Swift Surprises With Hidden Qualities

2023 Author: Eric Donovan | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-08-25 09:36

As a pure city car, the fourth edition of the Suzuki Swift is far too good. The small car even develops rally qualities when it is driven at high revs.

Stefan Grundhoff

With the Swift, Suzuki finally wants to take off on the European market. The small car is the first model from the Japanese automaker that has been specifically developed for the taste of European customers. The expectations are correspondingly high: When all engine variants are on the market, will 15,000 copies per year be sold in Germany? an ambitious goal.

The rounded shape of the 3.70 meter long Swift is noticeable in any case: the crouched body has short overhangs; the wheelbase has become noticeably wider. The protruding fenders, under which 15-inch wheels are hidden, are striking. This size should now act as the norm at Suzuki. A steeply sloping rear and elongated headlight elements also contribute to the sporty appearance.

Road hunter in disguise

The performance is also sporty. For the time being, only a 1.3 liter four-cylinder with an output of 68 kW / 92 PS is working under the hood. Euro 4 goes without saying. The maximum torque of 116 Nm at 4200 revs is not exactly lush. In city traffic, first and second gear are completely sufficient. This can easily be compensated for by the appropriate driving style? Turn up gears and shift late.

At just under 4000 revs, the 1.1-ton Swift suddenly pulls away nimbly. Thanks to the short gearshift travel, there is a real rally feeling on winding roads. The chassis adapted from the rally Suzuki is convincing; the front-wheel drive is fed up on the road. The standard ABS, electronic brake force distribution and six airbags ensure safety.

Brake a little too soft

And the engine also delivers the corresponding sound. The sprint from 0 to 100 km / h is completed in 11.0 seconds. The top speed is 175 km / h. In everyday use, the average consumption should be 6.5 liters of super per 100 kilometers. You can't really complain about these values. You can get used to the steering, but not to the too soft brakes in a small car that is so dynamic. There are also small compromises in terms of the comfort of the suspension.

Unlocking without a key

In the interior itself, the driver feels at home behind the tidy cockpit, as do the passengers. Here the Japanese have made huge gains. The overall impression is consistent thanks to the large windows, and Suzuki has done a lot in terms of appearance and quality. The annoying search for keys is a thing of the past in the top model thanks to "Keyless Entry". If the transmitter is close enough to the car, the door can be opened with the push of a button.

The Swift is spacious and also offers plenty of head and legroom in the back seats. The front seats can be adjusted in many ways (rare in this class) and offer good lateral support. The rear seats are more suitable for two people instead of three as intended.

The rear bench seat can be divided, whereby the trunk volume can be varied from 213 to 562 liters. However, the folding mechanism is not easy to see through. The brisk Suzuki is otherwise easy to use.

Diesel engine follows in 2006

The Swift is available in the three equipment variants Club, Comfort and Comfort + as well as in nine different paint finishes. This is a huge step forward for Suzuki. The entry-level model as a three-door model is a fair 10,990 euros. For the five-door, 500 euros more are due. The top version (from 13,490 euros) even comes with an easy-to-use navigation device including steering wheel controls.

If the 1.3 liter unit is not enough for you, you have to wait until September. Then the 1.5-liter version with an output of 75 kW / 102 PS comes on the market. This is then optionally available with a four-speed automatic and should give the Swift even more power. In 2006 the diesel variant followed with a displacement of 1.3 liters and 70 hp. This powertrain unit comes from the GM warehouse and is already in use in the Fiat Panda, for example.