Suzuki Swift Review - A Taylor Made Hatchback
Is this the obvious choice that we’ve been missing?
I was in the pub the other day and as soon as I arrived at the bar I had to do something seriously important. I needed to fire up the pub’s app to ensure that they could scan my loyalty bonus QR code. Yup, I know it’s pathetic, but a free pint and a bowl of chips after I’ve spent an astronomical sum of dosh over the previous weeks and months always tastes nice. The app is fiddly and complicated, making a simple transaction seem so needlessly difficult.
That’s the problem with a lot of things these days. You have to spend ages thinking about all of the different options that you can easily forget the obvious, simple answer.
The Search for a New Car
It’s a bit like when you start hunting for a new car. It’s very easy to go down the familiar route of names which spring to mind, Vauxhall and Ford probably being two of the most familiar to most people. But let’s be honest here, do you think of the name Suzuki?
It’s very different if you’re considering a new motorcycle, but when it comes to cars it’s unlikely that most people could name models in the Suzuki range. The Suzuki Vitara SUV is one that folk might know and this is the other one - the Suzuki Swift.
And it’s highly topical because a new model has just arrived at Suzuki showrooms.
Pricing and Equipment
With prices starting at £18,699, the Swift is already off to a good start because not only is it competitively priced, but it’s also well equipped. If you are in the market for a small hatchback, don’t just look at the price; you need to compare like for like and construct a list of what each car comes with in terms of kit.
You’d never call it a handsome car (you can decide that one for yourself) but it’s probably a car that will look better in certain colours.
Performance and Engine
Under the bonnet, there’s a new 1.2 litre 3-cylinder engine which has some mild hybrid technology to help with economy. It lends a hand when setting off from a standstill and the engine develops what looks like a rather measly 81bhp. However, this is a small, light car so it keeps up with the pace very nicely. 0-60mph is a shade over 12 seconds with a maximum speed of 103mph, but to be fair to the Swift, it feels livelier than those figures suggest because the engine is a willing performer and the car is good fun to drive. There’s loads of feedback through the steering wheel, something which is vanishing rapidly from a lot of modern cars. Go steadily and Suzuki reckons you’ll manage 64.2mpg. The reliability was good in the previous model and I’d expect more of the same from this new version.
Gearbox Options
You can opt for a manual or CVT gearbox but, personally, I’d go for the 5-speed manual. The ride is fairly firm at town speeds, but once you get moving on the quicker stuff, it settles nicely. You can even go for an all-wheel drive Swift called ALLGRIP. Okay, it gives those of you who live out in the sticks an option, which may appeal, but it lifts the price to over £21k and saps performance and economy. You also need to go for a higher level trim.
Interior and Comfort
Hop inside the new Suzuki Swift and you’ll find a neat mix of colours and materials. It looks and feels good and proves that a low-ish purchase price doesn’t mean you need to abandon any sort of build quality. There’s ample room for four adults. A family and some holiday clobber will be fine.
So what about the sort of goodies which comes as standard on the latest Suzuki Swift? Two trim levels are available: Motion and Ultra.
Trim Levels and Features
Motion Trim
The entry-level Motion trim comes with rear parking sensors, rearview camera, heated front seats, adaptive cruise control, powered windows all round, a 9-inch infotainment screen, DAB radio, sat nav, LED headlights, air-con, wireless smartphone link and an impressive range of safety gear.
Ultra Trim
Ultra trim adds things like electric folding exterior mirrors, smarter alloys, automatic climate control and rear heating vents but I’d save the additional £1000 outlay and stick with Motion trim which gives you all of the essentials anyway.
Conclusion
In conclusion, like I said at the start, Suzuki isn’t a name which immediately springs to mind when you’re hunting for a new car. It’s a pity because the Swift is good to drive, sensibly priced and very well equipped. The company also has a really good record when it comes to customer loyalty so once you’ve had a Suzuki you tend to go back for more.
Put it this way, if you fancy a small car which’ll be ideal in the city and can happily cope with longer, quicker journeys, make sure the latest Suzuki Swift is on your list of test drives. You might be pleasantly surprised. I certainly was.
words: Graham Courtney
pictures: Suzuki
