Suzuki Swift review

Not really that swift, the new Suzuki Swift. Suzuki says it has improved the 0-62mph time by five per cent over the previous generation, but it's like a snail going downhill: helps a tad, but still slow. If you’ve got the manual gearbox the 'sprint' will take you 12.5 seconds.

We’ve only driven the manual Swift in front-wheel drive form so far, and despite being a little underpowered it’s still very good fun. The little three-cylinder is pretty quiet at idle but sounds quite tuneful as it goes up through the rev range.

Perhaps it’s a little strained at the top end of the rev range, but it’s a keen engine and the manual gearbox is really pleasant to use. It’s no Ford Fiesta, but the Fiesta is dead and Suzuki is ready to pick up the slack.

How does it go round corners?

Surprisingly well. The suspension setup has been revised from the previous Swift so that there’s less roll, but thankfully Suzuki hasn’t fallen into the trap of going too far the other way and making it supremely stiff. It feels natural through bends and the steering is light but not without feel.

It’s a very simple thing, this Swift, with no drive modes and none of this adaptive suspension nonsense. Heck, there’s even a manual handbrake. You could very happily jump in it and bumble about town very happily. Find yourself on a B-road diversion and like the old Fiesta, it handles better than it strictly needs to, and more memorably than, say, a Polo or Yaris. 

Anything else I need to know?

You really do have to commend Suzuki for getting this thing to weigh under a tonne. The lack of mass helps the whole driving experience, with the Swift keen to change direction and the brakes working well and providing decent feel despite the regen.

Probably worth noting that road noise does permeate the cabin at motorway speeds as a result, but the Swift is only really designed to do the odd long journey.

Is it comfortable?

Again, because it’s light it skips over most bumps and rarely are jolts sent crashing through the cabin. Worth noting that you can only have 16-inch alloy wheels too, so there’s a decent bit of tyre sidewall for more cushioning. The whole car is shot through with a cheery 'hire car in sunny Majorca' for a while. 

What about real-world efficiency?

Probably a little bit unfair, but we managed 44.8mpg in the manual Swift on its international launch. That’s obviously some way off the claimed 64.2mpg figure, although our drive included lots of spirited fun on French back roads and plenty of stop-start for photography.

Back in the UK, we were easily able to achieve over 50mpg without much effort while still enjoying the perky handling. You'll be able to eke out 450 miles from less than £50 of petrol.