Suzuki Swift SportEver since its launch here in 2005 I’ve had a soft spot for the Swift, and global sales of over two million point to the fact that I’m not alone. A recent entry in the UK’s major economy competition (the MPG Marathon), in which two of us from Motorsville piloting a Swift diesel secured second overall with an average consumption over 86mpg, confirmed the Swift’s effectiveness in providing economic motoring possibilities. However, the Swift isn’t solely about eco driving, for Suzuki have offered UK customers a Sport variant for the past five years, and 6000 drivers have taken up that offer. The new Swift Sport will be on sale here in January 2012, and Motorsville went to Spain to test it.Basic details will give you a good idea of what’s on offer, and how it compares to the previous model: new Euro V 1.6-litre 136PS engine offers improved torque together with 10% lower combined fuel consumption of 44.1mpg, coupled to a newly designed six-speed manual transmission. Specification includes auto air conditioning, fog lamps, push button start, cruise control, Bluetooth connectivity, HID Projector headlamps with headlamp wash, and rear privacy glass, while in the safety department ESP and seven airbags are fitted as standard. A glance at the Sport confirms its evolution towards a more sporting look. The ground-hugging form gives a sense of stability, while the large front grille is flanked by big, distinctive finned fog lamp bezels that add more sporting character. Aerodynamic parts like the discreet (though larger than before) spoiler at the top of the tailgate are exclusive to the Swift Sport, and help control the airflow, suppress lift and give the car a lower visual centre of gravity. All of which is what you might expect of such a car these days, but how does it drive?In short, very well indeed. The first thing to say is that the performance is enough to keep drivers happy, without them having to worry about over-frequent stops for petrol. From which you might infer that it isn’t super-quick….and you’d be right. Performance actually shows 0-62mph in 8.7 seconds with a max speed of 121mph, so whilst it will out-perform most cars on the road today, the likes of a Golf GTI will show it a rapidly disappearing exhaust pipe. Which is a very small minus, and against it you can put the fact that this Swift handles beautifully, with a ride quality that’s a hundred comfortable miles from the bone-shaking set-ups common to so many hot hatches. So you can be happy in this car taking the family to the shops, your husband to a restaurant, or yourself along that favourite country road that’s a few yards longer than the direct route, but a whole lot more fun.Driving position is good, with rake and reach adjustable steering, a gear change that’s precise but not too stiff, and reasonable vision in all directions, though as you can see the rear side windows are not large. The engine note is a Jekyll and Hyde character, with a nice urgent wail to it when the driver is pressing on, but unexpected refinement when driven gently. Seats, with their noticeable side bolsters, offer plenty of lateral support, and there’s a surprising amount of room for rear seat passengers, though anyone with a regular need for them might wonder why they were going for a 3-door car.Interior design is as dark as you’d expect for this class of car; car designers universally seem to believe that darkness of the interior must be in direct proportion to the performance of the car, or to put it another way, you want it fast, you get it black. However, the Swift does offer some red stitching on the seats, and a few flashes of silver to lighten the black and dark grey majority. Boot capacity is 211 to 512 litres, which is a bit less than you’d expect for the size of car, but the generous rear seat leg and head room should make up for it.Competitors for the Swift Sport will be the likes of the Fiesta Zetec S, Fiat Punto Evo Sport and the Mini Cooper. In 2012 Suzuki expect to sell around a thousand Swift Sports, which should be 10% of total Swift sales. I reckon that should be no problem, for the car really does look the business, and it drives superbly.Size: 3.89m x 1.70mEngine: 1.6 litre petrol – 136PSGearbox: 6-speed manual FWDConsumption: 44.1mpgPrice: £13,500Full details of the Swift are available on the manufacturer’s website: www.suzuki.co.ukPeter Cracknell – Dec 2011
Suzuki Swift Sport
Ever since its launch here in 2005 I’ve had a soft
spot for the Swift, and global sales of over two million
point to the fact that I’m not alone. A recent entry in
the UK’s major economy competition (the MPG
Marathon), in which two of us from Motorsville
piloting a Swift diesel secured second overall with an
average consumption over 86mpg, confirmed the
Swift’s effectiveness in providing economic motoring
possibilities. However, the Swift isn’t solely about eco
driving, for Suzuki have offered UK customers a
Sport variant for the past five years, and 6000 drivers
have taken up that
offer. The new Swift
Sport will be on sale
here in January
2012, and Motorsville
went to Spain to test
it.
Basic details will give
you a good idea of
what’s on offer, and
how it compares to
the previous model:
new Euro V 1.6-litre
136PS engine offers
improved torque
together with 10%
lower combined fuel
consumption of
44.1mpg, coupled to
a newly designed six-
speed manual
transmission. Specification includes auto air
conditioning, fog lamps, push button start, cruise
control, Bluetooth connectivity, HID Projector
headlamps with headlamp wash, and rear privacy
glass, while in the safety department ESP and seven
airbags are fitted as standard.
A glance at the Sport confirms its evolution towards a
more sporting look. The ground-hugging form gives a
sense of stability, while the large front grille is flanked
by big, distinctive finned fog lamp bezels that add
more sporting character. Aerodynamic parts like the
discreet (though larger than before) spoiler at the top
of the tailgate are exclusive to the Swift Sport, and
help control the airflow, suppress lift and give the car
a lower visual centre of gravity. All of which is what
you might expect of such a car these days, but how
does it drive?
In short, very well indeed. The first thing to say is that
the performance is enough to keep drivers happy,
without them having to worry about over-frequent
stops for petrol. From which you might infer that it
isn’t super-quick….and you’d be right. Performance
actually shows 0-62mph in 8.7 seconds with a max
speed of 121mph, so whilst it will out-perform most
cars on the road today, the likes of a Golf GTI
will show it a rapidly disappearing exhaust pipe.
Which is a very small minus, and against it you can
put the fact that this Swift handles beautifully, with a
ride quality that’s a hundred comfortable miles from
the bone-shaking set-ups common to so many hot
hatches. So you can be happy in this car taking the
family to the shops, your husband to a restaurant, or
yourself along that favourite country road that’s a few
yards longer than the direct route, but a whole lot
more fun.
Driving position is good, with rake and reach
adjustable steering, a gear change that’s precise but
not too stiff, and reasonable vision in all directions,
though as you can see the rear side windows are not
large. The engine note is a Jekyll and Hyde
character, with a nice urgent wail to it when the driver
is pressing on, but unexpected refinement when
driven gently. Seats, with their noticeable side
bolsters, offer plenty of lateral support, and there’s a
surprising amount of room for rear seat passengers,
though anyone with a regular need for them might
wonder why they
were going for a 3-
door car.
Interior design is as
dark as you’d expect
for this class of car;
car designers
universally seem to
believe that darkness
of the interior must be
in direct proportion to
the performance of
the car, or to put it
another way, you
want it fast, you get it
black. However, the
Swift does offer some
red stitching on the
seats, and a few
flashes of silver to
lighten the black and
dark grey majority. Boot capacity is 211 to 512 litres,
which is a bit less than you’d expect for the size of
car, but the generous rear seat leg and head room
should make up for it.
Competitors for the Swift Sport will be the likes of the
Fiesta Zetec S, Fiat Punto Evo Sport and the Mini
Cooper. In 2012 Suzuki expect to sell around a
thousand Swift Sports, which should be 10% of total
Swift sales. I reckon that should be no problem, for
the car really does look the business, and it drives
superbly.
Size:
3.89m x 1.70m
Engine:
1.6 litre petrol – 136PS
Gearbox:
6-speed manual FWD
Consumption:
44.1mpg
Price:
£13,500
Full details of the Swift are available on the
manufacturer’s website: www.suzuki.co.uk
Peter Cracknell – Dec 2011
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