Suzuki Swift - always urban
The third "modern" generation of urban Suzuki, introduced in the 2005 century, is a car without compromise. Despite the noticeable trend in the small car market towards consolidation of cars and linking the B segment to a higher class, Japanese designers opted for something completely different - proven solutions, which pleased everyone with the debut of the first generation Swift this year. A simple city car was created. It does not pretend to be a family tool for all occasions. For work, leisure and weekends. What are the potential benefits of this consistency and breaking the trend in the market?
In my older brother's clothes
The latest Swift is certainly not a revolutionary design. However, the Japanese manufacturer wants to make this fact its biggest advantage. It is not surprising, since the previous two generations of the model, sold in Poland since 2005, found almost 20 3 buyers. For a brand that is still considered niche and is not among the top ten manufacturers offering new cars in our country, this is a worthy result. It’s hard to resist the feeling that the 4th “Swift” has one task - to be equal to its older brothers. And this, in turn, does not have to be extremely difficult. A whole lot of design solutions are borrowed from old models. First of all, the idea that comes with this particular machine. It's a city car that's fun to drive and offers a bit of a sporty experience, packed to the brim with technology. And this was once again successful. What sets Swift apart is its width to length ratio. Suzuki is still not following the trend of B-segment cars growing and reaching even 1,7 meter bodies. The car is short, wide, low and really small, but with a twist. As much as 3,8 m by 211 m. A positive surprise is the trunk space. 265 liters in the second generation Swift were not impressive. This figure has increased to 4,8 liters in the latest version, which is a decent result, still not surprising, but a step in the right direction. Turning radius: only m. Note the result: a real city car.
Stylish, fun and sporty
Urban style is visible at every step, including in stylistic devices. It's easy to admit that the new Swift is a small, nimble, compact machine with a pugnacious personality. You might like it. The squat body shape is accentuated by a wide air intake at the bottom of the front bumper and muscular wheel arches. Such sensations are reinforced by the use of the so-called floating roof by the designers. The A, B and C pillars are available in black in every version. In addition, the latter hides the rear door handles. The individual character of the Swift can be emphasized by the optional choice of two colors for the body and a separate one for the roof. It's fun outside, the cockpit is sporty.
Behind the wheel of the new Swift, the first thing that attracts attention is ... the steering wheel. This is the most noticeable hint of sporting spirit, but not the only one. In each configuration, the new Suzuki has a D-shaped steering wheel - with a characteristic cutout at the bottom. The steering wheel is small, rounded, fits perfectly in the hands, although its upholstery gives the impression of low-quality leatherette. Regardless, the details are still mesmerizing. On the dashboard, we find many elements inscribed in a circle - this also suggests that we are sitting in an almost sports car. The clock is also round. Large and easy to read, with a small display in between. And here is the highlight - discreet red backlight, which makes a strong impression. The central part of the dashboard, like many competitors in the upper segments, is clearly tilted towards the driver. Thanks to this, access to, for example, a simple air conditioner control panel with physical knobs or USB and 12 V sockets is greatly simplified. The touch screen is a little less pleasant. Using it is not the easiest, it's just not readable. However, having rummaged in the necessary functionality, it is impossible to find fault with it. Navigation, audio system control, communication with the phone work normally, the quality of the displayed picture is normal. At a similar level - just satisfactory - is the quality of the materials used for interior trim and the amount of space in the back seat. While there's really no shortage of it up front, the second row is a little disappointing. Assuming that we are dealing with a typical city car, as we have repeatedly stressed, it can be swallowed. We probably won't be spending long hours of normal commuting to and from the sea inside the Swift.
Every turn in the city is a pleasure
There is not a hint of exaggeration in this. All stylistic decisions relating to the sporty spirit of the new Swift are confirmed by driving. Of course, this is not a racing car, but on our daily track - to work, to school, to shopping - everyone will appreciate its properties. Firstly, a very nicely tuned suspension that does not give up in high-speed corners. It's tough enough to bring a smile to the faces of drivers and a touch of unease to passengers. The steering of the new Swift looks like it wants to be a compromise between urban comfort and sportiness. As a result, it is slightly less accurate, although it can interact with a more dynamic driver after getting used to it. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for the manual 5-speed transmission. The gears are long, the gearbox is not very precise, overriding the joy of driving even with a weaker powertrain.
There are two engines to choose from and both work exceptionally well with the new Swift. The first is a naturally aspirated 1.2 DualJet petrol engine with 90 hp. The value is quite sufficient and allows for a spirited ride. However, in the case of a completely new turbocharged unit with a volume of 1 liter and a power of 111 hp. he is much faster. An alternative to the aforementioned automatic transmission is a CVT or the classic 6-speed automatic, available in a more powerful version of the new Swift. The secret to really good driving performance may lie in another number. Thanks to the new Suzuki bottom, the curb weight of the basic version does not exceed 840 kg. This means a weight loss of 120 kg compared to the second generation. The effect is visible at every step.
We mentioned that the Suzuki Swift is all about fun, sport and technology. The latter were indeed available in the third generation. While there are elements we've become accustomed to in our competitors' cars (adaptive cruise control, obstacle detection, brake assist or lane control), there's more. The letters SHVS are none other than Suzuki's Smart HybridVehicle. The latest Swift is available with a system called "mild hybrid". The function of the electric motor that supports the operation of the combustion unit is performed by a special alternator. The car is also equipped with an additional battery. Effect at a glance: Combustion efficiency increases with every braking action. We had the opportunity to test the version with the 1.2 engine and the SHVS system. His work is invisible in everyday driving, and the results are visible at a glance. After several hours of really dynamic driving both in the city and on a short highway, the figure stubbornly did not exceed 5.8l.
Urban Jungle: Get Ready!
The latest generation of Suzuki Swift has quite a few arguments on its side that can make it repeat the success of its older brothers. This is a car that does not follow trends. When looking for a fully urban car in the B segment, one cannot fail to mention the Suzuki Swift. The price list starts from PLN 47. This is the real cost of the consequences that the designers decided.
