Suzuki Swift – hitting the mark!
Words by Mark Slack
Compare the offerings from car makers now to just a few years ago and the number of small hatchbacks seems to have declined. Cars have got larger, the desire for crossovers and SUVs continues unabated and it’s more challenging to make smaller EVs given the need for battery space.
One manufacturer that has managed to retain its small, and ever popular, hatchback is Suzuki and their Swift. Although, thanks to emissions regulations and the march of the EV, the immensely enjoyable Sport version is no longer available, the Swift is a well-equipped, nicely finished and enjoyable all-rounder. Add the words ALLGRIP and it becomes an exceptionally capable supermini.
Swift pricing starts at £19,699 for the lead-in model with an impressive array of standard equipment including adaptive cruise, keyless entry and start, navigation, auto-lights with high beam assist, heated front seats, rear camera and parking sensors, Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, air conditioning and tyre pressure monitoring.
In manual form there is a 5-speed gearbox, with a CVT for the automatic option. There’s just one power unit, a 1.2-litre, 3-cylinder petrol that just sneaks under the 100g/km Co2 emissions on the lead-in car. The Swift isn’t going to set the performance world alight, but it feels much peppier than its 82PS would suggest. At times you do have to offer encouragement, but the manual gearbox is smooth and slick with a nice short throw on the gear lever. Once on the move it keeps up with modern traffic on faster roads and proves good fun on smaller cross-country routes, especially if you have the ALLGRIP model as tested here.
Suzuki launched their first four-wheel-drive vehicle over 50 years ago and their off-road abilities are well respected. The automatic system in the Swift uses a viscous coupling so that if the front wheels start to lose traction, power is distributed to the rear wheels to maintain progress. There are no buttons, levers or other paraphernalia, it’s all very simple. The Swift has always been a surefooted drive, in this form it’s even better, and in the winter makes perfect sense. No automatic option for the AWD but with the 5-speed manual £22,049 seems especially good value for money.
Style is always subjective, everyone’s different, but I cannot imagine anyone finding objection to the Swift. It’s smart, feels nicely bolted together and thanks to the thrum of the 3-cylinder engine makes for a fun and engaging drive. The interior is smartly done with decent space and lots of places for in-car oddments.
Suzuki has a knack of hitting the mark in terms of giving buyers practical, sensible cars that still have a dash of style. The Swift perfectly embodies this ethos.
Words by Mark Slack
