Source type: Suzuki Uganda / CFAO Mobility
Suzuki New Swift vs Toyota Starlet
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
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
1.5L Petrol AT DELUXE
Petrol
4-Speed Automatic
Current
UGX 98,000,000
ex-showroom
⚡ 77 kW
🔧 138 Nm
⛽ 12.5 km/l
Decision summary
Suzuki New Swift vs Toyota Starlet: the short answer
Starlet has a modest catalogue-index lead, while New Swift remains close.
New Swift starts UGX 30,000,000 cheaper
New Swift from UGX 68,000,000 · Starlet from UGX 98,000,000
Five key differences
Exact selected derivatives| Specification | New Swift | Starlet |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum Power | New Swift77 kW @ 6000 rpm | Starlet77 kW @ 6000 rpm |
| Maximum Torque | New Swift111.7 Nm @ 4300 rpm | Starlet138 Nm @ 4400 rpm |
| Engine Size | New Swift1197 cc | Starlet1462 cc |
| Combined Fuel Economy | New Swift21.0 km/l | Starlet12.5 km/l |
| Ground Clearance | New Swift145 mm | Starlet150 mm |
Strongest published figure in that row; no road-test winner is implied.
Source type: Toyota Uganda/CFAO specifications; user-supplied estimates for remaining fields
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
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
- 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Model Introduced Year | 2023 | 2022 |
| Generation | Current Uganda-market generation | 1.5-litre Starlet revision introduced to Uganda in June 2023 |
| Facelift History | Current-generation specification | Uganda nameplate launch in February 2022; 1.5-litre engine and revised body introduced in June 2023 |
| Facelift Launched Since | 2023 | 2023 |
| Facelift Version Ending | Current | Current |
| Body Style | Hatchback | Hatchback |
| Model Year | 2026 | 2023-on Uganda 1.5-litre range |
| Production Status | active | active |
| Segment | Passenger vehicle | Compact hatchback |
| Vehicle Type | Passenger car | Passenger car |
| Spec | New Swift | Starlet |
|---|---|---|
| Length | 3860 mm | 3990 mm |
| Width | 1735 mm | 1745 mm |
| Height | 1520 mm | 1500 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2450 mm | 2520 mm |
| Ground Clearance (Default) | 145 mm | 150 mm |
| Ground Clearance (With Full Seating Load) | 150 mm | 130 mm |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 37 l | 37 l |
| Boot/Cargo Space | 265 l | 314 l |
| Kerb Weight | 945 kg | 990 kg |
| Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) | 1375 kg | 1430 kg |
| Payload Capacity | Not Officially Disclosed | 440 kg |
| Towing Capacity | 400 kg | 750 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 | 5.1 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 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 35.
Efficiency index: New Swift 77 vs Starlet 52.
Safety-equipment index: New Swift 36 vs Starlet 85.
Practicality index: New Swift 46 vs Starlet 50.
Ownership-cover index: New Swift not separately scored vs Starlet 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.
Model imagery
New Swift and Starlet image comparison
Open an image for its full canonical file or visit the model page for the complete vehicle record.
Suzuki New Swift
View 8 more New Swift images
Toyota Starlet
View 8 more Starlet images
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-index readout
Starlet leads by 10 points
Starlet has a modest catalogue-index lead, while New Swift remains close.
Evidence leader
55
/100
Lead
10
points
Data
74%
source coverage
55
#1
Evidence leader
Starlet
Performance
35
Efficiency
52
Safety
85
Practicality
50
Leads by 10 points
45
#2
New Swift
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 +5
Efficiency
New Swift +25
Safety
Starlet +49
Practicality
Starlet +4
Moderate difference in the source-backed catalogue index.
Why this score View full breakdown
Evidence-index leader
Starlet
Performance
35/100
Efficiency
52/100
Safety
85/100
Practicality
50/100
New Swift
Performance
30/100
Efficiency
77/100
Safety
36/100
Practicality
46/100
What the evidence means
In Hagalu's specification evidence index, Starlet leads. However, New Swift may suit buyers prioritising different confirmed fields. Ultimately, the right choice depends on your driving priorities in Uganda.
Related comparisons
Continue with closely related Uganda models and comparable body styles.
New Swift vs Starlet 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.