The third-generation Suzuki Swift has continued to capitalise on the recognition of its predecessors, and supply a viable alternative for first-time automotive patrons or these on the lookout for a great metropolis automotive that gives excessive ranges of security, first rate know-how and nice driving dynamics.

Suzuki has remained conservative in its design modifications concerning its very profitable Swift. Many bear in mind the first-generation Swift that got here out in 2004, however maybe received’t be the inform the second and third generations aside.

That is deliberate on Suzuki’s behalf, as the corporate has determined that the Swift is now an icon and preserving its enjoyable boxy form is a part of nameplate’s enchantment. Automotive icons are arduous to construct, however when you’ve gotten one, automotive corporations are sometimes reluctant to throw them away and begin from scratch.

Consider the Mercedes-Benz G-Wagen or Porsche 911, the Swift is – in its personal means – simply as iconic to a era of patrons that noticed it as the proper first or second automotive, with its fashionable but playful styling. At one stage, the Swift was essentially the most modified automotive within the Australian market, and also you solely actually modify a automotive you like.

So there isn’t any lack of affection for the Swift, nonetheless the world has modified and what was as soon as one of many least expensive choices in market is at this time a really mature, protected and fascinating providing priced accordingly.

The Suzuki Swift measures 3845mm in size, 1735mm in width and sits 1495mm excessive on a 2450mm wheelbase.

The sunshine hatchback competes with not simply the likes of the Mazda 2 and soon-to-be-retired Kia Rio, but additionally the marginally bigger and cheaper MG 3. Nonetheless, it has constantly confirmed itself a robust contender given its construct high quality, reliability and security credentials.

How a lot does the Suzuki Swift value?

The automotive we’re testing right here is the Suzuki Swift GL+, which is a QLD-only version – Suzuki has a protracted historical past of profitable distribution particularly in QLD, separate to the remainder of the nation – and is priced from $24,990 with the CVT computerized.

For a overview of the Swift in different elements of Australia, try our Swift showroom.

This places it inside a couple of thousand of the MG 3 (which doesn’t have the security credentials) in addition to the Kia Rio (or Picanto if you wish to go smaller) and Mazda 2.

Yow will discover the total pricing for the Swift vary right here.

What’s the Suzuki Swift like on the within?

For those who’re anticipating an ultra-modern inside, look elsewhere.

For the asking value the Swift hits a candy spot of usable know-how, construct high quality and refinement, nonetheless its inside design is conservative at greatest, with conventional switchgear, steering wheel and format.

Every little thing is strictly the place you need it to be, and not one of the switchgear nor the steering wheel really feel low-cost to the touch or use, which is strictly what we might anticipate from Suzuki.

We discovered the seats snug to take a seat in with no complaints even after a protracted drive. One of many issues that made the Swift so well-liked from day one has been the large quantity of headroom, which stays true at this time.

Taller occupants will discover themselves properly accommodated, as will these sitting within the again seats, given the beneficiant quantity of knee room.

There are two cup holders within the entrance between the 2 seats in entrance of the gear lever, with extra areas within the doorways for bigger bottles.

We discovered the practicality of the storage areas within the Swift to be greater than sufficient for regular use and the cup holders within the sprint ideally positioned low and in a simple to succeed in location.

The 7.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system is again within the Swift GL+ because of the chip scarcity sorting itself out, and meaning native Apple CarPlay help. It does have its personal built-in navigation, however you actually received’t use it you probably have an iPhone.

The display is of first rate decision, and whereas we might have preferred wi-fi CarPlay or a minimum of USB-C ports for sooner charging, the present system works properly when plugged in.

If you’re already utilizing or upgrading to a brand new USB-C telephone (such because the upcoming iPhone 15), you’ll need a USB A/B to USB-C cable (somewhat than Lightning) to get it to work, however it should not have any points regardless.

We examined quite a few telephone calls whereas driving and located the microphone high quality to be fairly good. The stereo was additionally affordable for the worth, however lacked just a little little bit of bass. Nothing an aftermarket improve received’t repair.

This creator measures 179cm tall, and will comfortably sit behind my most well-liked driving place, suggesting you can simply match 4 giant adults on this automotive with out challenge.

5 adults is feasible, in fact, however the width of the Swift will not be going to be that sort in case your passengers fancy KFC a couple of instances per week.

Likewise, two child seats within the again are very doable, and with ISOFIX and top-tether latches it’s a easy course of. For those who do have only one baby, you’ll be able to match a large pram within the again as long as you’re keen to fold down one aspect of the again seats, but when you’ll want to use the whole again row, you’ll both want an everyday sized pram or a much bigger automotive.

There may be 242L of boot house with the rear seats in use, which extends to a considerable 556L when the rear seats are folded down, making the Swift a great Ikea automotive as properly.

What’s below the bonnet?

Regardless of many automotive corporations trying to simplify their line-ups to save lots of prices and improve manufacturing efficiencies, the Swift is obtainable in three totally different engine selections – a really uncommon factor on this section as of late.

The mannequin we’re testing right here, is powered by a 1.2-litre naturally-aspirated four-cylinder petrol engine which Suzuki refers to as K12C. It has 66kW of energy at 6000rpm and 120Nm of torque at 4400rpm.

For those who step as much as the GLX, you’re going to get a smaller three-cylinder 1.0-litre petrol engine, however it will get a turbocharger that sees energy soar to 82kW at 5500rpm and torque to 160Nm between 1500-4000rpm.

Those who actually will need to have one of the best can go for the Suzuki Swift Sport, which comes with a turbocharged 1.4-litre four-cylinder petrol engine that pumps out a massively wholesome 103kW of energy and 230Nm of torque.

Other than the ability variations between the three choices, the opposite notable characteristic change is that the bottom 1.2-litre engine is obtainable with both a five-speed guide transmission or a repeatedly variable transmission (CVT). The turbocharged motors ditch the CVT in favour of a correct six-speed computerized with precise gears, which positively improves the driving expertise – the Swift Sport can be out there with a six-speed guide.

CVTs are a special kind of computerized that to most shall be indistinguishable from an everyday auto however are inherently not the identical factor, if you wish to learn extra on what totally different transmissions imply, click on right here.

How does the Suzuki Swift drive?

If you already know just a little bit about vehicles and engines, you could have seemed on the energy figures above and questioned if the Swift is a little bit of gradual factor? The reply is completely not.

The basic facet of physics, in the case of acceleration, is all about power-to-weight. And whereas the entry-level Swift engine solely has 66kW of energy and 120Nm of torque, it weighs simply 900kg (kerb), which suggests the power-to-weight ratio may be very affordable.

Don’t get us unsuitable, it’s not a sizzling hatch – you will get fairly heat in the event you step into the Swift Sport, which solely weighs 90kg extra however gives almost 50 per cent extra energy and nearly double the torque – however it’s completely ample for the common individual driving round city and sometimes taking a protracted drive from the town out to the countryside.

The little Swift will stand up to hurry and performs the common overtakes with out an excessive amount of trouble, and as long as you will get used to the sound of the CVT, you received’t really feel such as you’re in a small, gradual automotive. In comparison with the MG 3, it’s positively a extra refined driving expertise and a way more energetic automotive.

Whereas it might not be a sporty automotive, per se, even the bottom Swift does carry parts of sporty enjoyable. Little doubt derived from the model’s wealthy historical past in rallying and motorsports, the front-wheel drive metropolis automotive is zippy, well-poised and all the time keen to entice its driver to go just a little sooner across the subsequent nook.

We discovered our time behind the wheel to be each fulfilling and rewarding given the automotive’s eagerness for just a little enjoyable. What we didn’t admire as a lot, had been the overly delicate lively security programs that warned we had been about to have an accident or depart our lane just a little extra dramatically than we might have preferred.

We obtained used to it and truly adjusted our driving to be rather less aggressive, however within the metropolis the ahead collision system might relax a bit – however as they are saying, higher protected than sorry.

One other characteristic we cherished concerning the Swift is the lively cruise management, which suggests you’ll be able to set your velocity and distance to the automotive in entrance and let little Suzuki take over the acceleration and braking.

That is tremendous useful on lengthy freeway drives and the Swift did an important job of sustaining a long way on the set velocity. This can be a characteristic you completely won’t discover within the MG 3.

The journey consolation and bump absorption capability of the Swift can be superb, with Brisbane’s horrible roads proving no problem to the well-engineered suspension system of the Japanese automotive.

General, the driving dynamics and dealing with of the Suzuki Swift is definitely one in all its greatest highlights, and the boldness it supplies will make driving in any situation or street a a lot safer expertise.

Suzuki’s claimed gasoline financial system determine for the GL+ is 4.8 litres of normal 91 RON gasoline per 100km, and whereas which may be achievable in the event you’re tremendous conservative along with your proper foot – we had a model new automotive with 12km on it, so it wanted to be damaged in and managed mid-7s – anticipate to be nearer to 6L/100km in the event you prefer to stand up and go.

What do you get?

Swift GL+ highlights:

• 16-inch alloy wheels
• Fog lights
• LED daytime operating lights
• 7.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system
• Apple CarPlay, Android Auto
• Energy home windows
• Distant keyless entry
• Air-conditioning
• Automated LED headlights
• Keyless entry and begin
• Local weather management air-conditioning
• Autonomous emergency braking
• Adaptive cruise management
• Lane-departure warning
• Weaving alert
• Blind-spot monitoring
• Rear cross-traffic alert
• Rear parking sensors

Is the Suzuki Swift protected?

The Suzuki Swift scored the very best five-star ANCAP security score again in 2017 and has not been examined since.

Fashions with out the autonomous braking (reminiscent of the bottom GL) scored decrease, however the basic passive security programs of the airbags, crumple zones, and construct high quality is identical throughout all fashions.

Again below the 2017 laws, the Swift scored 35.13 out of a attainable 37 factors in native security testing.

The Swift’s security credentials are one in all its main draw playing cards, given it competes with the MG 3 – which has by no means been examined by ANCAP and rated simply three stars by Euro NCAP.

How a lot does the Suzuki Swift value to run?

In Queensland, the Suzuki Swift is a fairly low-cost automotive to run because of a fixed-price service program that can be sure you pays the identical value regardless of which authorised Suzuki QLD vendor you go to.

Suzuki says the 1.2-litre Swift wants a service each 12 months or 15,000km – whichever happens first.

Suzuki Swift 1.2 service pricing:

• 1st Service: $299
• 2nd Service: $329
• third Service: $429
• 4th Service: $329
• fifth Service: $299

Suzuki supplies a nationwide five-year, limitless kilometre guarantee.

CarExpert’s Tackle the Suzuki Swift

Whether or not you need to purchase your first automotive or eager to purchase a second small metropolis automotive for the household to get round in, the Suzuki Swift is a superb providing that won’t disappoint.

It’s a dependable, protected and enjoyable automotive to drive and personal. It proves that timeless design doesn’t want to vary for the sake of change itself.

There are issues we love about it; reminiscent of its driving dynamics, inside packaging and house in addition to its journey high quality and luxury. However it may additionally do with some minor enhancements, just like the addition of USB-C cost ports, wi-fi Apple CarPlay (although wired works nice), and a extra refined CVT expertise.

The excellent news is that there aren’t any asterisks in the case of shopping for a Swift. It’s not attempting to cover a poor security score, unhealthy gasoline financial system, costly servicing prices or another catch.

It’s an important alternative that ticks many packing containers, and that’s why it continues to stay a well-liked alternative amongst patrons throughout Queensland and Australia as a complete.

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