Putting Suzuki’s Swift through its paces

One of my most unforgettable moments relating to a Suzuki Swift happened maybe ten years ago. I was reading a copy of an American car magazine (can’t remember if it was Car and Driver or Motor Trend) and one of the feature stories was a comparative handling test.

The testers put through several cars ranging from hatchbacks to sedans to all-out sports cars and exotic cars. Imagine my surprise when, at the end of the article, the little Suzuki Swift came out on top in the slalom test with a 71-mph thread through the cones. It was the only car that broke the 70-mph barrier. The author of the article, who claimed he almost dropped his coffee when he saw the test results on the laptop, said that the only changes to their Swift test unit was the fitment of aftermarket tires and a free-flow air filter.

Since then, I’ve been salivating to get my hands on this nimble little hatchback until, finally, it debuted locally about a year ago. But strong demand and limited supply conspired to whet my appetite longer than I would’ve wanted.

But a fully-dressed up bright red mica Suzuki Swift now sits in my garage and all is right with the world again. Of course, the Swift that has finally arrived on these shores is two or three generations newer than the one I first read about in that magazine. Sometimes having high expectations results in great disappointments — once reality sets in.

Fortunately, the new P738,000 Swift easily lived up to expectations — at least for the most part. Its styling, which we’ve been raving about from the instant we first laid eyes on it, is every bit as hip as a new Mini’s. The low-slung profile, the purposefully short front and rear overhangs, the very upright greenhouse, the modern-looking head- and taillamps — the Mini, err, the Swift makes a fascinating collage of contemporary and retro styling cues; all resulting in a convincingly fresh and impressively head-turning rendition of a British hot hatch. One can imagine Austin Mini-enamored owners painting it in British Racing Green, adding a Union Jack on the roof, and fitting Minilite wheels.

So Suzuki hit a homerun on the styling front? But what about the "go?" Pop the hood and you’ll get the answer: a 1.5-liter variable valve timing (VVT)-equipped twin-cam 16-valve motor developing 110 hp at 6000 rpm with a peak torque of 143 Newton-meters at 4000 rpm; to which is mated a gate-type 4-speed automatic transmission.

A hundred and ten horsepower may not sound like a blast on paper, but unburdened by the Swift’s petite dimensions and mass, it’s enough to endow the little 5-door with peppy acceleration whether from a standing start or at speed, say, when overtaking. Too bad there’s no stickshift option or even a manumatic mode for the autobox for a more engaging driving experience. At least 1.5 liters, even with an automatic, gave decent fuel economy (about 8 kpl in traffic-strewn city driving mixed with pedal-to-the-metal bursts of acceleration just for the fun of it).

The same applies with the Swift’s legendary handling. MacPherson struts and 15-inch wheels are nothing to write home about; but (again thanks to the Swift’s tidy size and light weight) they’re absolutely enough to give it entertainingly nimble handling without compromising riding comfort. Whatever choppiness you feel is the result of the Swift’s shortish wheelbase — something that would afflict similarly sized cars. Zipping through slow traffic is simply where the Swift revels in.

Braking, despite the lack of visual oomph of four-wheel discs (the ABS-equipped Swift has drum brakes at the rear), is strong and easy to modulate.

So the Swift gets an A in looks and a strong B+ in performance. How about in versatility? Simply put, it doesn’t set new standards. It’s about as versatile and functional as any of the subcompact hatchbacks out there short of the class-leading (in terms of interior utility) Honda Jazz. The Swift’s rear compartment, which features a flat floor, offers 213 liters of usable space that can be expanded to 562 liters by folding the 60:40-split, tumble-folding rear seat. Aluminum-trim highlights add an air of understated sophistication as do a sports bike-inspired tachometer. Centrally mounted at the leading edge of the fascia is a digital information display that shows time, instantaneous fuel consumption and outside temperature — a Swift class-exclusive.

The Swift’s CD player/stereo can be operated from the head unit or via buttons mounted on the sporty three-spoke steering wheel. Numerous storage spaces for cell phones, MP3 players, CDs, sunglasses, and other motoring paraphernalia are strategically provided — including a compartment in the instrument panel, a glove box, front and rear cup holders (three in all), a seatback pocket, front door pockets (large enough for A4-size documents), and a hidden tray under the front passenger seat. The Swift boasts keyless entry while the tailgate features an electric catch that just needs a light touch to release it.

Finally, the Swift is equipped with a generous array of safety features including dual front airbags, ABS, Electronic Brake-force Distribution and Brake Assist (EBD and BA), collapsible steering column, leg injury-mitigating brake and clutch pedals, front seatbelt pretensioners and force limiters, and child seat ISOFIX attachments on the rear seat.

The Good:

• striking looks

• a blast to drive

• lots of comfort and convenience features

• impressive list of safety features

The Bad:

• no stickshift option or manumatic mode

• pricey

The Verdict:

• A great way to blast away the cobwebs. Just driving one will take years off your age.