Suzuki Swift
HT51SStock varies — page stays liveThe HT51S represents the original modern Swift nameplate in Japan, featuring a high-riding, tall-hatch design that blurred the lines with crossover styling. It was exported globally as the first-generation Suzuki Ignis.
Engine
M13A 1.3L DOHC VVT
Displacement
1,328 cc
Drive
2WD (FF)
Gearbox
5MT / 4AT
Fuel
Petrol
Body
Hatchback
Suzuki Swift — representative 1st Gen (JDM) imageChassis variants of the Swift
ChassisEngineDisplacementDriveGearbox
HT51SM13A 1.3L DOHC VVT1,328 ccFF5MT / 4AT
ZC71SK12B 1.2L DOHC VVT1,242 ccFFCVTZC72SK12B 1.2L DOHC Dualjet1,242 ccFFCVT / 5MTDimensions & shipping volume
Length
3,615 mm
Width
1,650 mm
Height
1,525 mm
Weight
930 kg
Shipping volume
9.1 M³
Manufacture year vs. registration year
Japanese paperwork shows the first registration date, but African customs count age from the month of manufacture. Verify with the chassis serial before purchase:
Serial prefixProduction periodSeries
HT51S-1XXXXXXJan 2000 – May 2002Early JDM Series
HT51S-2XXXXXXJun 2002 – Nov 2004Late JDM Series
Import eligibility by country (2000–2004)
KenyaNot eligible
8-year limit from manufacture — all units now exceed it.UgandaNot eligible
15-year limit from manufacture — all units now exceed it.TanzaniaEligible
No age ban; vehicles over 10 years pay additional excise duty.ZambiaEligible
No age limit; surtax applies to vehicles older than 5 years.MalawiEligible
No age limit; duty calculated on cc and age band.Common questions about the HT51S
Was the HT51S available with all-wheel drive?
The HT51S chassis designation refers specifically to the front-wheel-drive (FF) configuration, while JDM 4WD variants were designated as HT51S with modified drivetrains or separate classification depending on sales channels.
What export name did the HT51S use?
Outside of Japan, this platform was marketed and sold as the Suzuki Ignis.