Suzuki Swift Sport 2020 review
Content
- Does it represent good value for money? What functions does it have? 8/10
- Is there anything interesting about its design? 8/10
- How practical is the interior space? 6/10
- What are the main characteristics of the engine and transmission? 9/10
- How much fuel does it consume? 8/10
- What safety equipment is installed? What is the safety rating? 9/10
- How much does it cost to own? What kind of guarantee is provided? 8/10
- What is it like to drive? 9/10
- Verdict
Often in life you will find that the simplest answer to a problem is the best.
Take, for example, Suzuki. Brand problem? He wants to sell cars. Solution? Do not overdo it. Forget hybrids, dual-clutch transmissions and tricky differentials… Suzuki's success is based on something that seems to elude other automakers easily.
It makes vehicles that are easy to drive and easy to drive and can be easily adapted for universal use in both emerging markets and some of the most advanced and challenging markets in the world, such as ours here in Australia.
Swift Sport is perhaps a prime example of this. Basically, a regular budget Swift hatchback has become an 11 with existing parts from other Suzuki vehicles. The Sport has not only managed to outlive many of its competitors, but it has done so in a cheap but not nasty way.
What has been added with the Series II Swift Sport? Stay tuned while we explain...
| Suzuki Swift 2020: Sport Navi Turbo | |
|---|---|
| Safety Rating | |
| engine's type | 1.4 L turbo |
| fuel type | Premium unleaded gasoline |
| Fuel efficiency | 6.1l / 100km |
| Landing | 5 Places |
| Price from | $20,200 |
Does it represent good value for money? What functions does it have? 8/10
In the context of its competitors in the segment, the Swift Sport may not come cheap, but since it's the last remaining hot hatchback in the segment, it's very hard to complain about our Swift MSRP price of $28,990 (or $31,990).
What really hurts is the additional cost of an automatic transmission. The manual transmission version is currently $2000 cheaper, and if you know how to drive it, it's a much better car anyway. More on this later.
The main feature of the Swift Sport is its upgraded transmission, which is well ahead of other Japanese small car models, but other features have not been forgotten.
There is a 7.0-inch multimedia touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity.
In the box is an attractive set of 17-inch alloy wheels (in this case wrapped in expensive low-profile Continental Conti Sport tires…), a 7.0-inch multimedia touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, and built-in sat-nav. , LED headlights and DRLs, dedicated sport bucket seats for front passengers, unique fabric interior trim, D-shaped leather steering wheel, color multi-function display on the instrument panel, and keyless entry and push-button start.
The Swift Sport is already one of the best kits in this compact car category (indeed, on par with one of its closest rivals, the Kia Rio GT-Line), and it also has a surprisingly impressive active safety package. Skip to the security section to learn more about it, but suffice it to say that it's also good for this segment.
The Sport has LED headlights and DRLs.
In terms of performance, the Swift Sport also gets its own suspension calibration, a wider track and a six-speed automatic torque converter instead of the usual Swift automatic CVT.
The Flame Orange color this car wears is new to the Series II, and all colors except Pure White Pearl come with a $595 surcharge.
However, there is always the argument that for the same money you will end up buying a bigger and more practical hatchback or even a small SUV from any other brand. So while you're not short on gear, you really need to chase the extra driving of this little car to really reap the benefits.
Is there anything interesting about its design? 8/10
Does anything say "fun on a budget" more than this little car? I think no. The Sport takes the already eye-catching styling cues of the regular Swift lineup and gives it a bit of masculinity with a bigger, angrier grille, wider front bumper, fake (I'd say unnecessary...) carbon lighting elements and a cool design. - A reworked rear bumper that integrates his looking (but oddly enough, doesn't sound...) dual exhaust ports. The size of the little Swift makes those neat 17-inch wheels look huge.
Does anything say "fun on a budget" more than this little car? I think no.
Other small details add styling cues as well, such as contrasting black A-pillars and a roofline rounded off by hidden rear door handles and a slightly blue glow of the LED units.
Each change on its own would be minor, but they add up to something far more compelling than regular Swift and many of its competitors.
The size of the little Swift makes those neat 17-inch wheels look huge.
There is a slightly less overhaul inside, with mostly the same dashboards as the rest of the Swift lineup. A big plus are the bucket seats, which do a great job of keeping you in place without being too tight or hard. There are a few glossy plastic additions, a new steering wheel that's not bad at all, and a color screen on the dial. The latter has some fancy performance-focused features. It can show you how many G's you're pulling in corners, how much force the brakes are applying, as well as instantaneous acceleration, power and torque gauges.
How practical is the interior space? 6/10
It's impossible to get past how small the Swift is, but there's still room for improvement when it comes to storage in its cabin.
While the connectivity offered by the screen is welcome, there is only one USB 2.0 port for charging or connecting devices. This is joined by one auxiliary port and a 12V outlet. There is no fancy wireless charging or USB-C in the Swift lineup.
Annoyingly, there isn't much storage space for such loose items either. You have two climate-controlled cup holders and a small shelf, but that's really it. The glove box and door drawers are also fairly shallow, but the addition of a small bottle holder in each is welcome.
The front is comfortable with special sports bucket seats for front passengers.
Luckily, the Swift can be fitted with a center console box as a dealer-friendly option, which we highly recommend given the lack of storage space as-is.
While there are no complaints about the amount of space offered for front passengers, thanks to those large seats and relatively high roofline, rear passengers have largely been forgotten.
The back seat is actually more like a foam bench, with almost no contours, little to no storage space, with tiny bottle holders in the doors, a small binnacle in the center behind the handbrake, and a single pocket on the passenger's back. seat.
The back seat is actually more like a foam bench, with almost no contours.
The room is also not very good for someone as tall as me (182cm), with my knees almost pushing into the front seat in my own driving position and the slightly claustrophobic roofline that my head touches.
The trunk isn't the Swift's forte either. Offering 265 liters, this is one of the smallest volumes in this class, and our test showed the largest (124 liters). Cars Guide the case fits snugly against it, and next to it there is only room for a small duffel bag. Then only overnight...
Offering 265 liters of cargo space, this is one of the smallest volumes in this class.
The Swift Sport doesn't have a spare, just a repair kit under the boot floor.
What are the main characteristics of the engine and transmission? 9/10
The epitome of simplicity, the Swift Sport uses the famous 1.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder BoosterJet engine from sister SUV Vitara.
The Swift Sport is powered by a 1.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder BoosterJet engine.
Power is fantastic for this segment (usually under 100kW) with 103kW/230Nm on offer. It feels every bit as punchy, with peak torque easily displacing the 990 rpm machine's 2500kg curb weight.
Unlike the regular automatic Swift, Suzuki made the right decision to equip the Sport with a six-speed torque converter automatic transmission.
How much fuel does it consume? 8/10
In the automatic version, the Swift Sport officially consumes a combined fuel consumption of 6.1 l/100 km. Seems out of reach for a hot hatch? Surprisingly, no.
I spent a week driving the Swift the way it wanted and was surprised to find that the computer was showing just 7.5L/100km at the end of my week. This was especially surprising because in the previous three real world tests in the manual, I got much closer to 8.0L/100km.
The Swift Sport can only consume 95 octane unleaded petrol and has a tiny 37-liter fuel tank.
What safety equipment is installed? What is the safety rating? 9/10
Another area where the Swift surprises (and not just at this top-of-the-range sporty price point) is in its active safety kit.
Enabled automatic emergency braking with forward collision warning, adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning (but no lane keeping assist), something called "lane assist". The Series II tested here has the added features of blind spot monitoring and rear cross traffic alert.
It's missing a few small touches like driver warning and traffic sign recognition, but the Sport active safety package is excellent for this class nonetheless.
The Swift Sport also holds the highest five-star ANCAP safety rating as of 2017 and has expected passive enhancements such as airbags, electronic traction, stability and brake control, dual ISOFIX child seat attachment points and three top tether points.
Warranty and safety rating
Basic Warranty
5 years / unlimited mileage
guarantee
ANCAP Safety Rating
How much does it cost to own? What kind of guarantee is provided? 8/10
The Swift is covered by Suzuki's five-year, unlimited-mileage warranty, which is on par with Japanese rivals, second only to the Kia Rio with its seven-year, unlimited-mileage promise.
Also updated is the brand's limited-price maintenance program, which sees Sport visit the store once a year or every 10,000 km (much better than the six-month intervals the brand used to have). Each visit will cost between $239 and $429 for the first five years, with an average annual cost of $295. It's super cheap.
The Swift is backed by Suzuki's five-year unlimited mileage warranty.
What is it like to drive? 9/10
The Swift Sport truly lives on with the "fun" of the Suzuki brand. It's light and agile, and it's more than powerful enough to put a smile on your face.
It's not race car level like the Ford Fiesta ST, but that's not the point of this car. No, the Swift Sport excels at taking joy out of the twists and turns of your boring daily commute. It's fun to ride around the roundabouts, race through the alleys and take long turns.
The steering is simple and direct.
To be honest, you're likely to get more out of your money by revving the Swift Sport on your daily commute than by coddling a more sporty car in your garage for weeks.
The steering is simple and direct, but with this car's curb weight of less than 1 ton, the front tires proved skittish both when accelerating and cornering.
Understeer is partly controlled by the stiff suspension, but a hard ride may not be for everyone. Harsh bumps are easily transmitted into the cabin, and the low-profile tires don't do much to reduce road noise, especially at high speeds.
The seats are comfortable, visibility is excellent.
Still, the seats are comfortable and visibility is great, so the Sport is just as good for city driving as the rest of the Swift. You can park it almost anywhere.
However, having tested this machine several times, I must recommend the manual. The car, as checked here, is fine. But the manual really brings this little hatch to life, giving you control over every tap of those little joyful moments I mentioned earlier, so you can extract every little detail from this car's simple yet brilliant formula.
Don't get me wrong, I'm glad it has a six-speed torque converter rather than a dreaded CVT, but it just feels a little more run-of-the-mill than the manual version, even with the paddle shifters... You'll save $XNUMX. choosing a guide. Worth thinking.
Verdict
The Swift Sport is a car that I can't get enough of. Even the car is a fun little car that's great for the city, but when the road offers you something more, the Swift is ready to make the best of it.
The yearly upgrades for this Series II are also welcome, solidifying an already attractive little package.
