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Suzuki Swift 2nd generation has started its debute in September 2004,  precisely in French, at the Paris Motor Show. New Suzuki Swift design was previewed on the Concept S and Concept S2 cars at auto shows, in the years leading up to its launch. Suzuki Swift 2nd generation marked a significant departure with the previous Cultus-based models, with Suzuki redesigning the vehicle as less of a "low price alternative" subcompact and more of a "sporty" subcompact. The design and driving characteristics of Swift focused on the European market with its chassis refined through a road-testing program across Europe.

The Swift was available with 1.3- and 1.5-litre petrol engines, rated at 92 metric horsepower (68 kW; 91 hp) and 102 metric horsepower (75 kW; 101 hp), respectively. It was produced in Hungary, India, Japan, Pakistan and by Chang'an Motors in China. In Japan, only the five-door body is available, and four-wheel drive is an option for the 1.3- and 1.5-litre petrol engines. A 1.2-litre engine fitted with an automatic continuously variable transmission (CVT) transmission was offered as in front-wheel drive only. In Europe, the Swift was launched in three- or five-door hatchback forms, with 1.3- and 1.5-litre petrol engines, and a 1.3-litre DDiS engine supplied by Fiat. The 1.3 petrol is also available with an automated manual transmission or with four-wheel drive.

The second generation Swift has received a four stars out of five rating in the Euro NCAP crash tests. It also was awarded 2006 Semperit Irish Car of the Year in Ireland.

Since its global launch in 2005, which was kicked off with a marketing campaign fronted by the footballer Cristiano Ronaldo in many European countries, the Swift has recorded above forecast sales in most markets. In Japan, sales figures have been twice the forecast and in many European markets the model has been a runaway success.

Suzuki Swift Sport

Suzuki launched the sport version of the new Swift in Japan in October 2005, and the model was introduced in most European markets in September 2006. Named "Swift Sport", it is powered by a high-reviving 1.6-litre, naturally-aspirated DOHC VVT four-cylinder engine with a 11.1:1 compression ratio, high lift cams, forged pistons, and strengthened valve springs. The 1.6-liter engine produces 125 metric horsepower (92 kW; 123 hp) 148 newton metres (109 lb•ft) torque. The sportier bumpers and spoilers featured by Swift Sport, a stiffer suspension, twin exhaust pipes, red sport seats (with Recaro seats optional) and four-wheel disc brakes on 16-inch wheels. While manual transmission, the three-door body variant, 17-inch wheels and electronic stability control (ESC) featured by the European Swift Sport.

The Suzuki Swift began as a marketing and manufacturing rebadge of the Suzuki Cultus a supermini (or subcompact) manufactured and marketed worldwide across three generations and four body configurations—three-door hatchback, four-door sedan, five-door hatchback and two-door convertible—and using the Suzuki G engine family.

The Swift was marketed in the Japanese domestic market (JDM) as the Cultus and elsewhere as the Suzuki Forsa, Suzuki Jazz, Chevrolet Swift, Chevrolet Sprint and Sprint Metro, Geo and Chevrolet Metro, Pontiac Firefly, Maruti 1000, Holden Barina and Subaru Justy. Versions of the second generation Cultus were also produced until 2007 in India and the car remains in production today in Pakistan.

The Suzuki Cultus is a supermini first presented at the 25th Tokyo Motor Show, formally introduced to the Japanese domestic market in 1983 and ultimately manufactured in seven countries across three generations and marketed worldwide under more than a dozen nameplates — prominently as the Suzuki Swift, Geo Metro and Chevrolet Metro.