Suzuki Swift in the driving report
City car with the power of two hearts
The smallest Suzuki, the Swift, has been available on the European and German markets since 1980. The Suzuki managers in Germany were able to sell more than 310.000 units in what is for them the largest European market. In general, the carmaker from Japan is holding up with a slight upward trend in 2016. More than 31.000 units were marketed, with an all-wheel drive share of 47,3%. The workhorses are the Vitara with 9.700 units and the 5th generation Swift with 7.500 units. With its dimensions of currently 3,84 meters, which are perfect for city traffic, the Swift is in top form. From May this year, Suzuki would like to expand its success story around the little one and is putting a completely new car on the road. For the market launch, the Japanese are offering two gasoline engines, including with the support of a mild hybrid. The small Suzuki starts at 13.790 euros.
Lively chassis
Not only peppy and small, the city runabout therefore, he also has plenty of room for a vehicle in its category. Although Suzuki's engineers make the Swift 10 mm shorter and 30 mm shallower than its predecessor, it gets wider by 40 mm and you can load 54 more in the trunk. The concept is clear: city vehicle with a high utility and fun factor. The outer garment of the predecessor took the designers as a role model and brought out the prominent parts. The low center of gravity is additionally emphasized by the B-pillar. Headlights and grille give the car a wide and confident appearance. The rear door handles are embedded in the C-pillar. Its engine remains, as with its predecessor, clearly arranged with two gasoline engines. From its driving characteristics as well as its fresh design we were able to get a first impression already before market start between Nice and the city state Monaco.
With electric assistance
In terms of propulsion, the Japanese automaker is not focusing solely on existing four-cylinder engines. In addition to the use of the Japanese bring a three-cylinder Boosterjet unit, which can also be equipped with a mild hybrid. A diesel version is like other manufacturers of its small car class is not an issue. Suzuki presented for the dynamic test in southern France the new turbocharged Boosterjet engine with one liter of displacement, 82 kW, 111 PS and the optional Mild Hybrid SHVS system. It includes an integrated starter generator that acts as a generator as well as an electric motor. Unlike the usual mild hybrid systems, which provide additional horsepower, this system is only intended to relieve the Boosterjet engine.
Later with GTI variant
The 170 Newton meters of the "small" petrol engine, which are at 2.000 - 3.500 revolutions, are completely sufficient for pure city traffic, for country roads and city highways. In connection with its direct steering and its small turning circle of 9,60 meters, the vehicle is very easy to direct and drive comfortably. The “stronger” 1.2 liter dual jet petrol engine with a maximum torque of 120 Newton meters at 4.400 revs cuts a superior figure on shorter freeway routes and urban traffic. Nevertheless, both engines naturally appear to be grumpy. A sporty GTI variant is not yet planned for the market launch, but is conceivable at a later date, according to those responsible at Suzuki Germany.
Supple in consumption
The revised chassis set-up for the new generation impresses with tighter springs and a repositioning of shock absorbers and gear steering, which makes the Swift appear extremely agile. Both units are combined as standard with a five-speed manual transmission that works precisely and with short shift travel. A six-speed automatic transmission can be ordered for the 1.0 liter engine. The all-wheel-drive Allgrip 1,2WD system combined with the 4 liter engine offers a change. In connection with the start-stop system available as standard, the engines achieved quite good consumption values of combined 4,6 (1.0 liter engine without SHVS system), 4,3 (1.0 liter engine with SHVS system) and 4,9 ( 1.2 liter engine with Allgrip) liters per 100 kilometers. The associated carbon dioxide emissions (97 and 110 grams per kilometer) speak for themselves. Both units meet emissions standard 6. Suzuki would like to meet the needs of its increasingly younger customers in particular with equipment features such as hill start assist, light and rain sensors, seat heating and a 4,2-inch color TFT-LCD multi-information display with smartphone Connectivity “Apple Car Play” and “Android Auto” do justice. There is also an additional redesigned and appealing interior with chrome and piano lacquer applications and a multifunction leather steering wheel that is flattened at the bottom.
Driver assistance systems in the luggage
Driver assistance systems should not be missing in the small car Swift and so Suzuki also packs some systems on top. It starts with the dual sensor supported active brake support (DSBS - Dual Sensor Brake Support). The system warns the driver both visually and acoustically of an impending collision risk. If the risk of a collision increases, the vehicle is automatically braked. Also available in the package are a lane departure warning system, drowsiness detection as well as a high beam assistant and a millimeter wave radar controlled adaptive cruise control system, which works in the control range between 40 and 160 km / h. Unfortunately, prices are not yet available at the time of the European launch this week. We will submit these at a later date. The Swift, generally presented as a five-door model, starts its sales tour with the “Basic” equipment and the 1.2 liter DualJet petrol engine at an entry-level price of 13.790 euros. Unfortunately, the efficient hybrid can only be ordered with the third equipment line “Comfort”. This starts at 16.940 euros. The little Japanese is fully equipped with the hybrid unit in the "Comfort +" configuration according to the manufacturer for 19.440 euros. The optional automatic transmission would only cost 700 euros extra.
And finally ... Suzuki will leave no wishes unfulfilled even for newcomers and second car owners with the new generation of the city car SWIFT. Both vehicle performance and processing of all materials are convincing in every respect.
As a small car, the new Swift leaves no questions unanswered. Ideally suited as an all-rounder for the family. Not too long passages on the motorway are no problem for him. As an alternative in the small car sector, it is already a must in the price / performance sector.
Text: Stefan Beckmann, Beitragsbild: Manufacturer Picture: Stefan Beckmann and Manufacturers