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Looks familiar doesn’t it? This is the new Suzuki Swace, which is essentially a rebranded version of the Toyota Corolla Touring Sports pickup that is sold in Europe. This is the second vehicle Toyota has supplied to Suzuki after the RAV4-based Across, as part of a collaboration between the two automakers.
Don’t think of the partnership as one-sided, as Suzuki also makes cars for Toyota, including the Glanza that is based on the Baleno. More recently, there is the Urban Cruiser, which is a modified version of the Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza in India.
The partnership with Toyota is also beneficial for Suzuki, as it allows the company to have products that meet the strict CO2 emissions regulations of the European Union. The ruling states that from 2021, phased in from 2020, the average emissions target of the entire EU fleet for new cars will be 95g CO2 / km. Not long ago, the Jimny was withdrawn from Europe and reintroduced as a light commercial vehicle because the small off-roader reduced the average CO2 emissions of the brand’s fleet on the continent.
As such, the Swace and Across, with their hybrid powertrains, are a quick way for Suzuki to reduce the average CO2 emissions of its fleet and avoid facing penalties in the process. It’s a logical move, and one that’s not that strange if you remember that Aston Martin once sold the Cygnet for the same reason, which is a rebranded iQ.
Like the Across before it, the Swace has a few styling tweaks beyond the Suzuki badge at the front. For starters, the lower apron is much simpler in appearance, without the black trim seen on the Toyota version.
You will also notice that the black trim piece between the headlights no longer extends to the grille as it no longer needs to accommodate the Toyota logo. Meanwhile, along the corners of the front bumper, false inlets have sprouted for a wider-looking stance, and this is where the fog lights are located.
At the rear, the Suzuki logo replaces the Toyota logo unsurprisingly, but everything else remains largely intact. The same applies to the interior, with only the overhang of the steering wheel receiving the “S”, while the rest of the cabin is identical to a Corolla Touring Sports.
In terms of trim, the Swace comes with 16-inch wheels, dual-zone climate control, an eight-inch touchscreen head unit, a Qi wireless charging pad, and a host of safety and driver assistance features. These include Simple Intelligent Parking Assist, Pre-Collision System, Lane Following Assist, Road Marking Assist, Dynamic Radar Cruise Control, Blind Spot Monitor, and Rear Cross Traffic Alert.
Only one powertrain option is available for the Swace, which is a 1.8-liter hybrid with 122 PS & 142 Nm of torque. The system includes a 2ZR-FXE four-cylinder Atkinson cycle engine, an electric motor (72 PS / 163 Nm), a 3.6 kWh battery and an e-CVT. The car comes with Normal, Eco and Sport drive modes, along with an EV mode that allows it to run on battery power alone.
Sales of the Swace will begin in Europe this winter, with UK specs to be announced later. The car is available in seven colors: White Pearl Crystal Shine, Super White, Precious Silver, Black Mica, Dark Blue Mica, Phantom Brown Metallic, and Oxide Bronze Metallic.
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