Suzuki Swift 2015 Review

Suzuki’s five-year-old current-generation Swift might seem to be getting a little long in the tooth, but it seems we’ll need to get used to it: The fifth-generation replacement is not expected until sometime in 2017, following a whole new generation of Suzukis that will include a less sporty, more passenger-friendly complement to the Swift and an all-new Vitara.

In the meantime the tight, lively little hatch we’ve taken into our affections will soldier on without significant changes to the format – which will undoubtedly present challenges for the Japanese company as the competition from other car-makers grows numerically and qualitatively.

Although the Swift is travelling well enough in the light car segment, its main competitors (such as Mazda2, Toyota Yaris and Hyundai i20) are dealing blows and counter-blows that are almost overwhelming in their freshness and intensity.

Fortunately for Suzuki, the Swift has a deservedly solid, well-established reputation. It is virtually the go-to choice for those not welded on to the products from the mainstream producers.

Our most recent experience with the Swift was a volume-selling auto-transmission GL model that showcases what the tightly compact, Thai-built five-door hatch is all about.

And compact it is: Compared with, say, a Toyota Yaris, it’s fractionally smaller (although it stands equally high), lighter and has a smaller engine. The differences are not enough to put the Swift into a lower size category, but they do take a toll, when compared with best-in-class, in terms of passenger and luggage space.

The Swift has a minuscule 210-litre bi-level boot (compared with 286 litres for the Yaris) while cabin space, if okay for the front-seat passengers, falls well short of generous in the back and requires a bit of seat juggling if a load of adult passengers is on board – a result of having, by far, the shortest wheelbase in the category. And rear headroom, despite the boxy shape and comparatively generous body height, can only be described as poor.

That said, the cabin is still a nice place to be: the presentation, despite unremittingly hard-touch plastics throughout, is neat and well-finished, and the driver-control interface is intuitive and ergonomic.

Even though the steering wheel adjusts for height, not reach, most drivers will be able to find a comfortable position on a comfy, height-adjustable cloth-trimmed seat. There’s a clear, simple instrument display with two large dials for tacho and speedo and a conventional HVAC/audio arrangement sweeping down to the centre console.

Switches on the leather-trimmed steering wheel take care of the cruise control and there are satellite controls for the audio system too. The GL gets a single-disc CD player, six speakers, an input socket for MP3/CD/cassette, an MP3 decoder and a USB socket. Bluetooth connectivity is made simply and quickly and, even at base GL level, all four windows are power operated.

The five-star ANCAP safety rating sees the Swift receive seven airbags, including a knee airbag for the driver, which is something of a bonus in this category.

For an extra $1500, Swift customers can also opt for the GL Navigator version, which comes with sat-nav but apart from the colour multi-function control screen and a memory card reader, is otherwise similarly equipped.

So the Swift is comfortable, if tightly contained package that mixes it comfortably with its generally newer competition – but how does it compare on the road?

With just 1.4 litres capacity, 70kW and 130Nm to work with, the Swift lags a little behind the 80kW-plus 1.5-litre engined competition [Ed: or the Swift Sport for that matter], although some ground is made up by its feather-light 1035kg kerb weight.

The long-stroke, 16-valve four-cylinder employs variable valve timing and various technologies to extract the most from its smallish capacity and is quite happy to rev quickly to its 6250rpm redline. Although the maximum 130Nm of torque arrives at 4000rpm, the engine is quite flexible, if not fully exploited by the four-speed auto transmission.

Happy enough part-throttle up-shifting around town and high geared enough to keep engine revs relatively low on the open road (cruising at 100km/h equates to roughly 2500rpm), the transmission is compromised by its shortage of ratios and is forced to make voluble downshifts maintaining velocity on hills, or when the accelerator is floored at lower road speeds.

Nevertheless the Swift usually feels responsive enough and the auto is intuitive enough to allow the car to easily keep pace with the flow of regular traffic. About the only deficit is a tendency for road noise to creep noticeably into the cabin at freeway speeds.

And we found the official fuel economy claims to be on the mark: our test car matched the 6.2L/100km ADR Combined figure during the week-long test period in a mix of freeway and urban conditions.

In terms of ride and handling the Swift is as fun to live with as ever. The short wheelbase and relatively wide track imbue it with a nice responsiveness that is not too compromised by the basic 15-inch steel wheels with their 175/65-series tyres and the electric power steering is well-weighted and quick enough to capitalise on the fundamentally sound strut (front) /torsion beam (rear) suspension set-up.

The Swift over the years has earned its keep in a tough market with a certain no-frills honesty that is complemented by undoubted practicality and an overall refinement that make it a light car that still has relevance... Even if its replacement is the best part of two years away.

2015 Suzuki Swift GL pricing and specifications:
Price: $17,990 (plus on-road costs)
Engine: 1.4-litre four-cylinder petrol
Output: 70kW/130Nm
Transmission: Four-speed automatic
Fuel: 6.2L/100km (ADR Combined)
CO2: 147g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety Rating: Five-star ANCAP