Suzuki Swift review

You are considering something that in recent years has been a bit top of the line hero. While the Suzuki Swift rode through the ’90s as a cheap, reliable but ultimately charmless mode of transportation, a revolution in the mid-’90s suddenly made it one of the most attractive small cars on sale. So charm was his motto.

Released at the time as the reborn Fiat 500, it was a bit more cutting-edge. And much better to drive, especially in the spirited form of the little Swift Sport. One of the most successful cars on sale has also managed to be one of the most rewarding. a whole thing

So where are we now?

Well, after two reinventions and a handful of facelifts, this is what the modern Swift looks like now. It’s still a strikingly styled car, implementing the slightly exaggerated “hidden rear door handle” trick better than almost any rival. It’s still a cleverly designed supermini, offering an unusual amount of space and functionality on a titchy platform.

The Swift also largely outlived its companion Baleno. Several years ago, Suzuki decided to tackle various corners of the auto market with two models each: one fun and modern, the other studious and no-nonsense. The Swift, you guessed it, was the first. The fact that it’s still for sale where the Baleno is a distant memory (come on, just try out imagine what it looks like) suggests that the buying public appreciates a sense of humor.

You haven’t mentioned the engines yet.

There is a possibility that we have avoided the topic. When this generation of Swift launched with a choice of powertrains, including a little 1.0-litre petrol kit, things changed. Suzuki has hybridized its entire lineup and turned it into a selling point, perhaps at the expense of one of the most stylish small cars on the planet.

These aren’t hybrids that you plug in, or that you’ll get a dozen or two miles of quiet, quiet range from. Instead, they’re mild hybrids, reducing fuel consumption in the background without affecting how you drive or operate the car. But they added cost and reduced performance in the process.

Tell me more.

The Swift now comes with two engine options. The regular Swift just uses a 1.2-litre 12V mild-hybrid, with smart output of 82bhp and 79lbft in front-drive or all-wheel drive. Yes, a 4×4 version is an option, although it extends the 0-100 km/h time from 13.1 to 13.8 seconds. But it still admirably weighs less than a ton.

The Swift Sport, meanwhile, uses a 48V mild-hybrid system mated to a 1.4-liter turbo engine for peaks of 128 hp and 173 lb-ft and a 9.1-second run at 62 mph. It’s front-wheel drive only, and unlike the base Swift, there’s no automatic gearbox option. Considering it’s a small hot hatch, we’re okay with that.

Naturally, the mpg and CO2 figures are more impressive than ever: 57.2mpg/111g/km as standard and 50.1mpg/127g/km for the Sport. But prices are also on the rise; the most basic Swift is now around £13,000 (good), but the Swift Sport has ballooned to over £20,000 (worse). Maybe lots of standard equipment, which you make obtain – can compensate.

Has the Swift passed the prime of life? It’s certainly a little less spirited than before, its performance somewhat degraded by the more efficient mild-hybrid powertrains. In something sane like a Jazz or a Yaris, we wouldn’t mind much, but Suzuki’s featherweight still has a nimble little chassis that’s just begging to be dumped. The base 1.2’s sluggish performance is a disappointment, while the Swift Sport is a hot hatch that’s been left to cool on the counter too long.

But both remain well organized and packed with amenities. It will be very easy to experience, and you probably won’t walk out of a Suzuki showroom (or shut down the Suzuki website) without a healthy discount. It may not be the plucky hero of old, but the Swift still has a few USPs up its sleeve. The performance of it just doesn’t match the badge on the trunk lid anymore.