Suzuki Swift Sport, presentation and road test in Madrid

This year sales of the Japanese brand Suzuki are being affected (as is most of the car industry) by the crisis, with increasingly gloomy sales forecasts. Even so, it keeps launching new models, and the new Suzuki Swift Sport is one of the most important.

The new Suzuki Swift Sport arrives with design changes but above all with a considerable improvement in ride comfort and handling, and fuel consumption and emissions have also been improved, with power increased to 136 CV.

On top of this comes a complete standard equipment list, which includes xenon headlights and air conditioning, among other features, at a starting price that is really attractive, at 15,995 euros (promotional price included).

Sporty exterior design and practical interior

Within the Swift range this is the most powerful and sporty model, something that is clearly seen in the exterior design. From the front we barely notice differences with the conventional model, but as soon as we see it from the side, the 17-inch alloy wheels (standard) or the rear spoiler stand out.

It is precisely at the rear where its two exhaust outlets and the lower part of the bumper put the finishing touch to the sporty look of the Suzuki Swift Sport.

Moving inside, as soon as you open the door the sports seats with the Sport logo welcome you. These seats stand out for their good lateral support and comfort. Red stitching on the leather-wrapped steering wheel and gear lever complements the sporty touch inside.

The perceived quality is good, there is a lot of plastic but it is pleasant to the touch and to the eye, and the fit and finish are correct. We have practically everything to hand, and the steering wheel has controls for the radio and cruise control.

Inside, the presence of storage spaces to leave our things stands out, a practical touch for a model of this kind. The space in the front seats is adequate, with enough headroom and generally comfortable. The worse part goes to the rear seats, which have less legroom and the headroom is also tight: if you are over 1.75 metres you will travel a little cramped.

Finally, the interior review leaves us with the boot, with about 211 litres, but only two travel bags fit because the space is small. That said, the rear seats can be folded down, but the load surface is not flat.

Driving impressions

During the first contact with the Suzuki Swift Sport we were able to cover nearly 70 km and test the car and its handling in the north of Madrid, on a route that also let us test its behaviour in corners.

The first thing that stands out about the Swift Sport is its smooth behaviour. As soon as the 1.6 engine with 136 CV starts, it makes barely any noise, and the car behaves smoothly while we drive through the city and head towards the motorway.

As we progress along the motorway I feel the lack of horsepower as I accelerate, and the car responds progressively, but that is normal, since it is not until we reach 3,500–4,000 rpm that we notice the engine’s response, which pushes on without faltering up to 6,000 rpm.

In terms of figures, the engine delivers 160 Nm of torque and accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 8.7 seconds. Finally, it has a top speed of 195 km/h, correct figures for a sporty model in this segment.

Some road irregularities put the suspension to the test; it is firm and taut, but effective, especially in bends and in more agile driving, where the Swift Sport performs outstandingly in terms of stability and agility.

The steering and the feel of the gearbox complete that sporty and precise character of the Swift, which makes it a fun car to enjoy driving on winding roads or a mountain pass, while its dimensions also make it handy for getting around the city.

As for fuel consumption, it has been reduced, as have emissions: the official combined consumption is now 6.4 litres per 100 km (with CO2 emissions of 147 g/km).

Equipment and prices

The Suzuki Swift Sport goes on sale on 2 January 2012, although reservations for the model can already be made. The starting price is 17,495 euros, but a promotional campaign brings it down to a final 15,995 euros.

Standard equipment includes: seven airbags, ABS, stability control, air conditioning, xenon headlights, speed control, light and rain sensor, fog lights, keyless entry and start, CD-MP3 radio with six speakers and USB input, and 17-inch alloy wheels.

In short, the Swift Sport is a very interesting car for breaking the monotony of the city car segment. It is fun to drive and at the same time has a very competitive starting price given its very complete standard equipment.

Photos | Diego G. Moreira