62kW vs 59.6kW. In the 0-100 sprint (manufacturer-claimed), the Kia Picanto is 0.2s quicker. For most buyers, the way each car feels day-to-day matters more than outright acceleration.
Space & Comfort
The Kia Picanto measures 3,595mm long on a 2,400mm wheelbase, 265mm shorter than the Suzuki Swift at 3,860mm (2,450mm wheelbase). The longer wheelbase on the Suzuki Swift generally means more rear legroom.
Boot space is 255L in the Kia Picanto and 267L in the Suzuki Swift, giving the Suzuki Swift a 12L advantage.
0Turning Circle
Kerb-to-kerb diameter. Smaller turns easier in tight carparks and U-turns.
9.4m to 9.8m
Based on 9.4m turning circle:
- U-turn on standard street (7m+ wide)
- Standard parking bay
- Tight carparks
- Narrow laneways
Based on 9.8m turning circle:
- U-turn on standard street (7m+ wide)
- Standard parking bay
- Tight carparks
- Narrow laneways
Turning circle ratings
Compare U-turns side by side
Turning Circle · U-turn compare
kerb-to-kerb, 2 cars0 of 2 clear a 7.0 m street in one sweep
Green cars complete the U-turn; amber need a 3-point turn. Drag the slider to test tighter streets.
Standard widths: AU local streets ~5.5–7 m; main roads ~9–12 m.
True Cost to Own
Based on 15,000km of annual driving, fuel costs roughly $1,539/year for the Kia Picanto and $1,140/year for the Suzuki Swift. That is a $399 annual difference in favour of the Suzuki Swift.
Warranty: 7 years / 999,999km (Kia Picanto) vs 3 years / 100,000km (Suzuki Swift). The Kia Picanto has longer coverage.
Who Should Buy Which?
Buy the Kia Picanto if: You want the lower entry price, prioritise performance, value a longer warranty, or prefer Kia's approach to design and ownership experience.
Buy the Suzuki Swift if: You need more boot space, want lower running costs, or prefer Suzuki's approach to design and ownership experience.
The Verdict
The Kia Picanto takes 4 of 6 key spec categories and comes in at a lower price. The Suzuki Swift will save you roughly $399 a year in fuel. The Kia Picanto adds peace of mind with a longer 7-year warranty. The best pick depends on what you value most. Explore the full specs for each model below.
Common questions
Which is cheapest, Kia Picanto and Suzuki Swift?
The Kia Picanto is the cheapest at $19,190 before on-road costs. That undercuts the Suzuki Swift by $4,800.
Which is the most fuel-efficient?
The Suzuki Swift uses the least fuel at 4L/100km on the combined cycle.
What are the ANCAP safety ratings?
Suzuki Swift holds a 3-star ANCAP rating. We have no published ANCAP rating for Kia Picanto, so there is nothing to compare on crash performance. Compare the active-safety features above instead.
Which has the most boot space?
The Suzuki Swift has the largest boot at 267L.
Which has the best warranty?
The Kia Picanto has the longest warranty at 7 years / Unlimited.
Which is the most powerful?
The Kia Picanto makes the most power at 62kW. The Kia Picanto is quickest to 100km/h in 12.2s.
Stay across the market
Get our weekly new-car rundown of launches, price moves, deals and reviews, straight from the data.
- Weekly new-car rundown
- Price cuts and new deals
- New launches and reviews
No spam, unsubscribe anytime. By subscribing you agree to receive marketing emails.
Disclaimer: All information in this comparison was believed to be correct at the time of publishing (20 April 2026). Prices are manufacturer recommended retail prices (RRP) and may vary by state, dealer, and options. Driveaway costs include estimated on-road costs for Victoria. Fuel economy figures are WLTP/ADR combined cycle. Specifications can change without notice. Always verify with the manufacturer before making a purchase decision. CarSorted does not accept payment for recommendations.
Auto-generated from CarSorted's specification data · 20 April 2026
Comments (0)
Sign in to join the conversation
No comments yet. Be the first!
