SWM G01 F test drive: an LPG-friendly SUV with an unbeatable price

A 4.61-metre SUV body, five seats with a good boot, very complete equipment, a sporty look… and a 1.5 Turbo bi-fuel engine running on petrol and LPG, ECO label… All of this from 27,400 euros is what the SWM G01 F offers. You can also get it from 24,000 if you settle for the entry-level version, the G01 without the finishing details of the “F”.

We’ll go into the prices in detail later. But before getting into it, a brief introduction to SWM won’t hurt, for those who think the brand sounds “Chinese”.

SWM: a Chinese brand with Italian design and presence in more than 40 countries

You’ve probably never heard of SWM before. They have only just arrived in our market, and they don’t advertise much either, so it’s normal that it doesn’t ring a bell. It is a Chinese brand distributed in Spain by Grupo Invicta since the end of 2021.

Its initials come from Speedy Working Motors; in its origins, back in the 1970s, SWM was an Italian manufacturer of off-road motorcycles. The company closed in 1984, but three decades after production ceased it was revived by the Chinese giant Shineray Holdings, which, among many other things -such as industrial machinery or agricultural vehicles- manufactures BMW and Renault Group models for the local market.

From 2016 onwards, in addition to motorcycles, it began manufacturing cars. To do so it relies on engineers with experience in the European automotive industry, and design and R&D centres in Italy and China. The main factory is located in Chongqing (China), and has an annual production capacity of 300,000 vehicles and as many engines. They currently sell their vehicles in more than 40 countries.

SUV body and sporty design, though a little busy

Turning now to the SWM G01, it is a compact SUV that, by size, competes in the category of the Ford Kuga, Citroën C5 Aircross or Nissan Qashqai: it measures 4.61 metres in length, 1.85 in width and 1.74 in height, with a wheelbase of 2.75 metres and a ground clearance of 20 cm. Compared with all of them it stands out for its low price… and because, generally speaking, it conveys a sense of quality lower than European or Japanese cars, which feel more modern and advanced, both when driving them and when examining them.

That said, the SWM G01 can still be a good alternative for those looking for a practical and versatile car, able to cover the travel needs of an average family, without giving up extensive equipment or even a “busy” design. And that is the case with the SWM G01, a car that can go totally unnoticed in its basic versions… or draw attention if it is the F version, the star of this test.

The “F” costs 1,700 euros more for the same equipment, in exchange for a series of details that set it apart from the rest of the range, seeking a sportier image. And it achieves that, although the result may even look overdone, depending on how you look at it. For example, the front features a specific honeycomb-design grille finished in black, with a large lower air intake even bigger than the grille itself, and two additional intakes under the headlights which are actually fake, as they are closed.

The bumpers have been oversized –perhaps too much– to the point that the overall length increases by 6 cm. The front incorporates a lower lip in glossy black, the same colour as the mirror housings and the side skirt mouldings. Glossy black is again repeated in the “hint” of a rear diffuser, which integrates a fog light and a double exhaust outlet more typical of a sports car with many more cylinders and horsepower. This was not the case with our test unit, but a black finish for the pillars and roof can also be optionally requested.

Depending on the body colour chosen, the result may even look like a “tuned” car, compared with the SWM G01 without this F finish. But there’s no accounting for taste, and the best thing is that you can choose. My recommendation, in any case, is that you see both versions before choosing, the G01 and the G01 F.

The interior of the SWM G01 F

Inside it offers a more modern and even more technological design than the exterior. Another matter is the striking colour combination our test unit had, with a contrasting yellow in the leather upholstery (synthetic, for this price don’t expect to find quality leather) and on some decorative elements of the dashboard that could not be better described with any other word. Contrast could not be more extreme.

Don’t look for luxurious materials, because you won’t find them. That said, they are pleasant both to the eye and to the touch, although the fit is clearly improvable, something noticed in the form of some creaks, especially when driving over potholes. Taller drivers may miss the double adjustment of the steering wheel, as it only adjusts for height. Even so, it is not hard to find a comfortable position.

The interior space is very good in relation to the exterior size of the car, with rear seats where there is no shortage of centimetres in any dimension. As for the boot, its 570-litre capacity is also a good figure, in line with the category average, and with very usable shapes. Under the floor we find the tank for the LPG conversion. On the downside, just a slightly raised loading lip, which makes it harder to load heavy objects.

Another pleasant surprise in the G01, always bearing its price in mind, is the double digital screen, one of seven inches for the instrument cluster, and another touchscreen with ten inches for the multimedia system. They are by no means as good as the graphics quality or speed we are used to in European cars, although they work correctly. The worst part is that depending on how the light hits them, it becomes so difficult to read the images that it can be maddening. The same goes for the button panel below the central screen, for controlling the climate system.

Petrol or LPG? I wouldn’t hesitate

The engine of the SWM G01 is a 1.5 petrol four-cylinder of Mitsubishi origin, which features turbocharging. It delivers 131 CV of power and a maximum torque of 215 Nm, and an automatic torque-converter gearbox can be chosen as an alternative to the six-speed manual. Drive is always to the front wheels.

SWM offers the option, for 1,800 euros, of fitting the LPG kit, which does not modify power or maximum torque. An option I recommend 100%, because fuel consumption is undoubtedly the most negative point of this car. It is true that the engine is somewhat harsh in operation, but that is forgiven. Nor is it a “rocket”, but it moves the car well if you use the gearbox with determination.

To put it in context: running on petrol alone, it is very hard to get below 10 l/100 km on average. Not that it consumes less on LPG; it is still an engine that needs a lot of fuel (whether petrol or gas) because, among other things, its responsiveness also means you have to keep it high in the rev range and use the gearbox frequently. But you will recoup the price difference quickly, and with LPG the cost per kilometre will no longer be a headache.

Remember that, in addition, the LPG conversion means enjoying the benefits of the ECO label. The gas tank replaces the spare wheel, and has a capacity of 52 litres. Together with the petrol tank, the officially homologated range exceeds 1,100 km, although in real driving it is more sensible to think in terms of around 800 km, emptying both tanks and driving calmly.

Very comfortable on the road and off it

When driving the SWM G01 you get the same feeling as when using its multimedia systems: it is not the most technologically advanced, nor the fastest, nor the most efficient. But it does the job. It is easy to drive, thanks to an ESP that cuts off at the root any hint of enthusiasm at the wheel.

The steering shows enough precision and composure not to require excessive concentration while driving, and the suspension absorbs potholes well, without reacting badly when it has to work in the trickiest situations: with the car mid-corner and the road surface uneven. Even on some excursion along tracks or country roads, if they are not in very poor condition, the G01 proves very capable.

On motorway trips you may notice another normal effect in a car at this price: the soundproofing is not as well achieved as in more expensive cars.

SWM G01 range and prices

The G01 range includes two versions, the G01 and the G01 F, and in both cases you can choose between the petrol engine or the LPG conversion. For the G01 there is a Basic trim, in addition to the Luxury and Premium, which can be chosen with both versions.

The equipment is one of the strong points, along with the price, especially in the better-equipped versions, with LED headlights, a camera, heated and ventilated electric seats and a full range of safety features. It can be fitted with lane-keeping assist, rear cross-traffic alert, city emergency braking… what is missed, however, is the option of active cruise control, the kind that automatically maintains distance from the car in front.

Prices start at 22,495 euros for the G01 Basic, 23,895 for the Luxury and 27,595 for the Premium, already applying the discount for financing with the brand, which reaches up to 2,500 euros. From here, you can add the surcharge of the F versions, or of the LPG installation.

Another point in favour of the G01 is its warranty, which goes up to five years or 100,000 km.

SWM G01 F image gallery