Buying a used Suzuki Swift (2005-2011)

Suzuki built its original Swift in the 1980s. It was a good car in a field that ranged from excellent to appalling. Then came the GTi version which was favourably compared with the classic Mini Cooper S and brought Suzuki genuine success in four-wheeled motor-sport.

The company then seemingly lost interest in the passenger market, taking until 2005 before again producing a car that could match the likes of Honda's Jazz and the Toyota Echo.

The EZ Series Swift that appeared here in 2005 brought a three-model selection and pricing that began at $15,990. Even in basic cars the list of standard features was excellent but it was rekindled affection for chassis dynamics among the engineering folk at Suzuki that generated the most positive comment.

All EZ Swifts came with five doors and buyers of base versions found a full set of electric windows, power mirrors, air-conditioning and remote locking. The wheels were steel but 15 inches in diameter and running chunky 185-section rubber.

ABS was standard and, like every Swift in the new line-up, there was a lap-sash seat belt for everyone plus driver and passenger air-bags. Four-speed automatic transmission added $2000, the warranty ran until 100,000km and about the only option that should have been standard was cruise control.

Also $2000 more expensive than the basic car was the S, or Z if it had been sold in Queensland. Anyone serious about owning a Swift should stump up the bit extra to fund one because the money is going to buy some important safety features not included with the base model plus alloy wheels and a leather-bound steering wheel.

Topping the range with an echo of 20 years earlier was the Swift Sport. Perhaps it wasn't a giant-killer in the mould of the old GTi but power still jumped to an impressive 92kW, there were bigger wheels and better tyres, double-deck intakes and fog-lights at the front, a body-kit with rear roof spoiler and dual exhausts. The price of these jumped to almost $24,000; probably a bit dear when Ford's XR4 Fiesta was only $1000 more.

Entertainment was important to the younger buyers that Suzuki was keen to attract, so even basic cars got a CD player and six speakers while the Sport played its tunes through eight speakers.

Mid-2007 brought an update that added Electronic Brake Assist but left pricing unchanged.
A year later, Suzuki played the well-worn Limited Edition card when launching a model to commemorate the brand's 100th Anniversary.

Suzuki took its base model Swift, threw in a claimed $5000 worth of extras and priced the finished product at $17,985 for the manual version. Along with distinctive paint, the Anniversary included alloy wheels, Alcantara seat trim, fog lights, remote folding mirrors and keyless start. Launched on April 1, 2009 the specced-up Suzuki was suspected by some as an April Fool's Day prank, guaranteeing media coverage.

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The temptation when going out to evaluate an EZ Swift is to head for the first dealership with a low-km Sport on offer. But don't ignore the S/Z mid-spec version, even if it does have auto-transmission.

Sitting on pretty decent slabs of rubber for a car of its size, with good seats and all the gear anyone in this size/price bracket might expect, the S does offer value as an affordable town car. Looking at available choices there seems to be plenty of 2006-2009 cars in the market that have done minimal kilometres and come with all-important service histories. Something that has averaged just 6000-8000 kilometres annually since new and is selling for less than half new cost should warrant a look.

The 1.5-litre engine sounds busy and with twin overhead cams plus variable valve timing, there's a bit to go wrong if maintenance is ignored. Servicing must be regimented and recommended oils used to prevent sludging around the valve train.

Off the mark, the auto hesitates a little but once rolling, the Swift lives up to its name by matching pace with city traffic. Vision in all directions is good and the power mirrors are a big help when parallel parking.

On the freeway or rural roads, an auto with the air-con operating is likely to a be frustratingly slow, however, the 74kW car in manual form kicks along quite well. Road testers still preferred the Sport which clocked a decent, but not electrifying, 6.8 seconds for the 80-120km/h overtaking increment.

What does disappoint is the high gearing that contributes to more noise than should be there at highway speeds and greater thirst. Consumption of 6.8L/100km is average and the best available from a manual is just below 6L/100km. The Sport is also tuned to give its best on more expensive 98 RON premium fuel.

Space up front is very good for this class of car with a range of seat adjustments and steering column tilt in the Sport. Air-conditioning and other central controls can be easily operated from either front seat. The back seat legally accommodates three people but over any distance it is better suited to a couple of occupants. It also splits to accommodate one passenger plus some cargo or flattens for a quite spacious load area.

Those who are safety sticklers might choose to go a little deeper into debt and get the post-2010 update model with its stronger body structure and five-star ANCAP score. The 2005-10 cars still make a solid four stars.

If you plan on using your Swift for lengthy trips or travel in areas where a new tyre may not be immediately available you will need to spend money on the spare wheel that Suzuki chose not to supply.

The lights, for all their swoopy shape, aren't all that bright and owners can find themselves flicking up to high-beam (illegally) to pick their way through poorly-illuminated suburban streets.

>> The Swift has a solidly-built occupant area but the crumple zones do crumple significantly, even when subject to only minor impacts. Look for consistency of panel gaps (bonnet, doors and rear hatch) and whether the bumpers align with adjacent panels. If the hatch or doors are hard to close, find another car.

>> A fuel pump fault detected in 2009 saw EZ Swifts ordered back to dealers for repair. Dealer service departments will be able to check that the work was done. A later recall repaired exterior mirrors that weren't properly glued to their mountings.

>> Alloy engine construction can generate big bills if the car has been overheated. Any sign of oil smoke from the exhaust is a warning of internal damage but sometimes there is no physical or audible sign at all. Have any car that passes initial evaluation inspected professionally.

>> Clutch shudder is usually due to owner abuse. These cars may reach 100,000km before needing a clutch change but there are instances of a new clutch being needed before clocking up 20,000. When considering a car that has undergone a major repair early in life, consider what other components may also have been abused and are ready for replacement.

>> Inspect all of the tyres, paying particular attention to inner edges for premature wear. Chopped-out rear rubber has been blamed on bent rear axles but the more common reason is that these cars don’t hold their setting for long after a wheel alignment. Drivers exploiting the Swift's cornering abilities wouldn't be helping tyre life either.

Used vehicle grading for a used Suzuki Swift
Design & Function: 13/20
Safety: 11/20
Practicality: 13/20 (five-door)
Value for Money: 15/20
Wow Factor: 12/20 (Sport)
SCORE: 64/100

ALSO CONSIDER: Ford Fiesta, Volkswagen Polo, Toyota Yaris

Our thanks for technical advice to Red Book Inspect