22/03/2024 The new Suzuki Swift is now in its fourth generation. With over 9 million sales to date the compact hatchback / supermini has proven itself to be very popular. Available in two very well equipped grades, the latest Swift has a price point that shames the competition. In Ireland the new model starts at €21,495. For this price, in this day and age, you’d expect to get wooden seats and a donkey under the bonnet but Suzuki has pulled out all of its small car building to deliver a very democractic car to the market. Its standard ‘Motion’ specification includes: heated front seats, LED headlights, 9-inch display, 16 inch alloys, Apple and Android phone integration, Sat Nav, Blind Spot Monitor, Traffic Sign Recognition, Adaptive Cruise Control, dual sensor brake support and rear parking sensors – astonishing!
Exterior styling has been tweaked rather than radically overhaul but when you look closely, you will see that there are new lights pushed far out to the extremities of the car grill which is quite handsome and a clamshell bonnet which is a nice touch, there are new paint colours as well as the option of a two tone colour with a contrasting roof colour.
Inside, the cabin is spacious and accommodating. There is a brand-new dashboard with multiple layers and while there is an abundance of plastics used the dash delivers a level of sophistication that the price point simply does not deserve.
The Swift weighs under a tonne and comes in front-wheel drive form for Ireland. An all wheel drive version is available in larger markets like the UK. Its size hasn’t changed, at under four metres in length (3.86m) and just 1.735m wide. Swift is easy to manouver in the city and yet large enough to tackle extra urban and motorway routes.
The latest Swift features a new three-cylinder, mild-hybrid 1.2 litre petrol engine (99g/km CO2) that is cleaner than the 1.2, four-cylinder it replaces. A five-speed manual gearbox is standard and a CVT auto is optional. The engine is frugal with an WLTP average fuel consumption figure of 4.4L/100km – that’s diesel like economy. The automatic is a bit thirstier at 4.7L/100km. Power is good at 82hp and 112nm and the three cylinder certainly contributes to the car feeling nippy when negociating urban environments.
The suspension has been revised/stiffened to make the ride similar to the best European models have to offer – plus a host of ADAS systems now feature to assist driving safety. On the road swift is eager and surprisingly nimble thanks to its low weight. The ride quality is very absorbent and overall the car’s dynamics are entertaining. The new five-door car manages speed bumps better than before and when colouring there is less roll too – overall there is a greater sense of sophistication.
Suzuki is known as an excellent small car maker and the new Swift is a very important car for the brand. This small hatchback sector is seeing major manufactures pull away from it in favour of compact SUVs – wher there is mor eprofit to be had. New Swift is important as it is a welcome reminder that you can have excellent motoring in a compact package that is just as accommodating as a slightly taller SUV variant – but at a cheaper price point! The car’s light weight and efficient engine hels deliver emissions that are sub 100g and excellent fuel economy for a petrol powered car. The new Swift will hold its value well and Suzuki is making it very tempting for buyers to get into the two trim level compact car in Ireland. The entry model has more extras than you could imagine a standard and shames the competition that in many cases are thousands of euros dearer. The ultimate ‘Ultra’ model has the kitchen sink fitted yet is a relatively small small price walk above the entry car.
It’s fair to say the new Suzuki has impressed us at Motorhub and we are very keen to see how the public support the car and its excellent price point. Suzuki in Ireland has a modest dealer network and if it had greater numbers the new Swift would be a best seller I’ve no doubt. Unfortunately for Suzuki, in Ireland, if there is not a dealer on your doorstep buyers won’t travel far. Michael Sheridan
