Suzuki New Swift vs Toyota Starlet Cross

A proper head-to-head in Uganda — compare price, performance, fuel economy or electric range, safety and the details that shape long-term ownership.

Suzuki New Swift in Uganda

Suzuki New Swift

SWIFT GL+ 5D 1197p CVT Petrol CVT Current
UGX 68,000,000 ex-showroom
⚡ 77 kW 🔧 112 Nm ⛽ 21.0 km/l
VS
Toyota Starlet Cross in Uganda

Toyota Starlet Cross

1.5L Petrol AT DELUXE Petrol 4-Speed Automatic Current
UGX 116,900,000 ex-showroom
⚡ 77 kW 🔧 138 Nm ⛽ 12.5 km/l
+ Add a 3rd car

Decision summary

Suzuki New Swift vs Toyota Starlet Cross: the short answer

Starlet Cross has a modest catalogue-index lead, while New Swift remains close.

New Swift starts UGX 31,100,000 cheaper New Swift from UGX 68,000,000 · Starlet Cross from UGX 99,100,000

Five key differences

Exact selected derivatives
Specification New Swift Starlet Cross
Maximum Power New Swift77 kW @ 6000 rpm Starlet Cross77 kW @ 6000 rpm
Maximum Torque New Swift111.7 Nm @ 4300 rpm Starlet Cross138 Nm @ 4400 rpm
Engine Size New Swift1197 cc Starlet Cross1462 cc
Combined Fuel Economy New Swift21.0 km/l Starlet Cross12.5 km/l
Ground Clearance New Swift145 mm Starlet Cross190 mm

Strongest published figure in that row; no road-test winner is implied.

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

New Swift

Strengths
  • Better fuel efficiency
Weak Spots
  • Less powerful engine setup
  • Fewer listed safety features
  • Lower published practicality figures
Best suited to: Published Efficiency
Specification evidence leader

Starlet Cross

Strengths
  • More powerful engine output
  • Stronger listed safety equipment
  • Stronger published practicality figures
Weak Spots
  • Lower fuel efficiency
Best suited to: Published Performance Published Practicality

Which One's Right for You?

New Swift

  • Buyers prioritising the lower published fuel or energy use

Starlet Cross

  • Buyers prioritising the stronger published powertrain figures
  • Buyers prioritising the more complete listed safety equipment
  • Buyers prioritising the stronger published space and capacity figures

Full Specs, Side by Side

Spec New Swift Starlet Cross
Model Introduced Year 2023 2024
Generation Current Uganda-market generation Current Uganda listing; local generation dates are not stated.
Facelift History Current-generation specification No local facelift confirmed
Facelift Launched Since 2023 Original current-generation version
Facelift Version Ending Current Current
Body Style Hatchback Hatchback
Model Year 2026 2026
Production Status active active
Segment Passenger vehicle Compact crossover
Vehicle Type Passenger car Passenger crossover
Spec New Swift Starlet Cross
Length 3860 mm 3995 mm
Width 1735 mm 1765 mm
Height 1520 mm 1550 mm
Wheelbase 2450 mm 2520 mm
Ground Clearance (Default) 145 mm 190 mm
Ground Clearance (With Full Seating Load) 150 mm 155 mm
Fuel Tank Capacity 37 l 37 l
Boot/Cargo Space 265 l 304 l
Kerb Weight 945 kg 1010 kg
Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) 1375 kg 1480 kg
Payload Capacity Not Officially Disclosed Not Officially Disclosed
Towing Capacity 400 kg 1000 kg
Seating Capacity 5 seats 5 seats
Number of Rows 2 rows 2 rows
Doors 5 doors 5 doors
Minimum Turning Radius 5.0 m 4.8 m
Front Headroom 1000 mm Not Officially Disclosed
Rear Headroom Not Officially Disclosed Not Officially Disclosed
Front Legroom 1020 mm Not Officially Disclosed
Rear Legroom 860 mm Not Officially Disclosed

In depth: how these cars differ

This New Swift and Starlet Cross comparison uses the exact derivatives selected above for Uganda. The catalogue index covers performance, efficiency, safety equipment, practicality and ownership cover only where comparable source-backed fields are present.

Performance index: New Swift 30 vs Starlet Cross 35.

Efficiency index: New Swift 77 vs Starlet Cross 52.

Safety-equipment index: New Swift 36 vs Starlet Cross 85.

Practicality index: New Swift 46 vs Starlet Cross 55.

Ownership-cover index: New Swift not separately scored vs Starlet Cross not separately scored.

These figures are Hagalu catalogue-comparison indicators, not customer ratings, crash-test scores, resale guarantees or a substitute for a road test. Each page shows its weighted source coverage beside the result.

Specification Evidence Index

A transparent comparison of published catalogue fields. This is not a road-test score, owner rating or editorial review rating, and it appears only when every vehicle clears the same comparable-data threshold.

Evidence / 100
Evidence-index readout

Starlet Cross leads by 12 points

Starlet Cross has a modest catalogue-index lead, while New Swift remains close.

Evidence leader 57 /100
Lead 12 points
Data 71% source coverage
57
#1 Evidence leader

Starlet Cross

71% source coverage 1 strong categories
Best at Safety 85 Check Performance 35
Performance 35
Efficiency 52
Safety 85
Practicality 55
Leads by 12 points
45
#2

New Swift

78% source coverage 1 strong categories
Best at Efficiency 77 Check Performance 30
Performance 30
Efficiency 77
Safety 36
Practicality 46
Performance 24% Safety 22% Practicality 22% Efficiency 17% Ownership 15%
Category leaders What moves the verdict
Performance Starlet Cross +5 Efficiency New Swift +25 Safety Starlet Cross +49 Practicality Starlet Cross +9

Moderate difference in the source-backed catalogue index.

Why this score View full breakdown
Evidence-index leader

Starlet Cross

Performance 35/100
Efficiency 52/100
Safety 85/100
Practicality 55/100

New Swift

Performance 30/100
Efficiency 77/100
Safety 36/100
Practicality 46/100

What the evidence means

Evidence index Toyota Starlet Cross leads the specification evidence index with 57 pts vs 45 pts for New Swift

In Hagalu's specification evidence index, Starlet Cross leads. However, New Swift may suit buyers prioritising different confirmed fields. Ultimately, the right choice depends on your driving priorities in Uganda.

New Swift vs Starlet Cross questions

There is no universal winner. Use the comparison table to match the models and available derivatives in Uganda on price, safety equipment, space, powertrain and ownership cover. The category indicators summarise published catalogue data; they are not a road test or customer rating.

Compare the published consumption or mileage rows for the exact derivatives using the same unit and test basis. A catalogue figure is useful for like-for-like comparison, but traffic, speed, load, weather and driving style can change actual fuel use.

Compare only equipment explicitly listed for each derivative, including airbags, stability control and driver-assistance systems. Confirm the exact trim with the manufacturer, and treat any independent crash-test result separately because equipment and ratings can differ by market.

A reliable five-year total cannot be calculated from catalogue data alone. Add the exact purchase and finance cost, fuel or electricity, insurance quotes, scheduled servicing, tyres and expected resale value. Check whether the selected derivative includes a service or maintenance plan.

Use the seating, boot or load-space, ISOFIX and safety rows as a first check. Then test the exact cars with your child seats, passengers and typical luggage, because published dimensions do not show every access or comfort difference.

Compare the published power, torque and 0–100 km/h rows when they are available for both exact derivatives. Vehicle weight, gearing and power delivery also matter, so catalogue outputs alone do not establish real-world overtaking or response.