Suzuki Swift Sport CAR review

05 September 2006 09:00

Suzuki Swift Sport? Sounds like a horrible special edition to me...

The name may suggest graphic-laden dealer special, but this is a genuine junior hot hatch. The Swift Sport is a thoroughly sorted, stiffened, lowered, meaner looking and gruffer-sounding distant relative to the standard car. Above the 17-inch wheels and bodykit are stiffened Monroe dampers coupled with uprated springs, along with a specially developed 123bhp, 1.6-litre VVT petrol engine. It's good value – prices are set to start at £11,200; fast – 62mph is disposed of in only 8.9sec; and it's destined to form the basis for the new Suzuki WRC car. So it's cool as well.

Will my friends laugh at me if I buy one over, say, a Citroen C2 VTS or a Mini Cooper?

They shouldn't. This little car has credibility way beyond the WRC link. For the past year engineers have been lapping the Nurburging to finalise the damper and spring settings. And it's not just the engine that's bespoke: the uprated clutch, big bore tailpipes, the gearchange feel and steering are all new. Even the electronic throttle has been remapped to make the engine feel more responsive.

By: Angus Fitton

Click Thumbnails to Enlarge

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

2011 Suzuki Swift Spied in Most Revealing Shots Yet

Copyright Carpix / 2011 Suzuki Swift Prototype

By Thami Masemola
August 2, 2009 1:33 PM
Filed Under: Japanese, Spy Photos, Suzuki

The next-generation Suzuki Swift has been spied with a revealing front end. The car is still covered in the black stuff but the front grille shows Suzuki's new family face which debuted on the newly-revealed Kizashi sedan. The front lights are in full and clear visibility.

Currently in its fifth generation the Swift is one of the most highly regarded cars in its segment. Front-wheel-drive is standard but some Japanese models are available with optional 4WD. It has petrol engines that range from a 1.2-litre up to a 1.6-litre in line with Suzuki's general small-car bias. The new car should keep the same train of thought and may also add a diesel. Rumours point to a hybrid version being offered in the lineup in markets like Japan.

The US will see the return of the Swift some time in 2010 after the company confirmed it was interested in selling the hatch in America. "The Swift is known as a pocket rocket internationally," Gene Brown, marketing director of American Suzuki Motor Corp was quoted as saying, "and that is the type of product we want here."

If it happens, that rumoured hybrid would most probably cross the Pacific and have the CVT option currently sold with the 1.2-litre.

Car reviews

Suzuki Swift Hatchback (05 on)

Other Suzuki reviews

• Summary
• Driving & Performance
• Comfort
• Safety & Reliability
• Buying & Selling
• Costs
• Facts & Figures
• Also Consider
• Company Car

New price range	£8,804 - £11,168
What will it be worth in 1-3 years?

Used Price Range	£4,189 - £9,960

Get a finance quote

Cars for sale

Search 345 Swift Hatchbacks for sale

Postcode:

Swift Hatchback video review

Summary

• Good value and well equipped, great fun to drive, distinctive styling, economical diesel available, roomy cabin
• Fairly small boot

It may lack the badge kudos of the Corsa or Clio but the Swift is a superb small car that is every bit the equal of more expensive hatchbacks. It's stylish and sporty looks mean it stands out from the crowd of usual suspects and with plenty of interior space along with a neat, well built cabin, it is also practical. The excellent ride means it's comfortable on the move but the best thing about the Swift is the handling - sharp and responsive it makes the little Suzuki great fun to drive in town and on the open road. Affordable prices, generous equipment levels and a diesel option only add to the attractive package - in short it's one of the best small cars on sale.

NatWest Car Insurance Get 12 months cover for the price of 11. Get a quote!

1992-2003 Suzuki Swift Car Review

Overall Rating Description Steer Clear. Terminally out-of-date supermini that only makes sense if it's very cheap indeed. Dynamics, equipment and build quality are all far removed from modern standards. Handling Comfort Quality & Reliability Performance Roominess Running Costs Value for Money Stereo/Sat Nav Best Models None Worst Models All

Road Test It's hard to work out why the Swift is still on sale. The little Suzuki is built in Hungary alongside its sister car, the equally dire Subaru Justy. The Swift is old fashioned, unpleasant to drive and totally lacking in any modern impact protection: airbags aren't even an option. Then there are the insipid driving dynamics, indifferent ride quality and noisy, slow engine. It really is motoring from another era, and it's not even that cheap: just £500 more gets you into the modern, well equipped Renault Clio and a basic Ford Ka actually costs less. One to avoid with extreme predjudice.

Find other Suzuki reviews here:- 1997-2006 Suzuki Alto Reviews 2008 Suzuki Forenza Reviews 1998-2006 Suzuki Grand Vitara Reviews 2008 Suzuki Grand Vitara Reviews 2000 Suzuki Ignis Reviews 1998 Suzuki Jimny Reviews 2001 Suzuki Liana Reviews 2008 Suzuki Reno Reviews 1992-2003 Suzuki Swift Reviews 2008 Suzuki SX4 Reviews 2008 Suzuki SX4 Reviews 2000 Suzuki Wagon R Reviews 2008 Suzuki XL-7 Reviews

Find Used Suzuki cars here:- Used Suzuki Aerio | Used Suzuki Alto | Used Suzuki Baleno | Used Suzuki Esteem | Used Suzuki Forenza | Used Suzuki Grand Vitara | Used Suzuki Ignis | Used Suzuki Jimny | Used Suzuki Liana | Used Suzuki Reno | Used Suzuki SX4 | Used Suzuki Samurai | Used Suzuki Sidekick | Used Suzuki Splash | Used Suzuki Swift | Used Suzuki Verona | Used Suzuki Vitara | Used Suzuki Wagon R | Used Suzuki X-90 | Used Suzuki XL-7

Suzuki Swift set for U.S. return by 2010, report says Posted April 16 2007 11:59 AM by Kirill Ougarov Filed under: Car News, Suzuki, Hatchbacks

Suzuki is planning to bring the next-generation Swift back to the United States sometime around 2010, according to a report in Automotive News. The previous-generation Swift, a nondescript econobox that barely registered on the automotive radar, was phased out Stateside in 2003. But in its current iteration as a hatchback, the Swift has garnered significant praise worldwide. The Euro-spec Swift is roughly the size of a Mini Cooper and comes in either a 3-door or 5-door model. A range of powertrains are available: 1.3-liter (92 horsepower) or 1.5-liter (101 horsepower) powered models in regular trim, with a 1.6-liter, 125 horsepower version in Sport guise (pictured). Additionally, a 69 horsepower, 1.3-liter diesel engine is available on 5-door Swifts. CLICK TO VIEW GALLERY Suzuki did not elaborate on what the coming North American Swift model range would look like, but the Swift Sport is the most likely candidate as it stands. The regular Swift might make it as well, especially if gas prices continue to climb. Similar models like Honda's Fit and Toyota's Yaris have proven that there is a market in the U.S. for small, economical hatchbacks. Save This Email Print Popular RSS SHARE THIS POST Digg Delicious Twitter StumbleUpon Reddit Facebook

COMMUNITY COMMENTS

esanchez (April 16 2007 02:32 PM)

What? Just 125 horse? Pump it up to 150-170, then I'll be interested. :-) I'm all for small, nimble & fast, though.

muchdrama (April 16 2007 04:41 PM)

Hey, 125 hp is nothing to snort at in a car this size...it'll move when you put the spurs to it.

Excellent news...and we're even getting the next generation model to boot!

Zook16V (April 17 2007 11:22 AM)

This is awesome!@ I owned a 1990 Suzuki Swift GT which to me was the original Mini Cooper S about 11 years early... and my favorite car I have ever owned.

4-cylinder, 1.3 liter, 100hp
16valve TwinCam
4-wheel disc brakes
fog lights
front & rear spoilers
dual chrome exhaust pipes
sport seats like an Acura RSX

I will definitely hold off purchasing the Honda Fit Sport and wait for the NEW Suzuki Swift!

swiftgt (September 2 2008 06:37 AM)

I had a 1994 swift GT with 210,000 miles on it and had it for 10 years. I did not want to rebuild the engine and suzuki had nothing I liked at the time. It was the best car I owned. I also owned a samuri before that.
I am a nissan ser spec v owner now and the quality and reliability is just awful. I had to put a new engine in it at 80k and it's no better than the first engine. I will never buy another nissan again which brings me to the suzuki equator which I heard was made by nissan. Big mistake there. I wanted the truck but not made by nissan. I might actually go buy the 09 sx4 sport because my nissan needs to be replaced and the swift is another year out. Thanks

Roadblaster (November 22 2008 02:49 PM)

Yeah, the Swift is tough, I had a '92 GT in Adelaide before I came to the States in '99. Couldn't find one to replace it when I got here. Will probably buy a new one when they're released. By the way, Zook16V, just when do you think the 'original' Mini Cooper S appeared? Try 1961, built by Austin Morris in England! The Swift was 28 years AFTER, mate! :p

Hako (January 26 2009 06:58 PM)

I hope Suzuki dealers wake up and realize that many of us current Suzuki owners don't want the Sx4 Sport, we want a sporty hatch with appealing looks. The Sx4 crossover has a hatch, but it's so heavy it's not much fun to drive. The Sx4 Sport is more nimble, but it's a sedan. Bring the Swift! I own an Aerio, and I'll buy the Swift.

fartfignewtons (February 8 2009 04:32 PM)

Not sure why they held off bring this thing into the US for so long. It has been rolling around in its new shell since '06 around the world. Come on Suzuki America, you gonna offer us the Reno over this? They would sell at ton of these over the Mini Copper! Love the SX-4 but really want the new Swift Sport! This will be my third Suzuki once it's available!

roygump (May 10 2009 07:53 PM)

I was just in Panama and saw a bunch of Swifts and thought they looked great. I was pleased when I got home and googled it to find they were coming in 2010 to the US. I rarely see a new car that I actually can see myself owning, but this may be the one. But will they offer us some crappy version of it?? Wasn't the European ford Focus a pretty bad ass car originally? Not the ones I see here that's for sure.
Maybe suzuki would give us a big discount if we pre-ordered them... after seeing what exactly they plan on offering us! Or maybe we'll all be ordering Fiats next year!

wackytrixxie (August 25 2009 02:07 PM)

Well I still have my 2001 suzuki swift hatchback. No turbo or anything silly. Has over 250,000 miles and is still a happy camper. I would buy the new swift in a heartbeat!

blue7053 (September 15 2009 11:57 AM)

My Geo Metro has 250,000 miles. I took out the passenger and rear seats and put in a sleeping bag and campstove. Over dirt roads in Canada and Mexico (35 mph?) always got over 50 mpg and once got 63. Progressive suspension gives a ride like my '68 Lincoln. Easy 70mph cruise on interstates.