Quick review - Suzuki Swift 1.2 GL

By Ané Theron

The Swift has always been the go-to budget car for those who need their entry-level wheels to be fun to drive, and it's also a 2019 AutoTrader South African Car of the Year finalist. So, is the Swift still as entertaining as ever?

Styling

The Suzuki Swift is the reigning Japanese Car of the Year and it was a runner-up in the World Car of the Year Awards, so obviously the designers did something right!

The latest Swift has a new grille with large Suzuki badge and a wide and narrow secondary grille. According to Suzuki, these elements "visually lift the height of the nose, while retaining aerodynamic efficiency."

At the back, the luggage door has an integrated bulge that rounds off the shoulder line, while an additional high-level LED brake light is integrated into the subtle roof-spoiler. From the outside, the high-spec GL-models can be differentiated from the GA-spec Swift by its wheel cover design, colour-coded side mirrors (with integrated turn signals) and the addition of front fog lights.

Interior

Having driven the brilliant Suzuki Baleno last year, I immediately thought that this looked almost exactly like it - it's upmarket and quite sophisticated for its price, but the predominantly black interior is styled in such a way that it won't start looking dated any time soon. Some welcome improvements include a more sporty-looking steering wheel and redesigned front seats that offer firmer support.

Space and Comfort

I remember doing an advanced driving course on Killarney's skid pan in 2011 in none other than a sunshine yellow Swift. Oh, the fun we had! But space for much luggage there sadly wasn't.

The Suzukis of late are all big on user-friendliness and the Swift's design crew obviously listened to consumers. The boot is now considerably bigger, and capable of swallowing 268 litres of your best overnight luggage - that's 72 litres more than before. Space on the back seat is not very big on legroom, but younger kids won't mind until they hit their teens.

All Swifts in the range are equipped with air conditioning, front and rear electric windows, power steering and remote central locking. All models also have a tilt-adjustable steering column and a trip computer that displays fuel consumption and range. There's still no infotainment screen in the centre of the Swift like the Indian market gets, but I can't say that I missed it at all. As long as it's got Bluetooth, Bob's your uncle, really.

GL- models come equipped with a Bluetooth audio system and USB socket, steering wheel controls, and electrically adjustable side view mirrors.

Safety

Safety spec comprises ABS and EBD with brake assist and two frontal airbags, but no traction/stability control, which can be found in some of the other budget offerings such as the VW Up! and Renault Sandero. An alarm and immobiliser are standard fare.

In the EuroNCAP safety tests, the Swift scores three stars, but our Swift doesn't come with more than two airbags, while the EuroNCAP-tested models do. The Indian-built Suzuki scored 2 stars, but it doesn't have ABS like ours does. So I'd say the score for the SA-spec Swift is around two and a half, then. Not as good as the Renault Sandero or the Toyota Etios...

Personally, I also feel that traction control is a must nowadays - in many overseas countries ESC is mandatory, as it plays such a big part in keeping you in control of your car in slippery conditions. In South Africa however, it's still something that we mostly don't see in this segment (the entry-level Sandero is equipped with this).  If you are in the market for a new set of wheels, also read Safest Small Cars for New Drivers in SA.

The Drive

The Swift is the brand's most popular global model, and while changes have been made mostly to increase interior comfort and practicality, driving dynamics also sees an improvement. A wider track and longer wheelbase mean that the Swift feels more planted in corners, and a significant number of kilos lost has further enhanced the Swift's nimbleness. While my yellow Swift of 2011 weighed in at 1010kg, the latest Swift is a svelte and lithe 872kg.

 The back roads and mountain passes of Elgin and Grabouw were our playground for the week, and the Swift couldn't be happier to stretch its little legs around the bends of the Franschhoek pass. It's quite delighted to be pushed to its limits and stays mostly stable and composed as you push it well into the redline, but we did feel like we got blown about a little as the heavy South-Easter was out in full force.

Performance

Perfectly sprung to feel comfortable over bumpy roads but hard enough to still feel sporty, the Swift is a dynamic little car that has an almost surprising amount of oomph for its little free-revving 1.2-litre engine (61kW & 113Nm), with light, direct steering for city driving and a slick-shifting 5-speed gearbox.

Fuel Consumption

The Swift's light kerb weight and efficient engine work together to keep fuel costs to a minimum. If you drive like you know you should, a figure of 5-6 litres per 100 km will make that 37-litre tank last a long time: You should be able to squeeze around 600 km out of one tank.

Pricing

R177 900 for the 1.2 GL is a fair price for a solidly-built package, but I would also consider the abovementioned Toyota Etios and Renault Sandero. Are they as much fun to drive? Not quite, but they offer more peace of mind where safety is concerned. 

Verdict

The Swift has pretty much everything a city dweller needs and is competitively priced, offering drivers of all age groups what they need most in a small car, with the added fun factor to make the daily commute a little less of a slog. Definitely, one to consider if you need more than just affordable, reliable transport. If only its safety score was a little higher.

 

*Please note that prices may have increased since this article was first published. http://www.bizcommunity.com/Article/196/657/182513.html