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Suzuki Swift Sport

We've driven the more efficient and powerful Suzuki Swift Sport – is it as good to drive as its predecessor?

Suzuki Swift Sport front cornering

Text: Paul Bond / Photos: Otis Clay

October 2011

One of our favourite hot hatches has returned – this is the all-new Suzuki Swift Sport. Unveiled at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September, and due to go on sale in the UK early next year, this sporty three-door version of the Swift hatch is aiming to build on the cult success of its predecessor.

The design has certainly taken an evolutionary step forward and it’s now much easier to tell the Sport apart from the standard car. The finished model isn’t as extrovert as the Concept version shown at Geneva back in March, but plenty of buyers will appreciate the subtle approach taken to performance styling.

The three-door shape and tinted rear windows give it a much more compact and aggressive stance, as do the standard 17-inch alloy wheels, rear roof spoiler and deep honeycomb grille. Fin-like foglight clusters and darker headlights accentuate the wider, lower front bumper, and it looks every inch the pocket hot hatch.

Mechanically, Suzuki has stuck closely to the original formula for this new incarnation, so the Sport is still powered by a 1.6-litre, naturally aspirated VVT petrol engine. Power ouput has been upped slightly to 134bhp, while torque has also increased with 160Nm now available from lower down the rev-range. That might not sound like much but in a car that weighs just over a tonne, it rarely feels underpowered.

A new six-speed manual gearbox, which features a clever new synchromesh in the first two gears for easier, faster changes, helps the Swift feel quick off the line. The shift action is light and accurate, and once the revs climb above 4,500rpm the engine really starts to come on song, with the twin-exhausts providing a frantic soundtrack as you push towards the redline.

The sport features a thoroughly bespoke suspension and steering setup, which has been tuned to give increased stiffness and high-speed stability over the standard car. The changes include stiffer suspension bushes, and higher spring rates front and back for a grippier, more planted feel. 

These tweaks don’t totally transform the Swift’s character - it still rides very nicely for such a small car – but any hint of body roll has vanished, and the beautifully judged steering allows the driver to really exploit the balanced chassis. On winding roads the Swift feels wonderfully nimble, and the excellent brakes inspire plenty of confidence.

From behind the wheel, apart from the heavily bolstered sports seats, and a few red ‘Sport’ badges smattered throughout the cabin, there’s not much to separate it from the standard car. The simple dash layout remains unchanged, but the quality of the dash plastics easily matches class leaders from Ford and VW.

The three-door shape does make it trickier to get in and out of the back, but there’s a surprising amount of space for rear passengers. The sacrifice being that the shallow 211-litre boot is only suitable for a few small bags, though this does extend to 512-litres with the seat backs folded.

Handily, it is more efficient than before, with the extra gear boosting fuel economy from 39.8mpg in the outgoing model to 44.1mpg,while C02 emissions have dropped to 147g/km.

When the Swift Sport arrives in showrooms in January, its biggest rival is likely to be the revised Renaultsport Twingo, but if Suzuki can deliver on its promised price tag of around £14,000, then the French car has definitely got its work cut out.

 

For an alternative review of the latest Suzuki Swift visit our sister site carbuyer.co.uk

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8 Comments

All Show No Go

I do like the Suzuki Swift, but in this incarnation even more than before - it just talks the talk, but can't walk the walk. All that twin-exhaust, lp-tyres, recaro-esque seats thing is OK if there's a bit of lead in the pencil. But there isn't: performance in the same ballpark as a Mini Cooper, or Fiesta Zetec (indeed the S1600 of the latter is half a second quicker to 60 with the same power output). It's not a bad car, and has the Suzuki dealership network to back it up, but it's just not a 'Sport' - more of a Suzuki Swift 'Camp'.

By iamaweasel01 on 24 October, 2011, 9:51pm

Every guy who likes or owns an older model should like this one. There's nothing wrong with the performance and economy figures, but I reckon adding a turbo could give the improvement I personally think it needs.

By JPW2010 on 25 October, 2011, 12:45pm

needs more power

i love the swift i test drove the 1st Swift sport and it was nearly as much fun as my old suzuki Ignis sport.The only reasons i didn't buy one was it's thirst for super unleaded and lack of torque,so i bought the Colt CZT for same money,more economical normal fuel,lighter and more powerful.If i wasn't now a diesel convert and i was looking for a good value nippy hatch i would buy the Ralliart colt but thats after i had test drove one of these newer swifts.It amazes me that suzuki make 1300cc motorbikes with 160+ bhp yet don't apply their ability of extracting power to their car range.

By nickbsmooth on 25 October, 2011, 5:02pm

Very appealing

The standard swift is one of the best small cars on the road and this new sport version builds further on that - I think there will always be a wider market for 'warm' hatches rather than hot turbocharged ones, since fuel consumption is favourable and insurance groupings low. I dont think Suzuki will have much trouble shifting this new swift Sport - if I was downsizing I would be interested in this.

By cousins11 on 25 October, 2011, 6:06pm

I'll reserve judgement until I have a go in one

But like the others have said, the potential to be really special has been lost with only 134BHP on offer (good point made by nickbsmooth about Suzuki motorbikes).
Some will say that is enough, but I want a reliable (that usually means Japanese) alternative to the Renault Sport Clio or Mini Cooper S.
Unfortunately, this feels like a missed opportunity - how about a Swift Sport R Suzuki?!

By gavsmit on 25 October, 2011, 6:27pm

looks alone will sell the car

i agree with a lot of the above comments
there is definitly a need for a sport and and sport R version
we dont all want to drive like sebastian loeb but want the tasty looks of a performance car with the benefits of lower fuel/insurance and running costs..but it would be mice to have the hotter option

By bluequake on 26 October, 2011, 9:50pm

power is nothing without control.

people with their power hunger. RS3 has tons of it but it's not what u would exactly call great driving experience. this provides it. it's also one of the last remaining normally aspirated hot hatches. love it.

By julianlee on 27 October, 2011, 2:40pm

Usable power!!!

Guys I have read your comments but don't understand where your coming from. Having owned civic type R's a clio cup and focus st, I have to say the Swift Sport is easily the most enjoyable drivers car I've ever owned. Granted the bhp is not massive but the car is so light and the chassis is excellent, you'll find the power is just so easy to use. Trust me you'll have as much fun if not more battling up a country road in a Swift Sport than you would in a £55,000 sportscar.

The guys needing more power should go and learn to drive. The amount of clio sports who had to back down whilst I ran the Swift waqs unreal!!!

By swiftsport on 12 January, 2012, 7:34pm

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Suzuki Swift Sport front cornering
Suzuki Swift Sport rear tracking
Suzuki Swift Sport dash
Suzuki Swift Sport badge
Suzuki Swift Sport front tracking
Suzuki Swift Sport detail
Suzuki Swift Sport rear seats
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FIRST OPINION

    The latest Swift Sport is every bit as good as its predecessor, offering up fantastic driving thrills in attractive and surprisingly grown-up package. Few cars – in any segment – can match the fun factor that comes from its lively blend of agile handling and a high-revving petrol engine. If you’re looking for a junior hot hatch, then it’s impossible to do better for less. 

 

AT A GLANCE

    Price: £14,000 (est)
    Engine: 1.6-litre 4cyl petrol 
    Power/torque: 134bhp/160Nm
    Transmission: Six-speed manual, front-wheel drive 
    Top speed/0-62mph: 121mph/8.7 secs
    Economy/CO2: 44.1mpg/147g/km
    Equipment: 17-inch alloys, air-con, sports seats, keyless entry, ESP, leather multifunction steering wheel, cruise control, electric windows, Bluetooth, MP3, USB.
    On sale: January
     
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