Review : Suzuki Swift Sport

The Suzuki swift Sport remains one of the best hatchbacks that money can buy. It might have less power but it is light, nimble and fun to drive.

#Technical Bits

Engine and Suspension

The Suzuki Swift Sport comes standard with a 4-cylinder 1.6L engine as found in its predecessor. However Suzuki has managed to improve the power to 136hp/101kw with the introduction of variable intake valve timing (vvt). This allows the car to reach the output of turbo engines while being more efficient at the same time. All this combined along with a 6-speed manual gearbox and you have a hot hatch that screams till 6900rpm. The car tops out at 195km/h and spurs from 0-100km/h in a time of 8.7 seconds.

The Swift Sport has a newly developed chassis as well as a lower ride height and stiffened suspension. The steering feel is tremendous considering the car features electronic steering control as opposed to hydraulic. The sharp steering feel and minimal body roll makes this car one of the best around tight corners. I forgot to mention the addition of a traction control button (Bye bye front tires) which was something not found on the previous model as well as in some modern hatchbacks.

The interior is no disappointment either. The sport seats provided give ample support and comfort and it also has red stitching and aluminum pedals to give it that racier feel. In the model tested the radio had no sat-nav or Bluetooth. Luckily these options are now a standard feature in newer models along with cruise control. The car also comes standard with key less start which has proved to be a real blessing. Air-conditioning is standard as well as steering controls.

Driving Experience

You’ve probably heard many times that a small car with less power can be more fun than its turbocharged rival. Well it’s true. The swift sport is the type of car you want to take on twisty roads and push it to the limit. The ride is great and the response is great.

However it isn’t all smiles with the Swift Sport. The car tends to be sluggish at low rpm which makes the car feels a tad bit lazy. In the front there is plenty of room but that comes at the expense of your passengers in the back. That’s not the only space problem. The boot has a capacity of 211-Litres and to make things worse the car is not even equipped with a spare wheel or run flat tires. Fuel consumption averages at 15 km/L and can take a tumble if you constantly have your foot down.

Design

The Swift Sport clearly makes a statement on the road. The car gains its looks mainly from the aggressive looking front bumper and rear spoiler along with twin tailpipes. The car comes standard with alloy wheels but in South Africa we were given 16-inch alloys as opposed to 17-inch alloys, Thank you potholes.

Verdict

The Swift Sport remains a great car especially at a price of around R240 000 beating cars such as the Peugeot 208 GTI, the Ford Fiesta, Ford Focus and the list can go on. Also remember that the interior extras come standard. The car is not high risk and doesn’t lose value very fast.

If you willing to wait a little longer Suzuki is planning an upgrade to the Swift, on that includes a bigger boot and most importantly a turbo-charged engine. Hopefully it will still retain its impressive handling.