Suzuki Swace review

A Toyota (nay Suzuki) hybrid wagon is never going to be the most dynamic of vehicles. And sure enough, the Swace doesn’t handle like a Ford Focus estate or provide any real steering feedback at all.

The payoff, though, is a focus on comfort that – especially with the Swace’s small wheels and high-sidewalled tyres – provides a floaty but not overly wallowy ride quality. That’s surely something that potential buyers will prioritise over dynamic ability, so no complaints here. 

The 1.8-litre engine is also fairly quiet and smooth, although trying to push on will result in some rubber banding of revs caused by the non-paddle assisted CVT ‘box. Avoid Sport mode altogether if you value your ears. The hybrid assist means the short 0-20mph sprint is painless enough in town though, and the whole powertrain is fairly refined at motorway speeds. For reference, Suzuki claims an 11.1 second 0-62mph time and a top speed of 112mph.

It’s not a quick thing, then, but it’s not a car that responds well to that kind of treatment anyway. The claim is 64.2mpg on the WLTP cycle and 99g/km of CO2 emissions, and as with other Toyota hybrids the real-world economy won’t be far off. We managed well over 50mpg from a mix of spirited town, country and motorway driving. If motorway miles are your bread and butter, though, a diesel estate would still offer better figures.

Oh, and that EV-only mode? It really is designed for short distances. Think more ‘getting to the end of your road’ rather than ‘last-mile emissions free driving in the city’.