Suzuki Swift Sport: long-term test review | Auto Express

The Suzuki Swift Sport has proved itself to be a thoroughly enjoyable sporty hatch. Its tiny size and low weight make it as much fun in the city as it is on ... SkiptoContentSkiptoFooterLong-termtestsHomeSuzukiSwiftSwiftSportHatchbackSuzukiSwiftSport:long-termtestreviewFinalreport:Overeightmonths,ourSuzukiSwiftSporthothatchhasbeenatastytreatby:AlexIngram25Mar201941OverallAutoExpressRating4.0outof5BuyusedforlessatBuyacarTheSuzukiSwiftSporthasproveditselftobeathoroughlyenjoyablesportyhatch.Itstinysizeandlowweightmakeitasmuchfuninthecityasitisonatwistyroad,andtheenginereturnsgreatfueleconomyaswellasgivingpunchyperformance.Mileage:6,498Economy:42.8mpg Mytimewiththe SuzukiSwiftSportisfinallycomingtoanend,andaftereightenjoyablemonthsbehindthewheel,I’vestartedtoseeplentyofsimilaritiesbetweenitandanotherJapaneseicon.That’sbecause,tomeatleast,thissportyyellowhatchbackisquitealotlikeSushi.First,there’sitssize.At3,890mmlongand1,735mmwide,it’ssmallerthanthetypicalsupermini–ifnotquitecompactenoughtofitononeofthosetinysushiconveyorbelts.Asaresult,it’sadoddletodrivearoundtown,nippingthroughgapsthatmanyothercarscan’t,andsqueezingintoverysmallparkingspaces.OnatwistyB-road,youcaneasilyadjustthedirectionthecar’sgoinginwithoutleavingyourlane,whichbuildsupconfidence.•BestsuperminisonsaleTheSwiftiseasyontheeye,too.Itsneat,preciseshapedoesn’tlookintimidating,butextradetailslikethe17-inchalloywheelsandtheunderstatedbodykit–incontrastwiththeChampionYellowpaintjob,whichisanythingbutsubtle–allhelptowhetyourappetitebeforeyougetstuckin.Thetwochromedexhaustpipesaddalittleextraspicearoundtheback,andifyoustarereallyhard,thosemockcarbon-fibresideskirtsandlowerbumpertrimsalmostresemblethetexturedeffectof‘nori’seaweed,too.41Inside,thesportsseatsleaveyoufeelingastightlywrappedasasalmonroll.Theheavilybolsteredsidesofferloadsofsupportduringhardcorneringandlookgreat,althoughthosewithalargerframemightfindthemalittletoosnug.However,otherthansomebitsofredtrimandchromepedals,thecabindesignisaboutasplainasacubeofrice.Thebuildqualityisdecentenough,butitdoesn’tfeelassubstantialorofferthesquidgyplasticsthatyougetinsideaFordFiestaoraSEATIbiza.MorereviewsCargrouptestsCitroenC3vsSuzukiSwift:2021grouptestreviewMicraN-SportvsIbizaFRSportvsSwiftSportSuzukiSwiftSportvsVolkswagenup!GTIvsFordFiestaIn-depthreviewsSuzukiSwiftreviewRoadtestsNewSuzukiSwift2020reviewNewSuzukiSwiftSportHybrid2020reviewNewSuzukiSwiftAttitude2019reviewNewSuzukiSwiftSport2018reviewYetwhereitlagsmostbehindthoserivalsiswithitsinfotainmentsystem.Theaftermarketunitisthecucumbermakioftheinfotainmentworld:it’snevergoingtobeanybody’sfirstchoice.It’sslow,unresponsivetothetouchanddoesn’tlookverypretty.But,ontheplusside,bothAppleCarPlayandAndroidAutoarefittedandrespondwellonthescreen. Lessimpressively,therearpassengerspaceisbynomeansclass-leading,andthetintedwindowsmakethecarfeelaboutasspaciousasaJapanesepodhotel.Likewisethe265-litrebootisn’tasroomyasmostrivals’.Still,thisisalltobeexpectedbecausetheSwiftissmallerontheoutside,too.SotheSuzukicouldbeconsideredbite-sized,butinperformancetermsitmanagestopackawasabi-likeheat.Thankstoa1.4-litreturbochargedpetrolenginewith138bhp–afigurethatwelearnedtoberatherconservativebackinIssue1,559,ifseveral150bhp-plusdynotestsareanythingtogoby–theSwiftSportreallyleapsawayfromjunctionsandfeelseagerinanygear.Thelowweighthelpshere;thecarfeelsaslightasapairofchopsticks.41Thisinturnbringsanotherpleasingsideeffect:theSwiftSportmanagestomakeoneportionoffuelgoaverylongway.Animpressivemid-fortiesmpgfigureduringourtimewithitmeansthatrunningcostsareimpressivelylowbytypicalsportyhatchstandards.Onamotorwayrunit’llnudge50mpg,butitslong-distanceabilitiesareslightlyhamperedbythefactthatthemodest37-litrefueltankforcesyoutomakeplentyofstopsforrefills.However,thereisonefinalparallelbetweentheSwiftSportandsushi,andthisoneisn’tquitesofavourable:bothcarandfoodseemjustabittoopricey.Sure,theSwiftcanbealotoffun,butitcosts£17,499,eventakingintoaccountthe£1,000discountSuzukiisofferingtobuyers.It’safigurethat’stroublinglyclosetothe£19,495priceofthebrilliantFordFiestaST.Alternatively,anyonewishingtospendlessandsacrificealittleoutrightspeedcangofortheVolkswagenup!GTI,whichiseverybitasmuchfun,butcostsabout£3,000less.Still,peoplehappilypayovertheoddsforsushibecauseit’sdelicious.TheSwift,too,mightnotbeforeveryone,butifyou’rewillingtodigdeepfortheprivilege,it’satastyalternativefromthenorm.SuzukiSwiftSport:fourthreport41OurSuzukimeetsaneverswifterSwiftSportMileage:5,088Economy:42.8mpgHavingruntheAutoExpressSuzukiSwiftSportsinceJune,Icanreportthatit’saneasy,enjoyablecartolivewith.Butinsomeways,IkeepwonderingwhatwouldhavehappenedifthebrandhadgiventheSwiftjustalittlebitmore:morepower,amorerortysoundtrackorevenamoresophisticatedsuspensionset-up.Well,thankstoChrisCookeatCTCperformance,Ineedn’twonderanylonger.CTCstartedwhenChriscouldn’tfindtuningoptionsforhisMk2ToyotaMR2tohisliking,sohestartedtodevelophisown.ChrishastunedSwiftSportssince2009fromhisbaseinSomerset,andheturnedhisattentiontothethird-generationversionassoonashecouldgethishandsonone,insearchofsharperhandlingandmorepower.• SuzukiSwiftSportreviewInterestingly,Christellsmethatinitialdynotestsofastandardcarprovedthefactoryclaimsof138bhpand230Nmtobemodest;bothheandothershavediscovered150bhptobeamorerealisticstockfigure.41Aremapimmediatelyuppedtheoutput(andliftedtherevlimitslightly),butCTC’smodificationsgobeyondsoftwaretweaks.AcontactintheaerospaceindustrydesignedanintercoolerforChristhatisnotonlysmallerthanthestandardpart,butwhichalsoreducedinlettemperaturessignificantly.Asimpleswapliberates7bhponitsown.Asitstands,Chris’sowndevelopmentcar(theblueSwiftinthephotos)makes175bhpand290Nmwiththesechanges.Butthere’smoretocomefromthelittle1.4-litrelumpyet.Thestandardexhaustdownpipeisveryrestrictive,andChrisexpectshissoon-to-be-fittedwider-boreitemtoimproveflow,andaddabout10bhpintheprocess.Themodificationsaddressoneofmycriticismsofthestandardcar:thenoise.Astainlesssteelsystemisavailableintwoflavours,silencedandunsilenced,andweighs3.5kglessthanthestandardunit.Themoreextremeunsilencedunitsoundsthebetterofthetwo,butitdronesatcertainrevranges,somethingChrisislookingtoaddress.41Nextwillbeanupratedturbocharger,whichshouldmaketheSwiftSportgoodforaround200bhp,thesameasaFordFiestaSTbutinacarweighingalmost300kgless.Evenatitscurrentoutput,thepowerboostisapparenttheminuteyoustarttodrive.Inthelowtomiddlereachesoftherevrange,there’snoticeablymoreperformance;butit’stowardsthetopend,wherethestandardcarbeginstofeelslightlyoutofpuff,whereitcomesintoitsown.There’strueincentivetorevrightuptotheredlinenow,anditpullsforwardwithenoughenthusiasmforittofeel,attheveryleast,onparwiththeST.Ofcourse,allofthisextrapowernecessitatessomechassisupgrades,andCTChasdulyobliged.AsetofBuddyClubadjustablecoiloversandalloywheels–thelatterofwhichslash2.1kgpercorner–transformthewaytheSwifthandles.41WhileIenjoytheflowthattheforgivingstandardset-upbrings,itstartstobecomeunstuckwhenpushinghard.Thecoilovers,however,introduceahugeextradoseofbodycontrolacrossanundulatingB-road.Turn-inbecomessomuchmorepositive,andthewheels–slightlywiderthantheoriginals–appeartoreducetheexcessiveself-centringsteeringofthestandardSwiftSport.Fromanaestheticpointofview,thesubtledropinrideheightandwiderrimsaddmorepurposetotheSwift’sstance,too.Asexpected,tractionstartstobecomeanissue,particularlywhenacceleratingwithsomesteeringangleapplied.However,CTCislookingintosourcingalimited-slipdifferentialtocopewiththis,andtheextrapowerexpectedinthefuture.Alsoonthecardsareanupratedclutchandflywheel,tougherbrakepadsandacustomairintake.Thechangesarealmostuniversallypositive,butcomeatacost:theintercooler,remap,exhaustandcoiloverscometojustover£2,000beforeVATorfitting.There’snoarguingwiththequalityofthepartsortheimprovementtheybring,butbuyerswillonlybewillingtospendsomuchonasub-£20kcar.Chrisunderstandsthis,andit’swhyhe’saftermanufacturerandwarrantyapproval.AfewextrapoundspermonthonaPCPwouldmakethepartsincrediblytempting.SuzukiSwiftSport:thirdreport41OurSuzukiSwiftSportimpressesonYorkshiretripMileage: 3,048Economy:42.8mpgThankstoourSwiftSport’sbrightyellowpaintjob,Ispendabout70percentofmytimearoundthelittlehothatchsquinting.Onasunnydayitstandsoutontheroadlikelittleelse.  TheSuzukialsoseemstobeatitsbestwhendrivenatseven-tenths,andIgotthechancetoexplorethisfurtheronarecenttripuptoNorthYorkshire.Whenthatangry-lookingnoseisaimedatatwisty,undulatingroadatabriskpace,thecarfeelsinitselement.Theforgivingsuspensionset-uphelpstoenableasmoothflow,whiletheengine’sstrongmid-range,flatteredfurtherbythehatch’slimitedweight,makesitfeellivelyonthestraightbits.41It’sjustashamethatwhentheSuzukiispushedharderthanthat,itstartstobecomealittleunstuck.Harshmid-cornerbumpsleavethedampersstrugglingtokeepup.There’snotmuchinthewayofmovement,either.Whiletheprevious-generationSwiftSportwouldadjustitslinewithamerestliftofthethrottle,ittakesaseriousmid-cornercresttounsettlethenewcar.Inotherwords,it’snotreallyworthwhiletryingtoextendittothelimitsofwhatitcando,soit’sbesttoappreciateitatthelevelwhereit’shappiest.TheSwiftcontinuestobeasolidcompaniontolivewitheveryday.Recentnight-timedriveshaverevealedjusthowbrightandcleartheLEDheadlightsare–aqualitythatwould’vebeenunthinkableonanysuperminibarelyfiveyearsago.ButthickC-pillarshamperrearwardvisibility,andtherearen’tanyparkingsensorstocompensate.Itdoeshaveareversingcamera,althoughitspositioninthenumberplatehousingmeansthatwhenwaterdripsoffthebumper,youcan’tseewhereyou’regoing.SuzukiSwiftSport:secondreport41WebringwarmhatchtogetherwithkindredspiritfromeightiesMileage:2,704Economy:46.9mpgIwasprettychuffedwhenIfoundoutthatthefirstmodelI’dberunningontheAutoExpressfleetwouldbeaSuzukiSwiftSport.Whilesomepeoplepreferhuge,waftybarges,I’vealwayshadathingforsmall,sportyhatches.It’sabigpartofthereasonwhy,whenI’mnotusingatestcar,Ihavemyown1989Peugeot205XStoenjoy.Despitethealmost30years’worthofdevelopment(andscruffiness)thatseparatestheSwiftandmy205,thereareanumberofsimilarities.Bothhavea1.4-litrepetrolengine,bothareamongthelightestcarsoftheircontemporariesandbotharepositionedastepbelowthefull-onhothatchesoftheirrespectiveeras.The205GTiwasthedefiningeightieshothatch,andthesedaystheSwiftSportsitsbelowtheFordFiestaSTintermsofpowerandperformance.Sohowdothetwocompare?TheSwiftisfeatherweightbymodernstandards,at975kg,butit’spositivelyobesebesidethe820kgXS.That’sthecompromiseyouhavetomakeforairbags,arearparkingcameraandforwardcollisiondetection.Orindeedanysafetygearatall.Thenthere’stheequipment.TheSwifthaselectricwindowsallround,atouchscreensat-navsystemwithAndroidAutoandAppleCarPlay,climatecontrol,alloywheelsandLEDheadlights.MyPeugeothasadigitalclockthatworkssometimes.Andeventhoughtheold-timerhasaweightadvantage,theSuzukistillbatsitasideinastraight-linesprint.The205’stwin-choke,carb-fed1.4-litrepetrolengineproduces85bhp,alotlessthantheturbochargedSwift’s138bhpmotor,andthistranslatestoadifferenceof1.9secondsintheir0-62mphtimes.41Still,thePeugeotemphaticallyprovesnumbersaren’teverything.Buildingupspeedmaytakelonger,buttherazor-sharpthrottlelaunchesthe205forwardwitharaspfromtheexhaustandasnarlthatbuildsangrilytowardstheredline.WhiletheSwift’sturbounitfeelsalittlelazy,andsoundsdull,it’salotmorepunchyinthemid-range.Itdoesn’trelishbeingrevvedhard,butyoucanmakequickprogresswhenshort-shifting. I’mafanoftheSwift’sheavier-than-averagesteering(althoughnoteveryoneintheAutoExpressofficeagreeswithmeonthat),butitdoesn’tdeliverthefeedbackofthe205’sunassistedrack.TheSwift’sgearboxissnappyenough;itjustcan’tcompetewiththewonderfullylightyetmechanicalfeelofthe205,whichleavesyouslingingthroughthegateforfun.It’sashametheSuzuki’sshiftisgoodratherthangreat,becauseasweetmanualgearchangeisoneofthethingsthatJapanesehothatchesusuallymanagetogetjustright.41The205wasdevelopedwhennoise,vibrationandharshness(NVH)testingwasn’treallyafocus,soit’snoisy,buzzyandmostofthedashpiecesdon’tfitproperly.Thenoiseofeachbumpisn’tevenremotelysuppressedfromthecabin,buttherideisfairlyforgiving–somethingbothcarshaveincommon.Bythestandardsofmodernsportyhatchbacks,theSwiftispositivelypillow-like.IliveinLondon,andevenonthecapital’spoorly-surfacedroads,theSwiftSportmanagestokeepitscomposure.Still,goingoverlargepotholesismuchmorecomfortableintheolder,lightercar.SowhichwouldIbuywithmyowncash?Well,byallobjectivemeasures,theSuzukiisthebetterchoice,andit’saccomplishedevenagainstmodernrivals.Butthatdoesn’tmeanthatthePeugeotcan’tputasmileonmyface.It’salsoeasytoforgivethe205XSformissingoutonmodernkitwhenitcostmelesstobuyoutrightthanasinglemonthlyPCPpaymentontheSwift.SuzukiSwiftSport:firstreport41TheSuzukiSwiftSporthothatchfacesatoughinterviewasitjoinsourlong-termfleetMileage:1,593Economy:43.1mpgArecentstudystatedthatittakesathirdofemployersjust90secondstodecidewhetherornotthey’llofferacandidateajobataninterview.Icouldn’tfindanyspecificresearchintowhetherthefirstimpressionsofabrightyellowJapanesehothatchareasvital,butI’msuretheprinciplesaremuchthesame.ThisisournewSuzukiSwiftSport,andI’llberunningitforthenextfewmonths.Sohasmyfirstencounterleftmewiththedesiretohire,orwillIbeshowingthesportysuperminithedoor?Well,ifitslooksareequivalenttoawell-craftedcovernote,it’salreadygotmyattention.Asubtlebodykit,17-inchalloywheelsandtheretina-burningpaintjobhelpanalready-handsomecartostandoutinaclasswherestylemeansalmostasmuchassubstance.41Inside,theimpressionsaremoremixed.You’regreetedbyapairofbody-huggingsportsseatswhich,lovelythoughtheyfeel,aremountedtoohigh.Thesteeringwheelisniceenoughtolookatandtohold,butI’dlikeittomoveslightlyclosertowardsme.Intermsofdesign,thedashboardseemsagenerationbehindothersuperminis,andthankstothehard,unforgivingplasticused,itfeelsitaswell.Theinfotainmentsystemispoor,too:itlookslikeacheapaftermarketjobandisaboutasenjoyabletooperate.Atfivefootseveninches,Irarelymakethemostofacar’sheadroom,butthere’splentyifyouneedit.BootspaceisnomatchforaVolkswagenPolo’s,at265litres,butthentheSuzukiis13cmshorter.Themostimportantpartoftheinterviewprocess,however,comesinthedrive.Aswiththelooks,firstimpressionsarepositive;thesteeringfeelswellweightedandprecise,thepedalsarewellpositionedforheel-and-toedownshifts,andthegearbox,althoughnotassnappyasitcouldbe,ispositive.41TheSwift’sCVincludesarecentroadtestagainsttheVolkswagenup!GTIandFordFiestaST-Line,wheretheSuzukireallyhelditsown.Sure,itshouldfeelmoreplayfulonthelimitanditneedsafruitierexhaust,butournewhothatchisotherwiseveryaccomplished.However,thereareoneortwoquirksthatarebeginningtogratealready.Theover-reactiveautonomousemergencybrakingsystemmeantIquicklyswitcheditoff,butitturnsbackonagaineverytimeyourestartthecar.Thentherearethebrakes:whilethey’reabsolutelyfineontheopenroad,theysquealloudlywhenIcometoagentlehalt.Youknow,thesortofstopyoudocountlesstimesduringaslow-movingcommuteintothecentreoftown.Mydrivetowork,inotherwords.Marvellous.*InsurancequotefromAA(08001070680)fora42-year-oldinBanbury,Oxon,withthreepoints.NextStepsNewcardealsCarsSharethisonTwitterSharethisonFacebookEmailMostPopularTop10besthybridcarstobuy2022HybridcarsTop10besthybridcarstobuy2022Hybridpoweristhewayforwardifthecarindustryistobebelievedsowe'vefoundthetop10besthybridcarstobuynow...2Jan2022CitroenrevealsupdatedC5AircrossSUVCitroenC5AircrossSUVCitroenrevealsupdat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