Steve sets out to find out whether Suzuki has maintained its hot hatch status with the current Swift Sport.
Exterior
Walking up to this Swift Sport I notice two key things. The first, which is blatantly obvious is the bright blue paintwork, which is not only stunning it also means you wont loose this car in a shopping centre car park. If you wish to stand out further then a yellow paint hue is also available which I feel suits the swift Sport very well. The second, is this New Swift Sports nose. Gone is the curvy bonnet line found on the Mk2 and Mk3 Sport and instead we find a stubby front and large grill on this current model. The boxy lines also flow around the rest of the car and gives it a more aggressive appearance. This his also enhanced by the large vents in the front bumper, side skirts, rear boot spoiler and a twin exit exhaust and nicely rolled tailpipes. The rear door handles have also been fitted at the top corner near to the C pillar, to give the Sport a 3 door look. Two tone coloured 17" alloy wheels complete the look and helps the Swift Sport to stand out from its rivals.
Interior
Opening the door and sliding into the sporty bucket seat you can feel the improvements in quality on the interior and it feels very well put together. The dashboard is well thought out and with all controls in easy reach. The dials are clear and arranged neatly in a pod. In the centre of the dash you'll find a 7" infotainment screen containing a Satnav, DAB radio and a reverse camera. The interior goodies don't stop there either as the Sport also comes with air-conditioning, adaptive cruise control, 4 speakers plus , electric windows all round, power folding electric mirrors and Bluetooth all as standard. The flat bottomed steering wheel is a leather trimmed item with radio controls as well as rake and reach adjustment. Potential buyers will be pleased to know that despite this car being crammed full of toys, Suzuki hasn't comprised on space. There is plenty of leg and head room for both front and rear passengers but it would be a tight fit to have 3 people sat in the rear. The boot space is very good too, not as large as the Swift Sports main rival the Fiesta ST I might add but 264 litres isn't bad. \the Fiesta ST has 292 litres of space. Visibility is about average for this class with good visibility from the windscreen and side windows, however the C pillar is quite large meaning the rear window is small and means the Swift has a couple of blind spots. Thankfully, as mentioned earlier the Swift Sport has a reverse camera to help in awkward parking situations. Road and wind noise is also very limited which only increases the driving pleasure of the Sport.
On the road
With any hot hatch its handling and performance is key to its success and the Swift Sport doesn't disappoint. The lively 1.4 litre boosterjet engine produces 138bhp and 170lbs/ft of torque and is mated to a smooth changing 6 speed manual gearbox which equates to a brisk 0-62 time of 8.1 seconds. Furthermore the steering is precise and responsive with good feel for the road. This is further supported with firm, yet compliant suspension which allows the Swift Sport to feel planted when going through bends. The brakes are also progressive and can stop the Swift sport on a dime if required. Even whilst your having fun, your driving pleasure isn't spoilt by poor MPG figures ar the Swift Sport has 47mpg combine and road tax of £145 per year. To keep you safe the Swift Sport is fitted with lane keep assist, a tyre pressure monitoring system, hill hold assist, Electronic Stability Program, all round airbags all as standard.
Overview
Overall I feel the Swift Sport is very good allrounder, not only is it ideal for your commute into the city but when you're out on the A roads it allows you to have some fun. The Swift Sport as a model has now been with us for a long time, over 4 generations of Swift in fact and in that time the Swift Sport has gone from strength to strength and I would argue that the current model is the best yet for all round performance, space and practicality, but most importantly it has great fun factor whilst driving it on the open road, and lets face it Isn't that what a hot hatch is all about?
