Suzuki’s Swift Sport, while never a ball of fire performance-wise, has been something of a perennial favourite among the CAR staffers. Its latest incarnation has grown up, but does it still entertain like before?
Styling and packaging:
Wow…this thing is yellow. Our test unit’s Champion Yellow paint job is, without doubt, the most eye-catching colour in which you can specify the Sport Swift. To say that it’s an acquired taste is something of an understatement, but it does help to highlight the new car’s styling elements. With its deep flanks, a raked nose and blacked-put A-pillars giving the impression of wraparound glazing, the Swift already has a fairly purposeful canvas upon which the sports touches are applied. At the rear, a peaked cap of a roof spoiler and diffuser-esque rear valance with twin exhaust ports hint at the go faster treatment, while the 16-inch alloys (a decision influenced by our oft-cratered roads) let the side down a little. Viewed alongside the previous car, the latest Swift is noticeably bigger than the outgoing model and this translates into a spacious cabin. The interior treatments are subtle; sculpted sports steering wheel, sports seats, metal pedal boots and red trim stitching, but the overall effect is neat and well executed. The boot is the real black mark against the Swift Sport, being a miserly two-tier item that serves up just 152 dm3 of load space.
Kit:
The swift has always been fairly generous equipment-wise and, while not exactly sumptuous, the Swift Sport is no exception. Among the standard features are a radio/CD/MP3/USB/aux-in audio system with steering wheel mounted controls, power steering, ABS, ESP, front/side/curtain/knee airbags, sports seats, electric windows and mirrors, climate control, as well as keyless entry and go at a price of R213 900.
Performance and dynamics:
With modest outputs of 100 kW and 160 N.m of torque from the 1,6-litre engine, we were never expecting the Swift Sport to set the road alight – a 0-100 km/h time of 9,3 seconds and 195 km/h top speed are testimony to that – but it’s hardly to the car’s detriment. Although Suzuki has side-stepped the recent trend that has seen a turbocharger bolted onto many warm- and hot hatch offerings, the Swift’s unit has a free-revving nature and enough of a lumpy idle to satisfy those seeking a bit of pep. Factor in a snappy, mechanical-feeling gearshift and precise, well-weighted steering and there’s a great deal of fun to be had keeping the revs northwards as you scythe through your favourite twisty back road – there’s a noticeable dollop of understeer when pressing the cars dynamic limits and the ESP will scrub off speed swiftly should it detect that you’re gigglingly prodding fate in the ribs and then scarpering. Suzuki has paid a good deal of attention to the suspension geometry and, in doing so, has managed to hit the sweet spot between sporty-firm and everyday compliance. Furthermore, the ABS-assisted brakes have a good, progressive pedal feel and performed impressively in evaluation.
Overall:
This car is something of a paradox on many levels; it has the back-slung baseball cap trappings of a warm hatch but is not ballistically fast. It also serves up a very honest, satisfying approach to spirited driving while proving comfortable, but is hamstrung practicality-wise by that small boot. Still, when viewed in the context of its closest peers (think Renault Twingo RS, Ford Fiesta Sport 1,6 5-door) it neatly bridges the gap between them in terms of price. In theory, the Swift Sport’s seemingly incongruent blend of talents should result in a veritable dog’s breakfast, but the actual upshot is a very well-balanced offering that will bring a smile to your face in both everyday and spirited driving scenarios – pretty much all that you can ask of a warm hatch.
Be sure to read our full road test of the Suzuki Swift Sport in the July 2012 issue of CAR magazine.
Specifications:
Model: Suzuki Swift Sport
Engine: 1,6-litre, four-cylinder, multipoint fuel injected petrol
Power: 100 kW at 7 100 r/min
Torque: 160 N.m at 4 400 r/min
0-100 km/h: 9,23 seconds
Fuel consumption: 7,68 L/100 km
CO2: 147 g/km
Luggage capacity: 152/744 dm3
Top speed: 195 km/h
Price: R213 900
Service plan: 4 years/100 000 km
Service intervals: 15 000 km
Test results:
0-60 km/h: 4,06 seconds
0-80 km/h: 6,26 seconds
0-100 km/h: 9,23 seconds
0-120 km/h: 12,88 seconds
100-0 km/h: 2,78 seconds (average of 10 braking tests)
CAR fuel index: 7,68 L/100 km
CAR fuel route: 6,50 L/100 km