Review: Suzuki Swift Sport

Even before the lift, the Suzuki Swift Sport with 103 kW / 140 PS was not among the performance elite among the small car dynamics. After the revision, it only sends 95 kW / 129 PS towards the front axle. But surprise: that's enough.

Also as a hybrid?

The fact that the otherwise usual increase in performance in the course of a lift is currently not occurring in more and more cars has to do with the emissions standard that will become stricter from 2021. Since the summer, even the most dynamic Swift has been regulating the performance down one level in the sense of lower pollutant and CO2 emissions. In addition, a 48-volt mild hybrid system should reduce consumption. The already quite linear power build-up of the 1,4-liter turbo engine benefits from the electrical support, as it now turns faster and more willing than ever from the lower speed range.

Despite the new high-tech ingredient, the character of the four-cylinder remains solid and straightforward. When you step on the gas, the little engine roars, it accelerates quickly to almost 2.000 revs and then gives it another kick to rev up into the 6.000 range. Suzuki has spared electronic sound design and complex exhaust systems: the Turbo is not a self-promoter, but an honest sprinter. This can be annoying on longer journeys, however, as the interior is rather casually insulated.

Sporty chassis

When it comes to the actual determination of the Sport-Swift, however, it does not stand out negatively: the committed cornering. The stiff chassis, which allows a surprising amount of body movement, fits in well with this, but in return does not appear too tough in everyday life. The steering is binding enough, but the manual six-speed gearbox could use a little more crispness.

Interior could be better

In contrast to the relevant competition, the Suzuki has a noticeable retro touch. This is to be understood as praise for the immediate driving experience, which is not blocked by electronic gadgets or modern gags (an ESP that can be switched off in some cases is of course still on board). On the other hand, the Japanese looks a little rough, which is also noticeable in the cockpit. There, the red trim and the small touchscreen can hardly conceal the generally somewhat old-fashioned style. In addition, a few more sports insignia would have been nice to set the top model apart from its siblings. After all, there are special on-board computer menus and the very neat sports seats with slightly soft upholstery, but overall good lateral support. The range of driver assistance systems is also quite contemporary.

The five-door model also scores points with its successful rascal look: wide fenders, thick tailpipes, carbon-look trim and the “Champion Yellow” paint color, which is free of charge, should appeal to a young target group. But that has its price: At 23.200 euros, the “Sport” is more than 4.000 euros more expensive than the next-cheapest Swift model. So it is not much cheaper than a Ford Fiesta ST, which comes up with 147 kW / 200 PS and the finer modulated driving behavior. Otherwise, direct competitors are currently few and far between - what other manufacturers offer in this performance class is not explicitly positioned as a sports model, but rather as a powerfully motorized prestige small car.