5-Year Cost of Ownership: Suzuki Swift GLX CVT

After Suzuki Alto, in this analysis, we calculate the total 5-year cost of ownership for a new Suzuki Swift GLX CVT in Pakistan, breaking down all major expenses: the purchase price, fuel, routine maintenance (oil & filter changes, tires), annual insurance, token taxes, and expected repairs. We’ll also factor in the resale value after 5 years to determine the net cost of owning the Swift. We used the top-spec GLX CVT variant because it’s the most seen variant on the road and probably the better value for money variant as well.

The on-road purchase price of the Swift GLX CVT (for tax filers) is about Rs. 4,898,019 – this includes registration, all taxes, as well as first-year token tax. Throughout this analysis, we treat this amount as part of the 5-year expenditure and then subtract the resale value to find the net ownership cost.

Note: Cars in Pakistan always appreciate or depreciate to a minimal extent due to currency devaluation. The Swift was launched in 2022 at an ex-factory price of Rs. 2,899,000 for the GLX CVT, and by 2025 its price climbed to ~Rs. 4.7 million (on-road ~4.9M). This means used cars hold their value exceptionally well – some even depreciate as little as 7-8% over five years in nominal terms. With that context in mind, let’s break down the Swift’s 5-year costs category by category.

Spoiler: The 5 years ownership cost is Rs. 2.92 million, it equates to about Rs. 584k per year on average that you’re “out of pocket” for owning this vehicle.

Fuel Costs Over 5 Years

Fuel is typically one of the most significant running costs. We calculate petrol expenses using the given usage and fuel price assumptions:

Using these figures, we can estimate the total spending on fuel:

This ~Rs. 1.85 million fuel bill is a major component of the Swift’s running cost. It works out to roughly Rs. 369,000 per year on petrol (about Rs. 30,750 per month). Of course, fuel prices can be volatile – if petrol rates rise further or the car returns lower mileage (e.g. heavy city traffic yielding ~12 km/L), the fuel expenditure could be higher. Conversely, gentle driving or lower fuel prices would reduce this cost. For our analysis, we hold the price and usage constant as per the assumptions.

Routine Maintenance: Oil & Filter Changes

Regular maintenance is crucial to keep the Swift running smoothly. Here we consider periodic oil changes and filter replacements as given:

Now, let’s compute the total routine maintenance cost:

Spread over five years, that’s about Rs. 34,000 per year spent on basic maintenance like oil and filters. We assume this schedule is followed to ensure the engine’s longevity. These costs are based on authorized service rates and genuine parts; going to an independent workshop or using aftermarket parts could be a bit cheaper, but using quality oil (possibly synthetic) and filters is recommended for a new car. Notably, we haven’t yet included other routine items (like spark plugs or brake fluid) here – those will be covered in Additional Maintenance below.

Tire Replacement Costs

Tyres are another significant wear-and-tear item. The Swift comes with General brand tyres from the factory (a common OEM tire in Pakistan). Tire life and cost assumptions:

From these assumptions:

In other words, Rs. 50k will be spent on new tyres during five years of Swift ownership. Good driving habits – maintaining proper tire pressure, regular wheel alignment and tire rotation – can help ensure you reach that ~55k km per set. If the car were kept beyond 100k km, a second new set might eventually be needed around 110k km, but within our 5-year/100,000 km scope, one replacement is sufficient.

Additional Maintenance & Repairs (5 Years)

Beyond regular oil changes and tires, a few other components will likely need attention over a 5-year period. We include realistic estimates for additional maintenance and minor repairs:

Adding up these additional costs: Battery (~15k) + Brakes (~30k) + CVT/fluids (~25k) + Misc (~10k) = ~Rs. 80,000 in total. For simplicity, we’ll round and say ≈ Rs. 75,000 is allocated over 5 years for these extra maintenance and repair items.

It’s important to note that the Swift is a new car, so we don’t expect any major mechanical failures in the first five years (especially if properly maintained). The above budget covers wear-and-tear parts and routine part replacements. If the owner is lucky and drives gently, some of these costs (e.g. second brake pad change or battery) might even be deferred slightly beyond 5 years – but it’s wise to budget for them to avoid surprises. Essentially, we’re adding an average of ~Rs. 15k per year in additional maintenance on top of the routine oil changes and tires.

Annual Insurance Costs

For a brand-new car of significant value, comprehensive insurance is usually recommended (and often required if the car is financed). For this blog, we’ll take the average insurance premium of Rs. 68,000. This is about 1.4% of the car’s value per year, which is plausible in the Pakistani market (insurance rates often range ~1.3–1.6% of the vehicle price per year for new cars). We’ll assume the owner keeps the car insured all 5 years:

Calculating the total:

So about Rs. 3.4 lakh is spent on insurance over five years. This buys peace of mind against accidents, theft, or other damage. Some owners choose to drop full insurance coverage after a few years to save money (especially if the car’s value drops or if they are confident in their driving and security situation), but for a fair total cost analysis, we’ve assumed continuous full insurance every year.

Annual Token Tax

In Pakistan, vehicles above 1000cc engine capacity are subject to an annual token tax (road tax) paid to the Excise & Taxation department. The Swift, with a 1.2L (1197 cc) engine, falls in this category:

Calculating the total:

This comes to roughly Rs. 37.8k spent on token tax over five years. It’s a relatively small portion of the overall ownership cost, but it’s a mandatory expense to keep the vehicle legally on the road. (If the owner was a non-filer, these taxes would be higher, but we’re considering a filer scenario as given.)

Resale Value After 5 Years

After five years of use (and 100,000 km on the odometer), we expect the Swift GLX CVT to still command a strong resale price in the market:

This means the car would depreciate only about 8% from its initial purchase price (which was ~4.898 million). In other words, the Swift retains roughly 92% of its value over five years – an exceptionally high retention by global standards, but quite plausible in Pakistan’s car market. 

Due to high inflation, supply chain issues, and constant price hikes on new cars, used car prices in Pakistan depreciate much more slowly than in other countries – they may even rise in nominal terms over time.

For context, Pak Suzuki increased Swift’s price multiple times since 2022, so a 5-year-old Swift might sell for near its original price simply because a brand-new one has become more expensive. In some cases, owners have sold 2-3 year old cars at or above their purchase price. Our assumed resale of Rs. 4.5 million is slightly lower than the buying price, reflecting a modest depreciation for wear and tear, but it could vary with market conditions. If the car is kept in excellent condition (and especially if new car prices continue climbing), the resale could even be higher.

Bottom line: the Swift’s depreciation cost in this scenario is only about Rs. 398k over 5 years (4898k – 4500k), which is very low depreciation. This high resale value significantly offsets the total cost of ownership.

Net 5-Year Ownership Cost Calculation

Now, let’s compile all the costs over 5 years and then subtract the resale value to get the net cost of owning and operating the Swift for five years:

Now, Net Cost of Ownership = Total Expenses – Resale Value:

This net figure (~Rs. 2.92 million) represents the effective money spent to own and drive the Swift for five years, after recovering a large portion of the costs through selling the car. Another way to look at it: Rs. 2.92 million over 5 years equates to about Rs. 584,000 per year on average that you’re “out of pocket” for owning the vehicle.

Where does this money go?

Primarily into running costs. In fact, out of the ~Rs.7.42 million total expenditures, the fuel alone was ~25% and the initial purchase (mostly recovered later) was ~66%. If we exclude the purchase (since it’s recovered in resale), nearly all of the net cost is fuel and maintenance. 

This highlights how important fuel economy and maintenance are in the cost of ownership. In our case, fuel was the single biggest expense (around Rs. 1.85m), followed by insurance (Rs. 340k) and then the sum of maintenance items (oil, tires, repairs, roughly Rs. 290k combined).

Below is a summary table of all the key figures discussed above for easy reference:

Summary: 5-Year Cost Breakdown (Suzuki Swift GLX CVT)

Category Amount (Rs.) over 5 years
Initial Purchase Price (on-road) 4,898,019
Fuel (100,000 km @ 14 km/L, Rs.258.44/L) ~1,846,000
Oil Changes (17 × Rs. 6,500) 110,500
Air Filter Changes (10 × Rs. 6,000) 60,000
Tires (1 replacement set @ Rs. 50k) 50,000
Insurance (5 × Rs. 68,000) 340,000
Token Tax (annual, 4 × Rs. 9,438) ~37,752
Other Maintenance (brakes, battery, etc.) ~75,000
Total Expenses (5 years) ~7,417,271
Resale Value (after 5 years) 4,500,000
Net Cost of Ownership (5 years) ~2,917,271

Thanks to the Swift’s excellent resale value and moderate fuel efficiency, the overall 5-year ownership cost remains reasonable despite the high initial price. The major expenses to budget for are fuel (~Rs.1.85 million) and the recurring insurance and maintenance. The depreciation hit is minimal in this case, which is a big advantage in the Pakistani market.

Exit mobile version