Suzuki Swift
The
Swift was always a winner for small car specialist, Suzuki.
Does the latest model can live up to its reputation?
What's
New?
It has been about a decade since Suzuki stopped making the
previous Swift. Available in sedan and hatchback formats,
it was a no-frills car designed for budget conscious drivers
with a small family. In its lifespan, the Swift proved to
be reliable and easy to maintain, and it was one of Suzuki's
best-selling cars of recent years.
The
Ignis then replaced the Swift, although Suzuki still kept
the "Swift" name in some markets. Like the car
it superseded, the Ignis was one of the Japanese automaker's
volume selling models, with affordable pricing and superb
practicality being two of its major selling points.
Towards
the year-end of 2004, Suzuki rolled out an all-new Swift
to replace the Ignis. The car is wider, taller and has a
longer wheelbase than the Ignis, but the overall length
is slightly shorter.
Sporting
tidy lines, prominent wheel arches and sizeable head and
taillights, the Swift looks contemporarily stylish and sporty.
Suzuki is hoping to attract the young buyers with this car,
as the average buyers' age for the previous model was higher
than what the company had originally aimed for.
How
It Performs
This time around, only the hatchback body style is offered
and there is only one engine choice, a new 101bhp 1.5-litre
VVT (Variable-Valve Timing) engine. The chassis has been
honed to provide a balance between driving fun and ride
comfort.
The
four-cylinder is buttery and hushed, and it provides plenty
of low-end torque, which is especially useful during acceleration.
Cruising at three-figure speeds does not prove overly strenuous
for the powerplant, but it gets a bit more raucous above
3,500rpm.
The
softly sprung suspension absorbs bad roads very well, but
it induces a noticeable amount of body roll around the corners.
Tyres could offer more grip and the steering feel is lacking
also. However, the turn-in response is quick and the chassis
feels impressively rigid.
You
can choose either a five-speed manual or four-speed automatic
transmission. The former boasts a clutch that is progressive
and easy to modulate, while the latter self-shifts smoothly
and responsively.
In
the cabin, noise insulation is close to luxury car standards.
Wind intrusion is hardly detectable and tyre noise is kept
to a minimum. The dashboard is made up of decent quality
plastics, while the switches and dials are ergonomically
located.
Shoulder
space up front is adequate and there is plenty of headroom.
Behind, the legroom is remarkably spacious, but having three
adults seated across could prove a bit of a tight fit. The
boot is large enough for one full sized suitcase, but in
case you need more storage area the rear bench has a 60/40
split/fold system.
How
It Stacks Up
Suzuki has achieved what it has set to do for the Swift.
It is a more exciting product than the previous model that
will appeal to the younger crowd. And at under $60,000 with
COE, the Swift has remained affordably priced too, with
the Mazda 2 and Hyundai Matrix in its sight.
| Technical Specifications |
|
MODEL
Suzuki Swift
ENGINE
Engine: 1490cc 16V in-line 4 with VVT (Variable-Valve
Timing)
Max Power: 101bhp at 6000rpm
Max Torque: 133Nm at 4000rpm
TRANSMISSION
5-speed manual
TOP SPEED
175 kmh
0-100km/h
10.0s
|
