Suzuki Swift

Overview

It's a great time to be in the Philippines. The world’s most loved or at least Europe and Asia combined love the Suzuki Swift. It has been almost a year since the updated Swift was revealed globally. Amongst the Asian nations, hometown Japan got it and India (from where the Swift is currently imported). Suzuki Philippines has also unveiled the Dzire sedan on the very same day. The fourth generation Swift has been an evolution more than a revolution. The first-gen was a sedan, the second and thereon have been a hatchback. The previous generation car was outstanding and it won over everyone with its finesse and handling prowess. Is the latest generation car up to the task? We find out.

Interior & Features

The cabin of the new Suzuki Swift still follows the grey theme adopted by the previous generation. Suzuki says that it makes it look sporty and we couldn't agree more. The flat-bottomed steering wheel or D-shaped as they call it is new for any car in this segment. It houses the requisite controls including those of the music system as well as the Bluetooth telephony system. The seats seem thin but they have enough side bolster to hold you on. The instrument cluster is new as well and features digital read-outs for most of the parameters. The seat belts are height adjustable and so is driver’s seat. A touchscreen system with good resolution is also available and is Android Auto as well as Apple CarPlay compatible. We would have liked to see the crisper SmartPlay infotainment system on this Swift. Especially since it is available on the Indian versions and this where our cars come from.

There is a rear AC vent, climate control, cruise control, push-button start, storage space for bottles on the door pads and more in the new Swift. The rear seat is a comfortable place to be with decent enough headroom and legroom. What is at a premium is the shoulder room and seating three abreast will be a slight issue here. The boot space too has increased and is now 242 litres which can be increased if the 60:40 split rear seat is pushed down.

We liked the build quality of the new Swift. The second-gen had a bit of iffy quality but the third and fourth are up to the mark now.

Exterior

There are three trims on offer - GL, GL CVT and GLX CVT. Needless to say, the top spec trim is the GLX CVT and it comes with all the bells and whistles one will expect from a car of this category. The Suzuki Swift GLX brings in LED headlights with daytime running lamps, a more lithe face with a wider grille, sculpted bumpers with fog lamps and a thin chrome strip. The side profile more or less subscribes to the same Swift silhouette but a quick look at the rear door confirms that a lot has changed as well. The door handles at back are neatly tucked into the C-pillar while the alloy wheels look trendy enough. At the back, one can see the LED lights as well as more flat profiled boot. The car has grown in size too - 3,840 mm in length, 1,735 mm in width and 1,495 mm in height. Suzuki engineers have increased the wheelbase from the older car to now 2,450 mm. The tread at the front and rear is now 1,520 mm and the minimum ground clearance is lower than the Dzire  - 120 mm. Suzuki has kept the minimum turning radius as 4.8m.

One can opt for six colours with the new Suzuki Swift. These include the Pearl Pure White, Metallic Speedy Blue, Pearl Super Black, Pearl Ablaze Red, Metallic Mineral Gray and Metallic Star Silver.

Ride & Handling

We have always said that this side of the Volkswagen Polo or GT, the Suzuki Swift is the one to beat in terms of handling. The suspension comprises of MacPherson struts and a coil spring at the front with a torsion beam and coil spring at the rear. It is not so stiffly sprung so as to upset the ride quality but is good enough to plaster a smile on your face. The steering too is precise and while we would have liked a bit more of heaviness to the package, this one works out fine as well. NVH is well controlled as well.

Engine & Fuel Consumption

Both the Swift and the Dzire have come to our shores with a 1.2-litre K12M VVT-equipped petrol engine that is good for 84 PS of power and 113 Nm of torque. Suzuki says that they have increased the compression ratio of this engine to eke out better mileage. The engine still is a refined unit and loves to rev. The top speed is 164 kmph while the fuel efficiency achieved was 16 kmpl.

The meat of the matter though is that while there is an AMT option for the Dzire, the Swift gets a CVT. Suzuki says that the Swift is always perceived as the car for singles while the Dzire is more of a family-oriented vehicle. Thus the CVT and AMT differentiation. We found the CVT to be a refined unit at city speeds. On the highway though, it is a different proposition. It sounds whiny as is typical of CVTs.

The manual in the meanwhile is a smooth shifting unit and coupled to the light clutch, is a joy to use.

Braking & Safety

Twin airbags, ABS with EBD, ISOFIX child seat locks, reverse sensor, energy absorbing bumpers and bonnet as well as height adjustable seat belts are part of the standard fare. The Suzuki Swift did get a four-star rating in the Euro NCAP rating and five in the ASEAN NCAP.

Verdict

The sportiest yet the most practical hatchback in the compact segment is back with a bang. The Suzuki Swift not only brings in more space but does it with a grace that can be seen both inside and out. Prices of the Suzuki Swift are Php 755,000 for the GL 1.2l MT, Php 799,000 for the GL 1.2l CVT and Php 899,000 for the fully loaded GLX 1.2l CVT.