Suzuki Swift Sport: The small, gutsy car that punches above its weight
The Suzuki Swift Sport is something of a legend in South Africa. The almost cult-like following is largely due to the fact that it offers loads of handling prowess, a gutsy engine and Suzuki’s penchant for adding lots of “kit” at a phenomenally competitive price. The new Swift Sport offers more of the same.
My immediate reaction to the Swift Sport is that it’s more equipped than ever before, with a balanced mix of technology, convenience and comfort features.
Touchscreen infotainment
The interior is no doubt sporty, but new to the mix is the addition of a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment centre, featuring the likes of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, as well as the ancillary AUX, USB and Bluetooth connectivity.
The screen and Android Auto / Apple CarPlay addition is entirely new and a very welcome feature. It’s easy to use and entirely intuitive.
As always, the touchscreen, in particular the volume controls, can be slightly finicky to get right — but as a driver, you do have the added feature of a multi-function steering from which things are much easier to operate.
Cabin niceties
The cabin is an ergonomically sound design with niceties such as cruise control, electric windows and mirrors, climate control function as well as a central multi-function display that reveals some interesting vehicle information.
The Boost gauge, as well as the Power/Torque gauge, is another sign of the new times. There’s a turbo under the bonnet.
BOOSTERJET turbo makes an entrance
BOOSTERJET is Suzuki’s name for their new turbocharged engines. In this case, it’s a 1.4-litre engine, similar to the one in the Suzuki Grand Vitara, but tuned to deliver a more exciting experience. And that it does – very well indeed.
The old 1.6-litre NA engine was a high-revving, 100kW motor. The new 1.4-litre gains 3kW in power, but a mighty 70Nm more in torque.
This torque is delivered between 2 500-3 500rpm and without too much turbo lag, it’s the sweet spot for sporty driving, making the Swift Sport a fun mobile with respectable accelerative force: 0-100km/h in eight seconds and a top end of 205km/h are the numbers – but it’s how they arrive that’s the best part.
While the Sport doesn’t rev as high as the previous car, the turbo delivers power very quickly in each gear leaving the driver with a lot of work to do as you slice through the gears finding more and more speed.
It’s an immersive experience for those who love the clutch-gear-pedal combo. What is missing or different from the old car, is the solidity of the 6-speed shifter. The new shifter is very light and soft, perhaps easier for the normal everyday commute, but not as reassuring as the old car’s gear action.
Less weight – more speed
This lightness has really been part of the entire execution of the Swift Sport. The car weighs 90kg less than its predecessor tipping the scales at 970kg.
You can feel it from the moment you drive the car – it’s a sharper, more nimble corner-dicing tool. Its ability to change direction quickly and with driver confidence is uncanny. Where those front-driven wheels do tend to understeer, it’s done with enough feedback to allow an easier transition back into control.
Nippy nature excites and entices
The Swift Sport boasts over 100KW/tonne which explains it’s nippy nature. It’s a joyful car, designed to excite and entice. It’s a car that is respectably competent yet completely unpretentious, something that only few cars can manage.
Sold in a variety of funky colours including of course the now famous “Champion Yellow”, the Suzuki Swift is a fantastic replacement of the previous car. It’s a car with attitude, competence and character – and at R315 900 for the manual, that makes it very hard to beat.
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