MINI owners might notice a few similarities (except on price) as Suzuki has ‘nicked’ sorry… paid homage to one or two design elements from the coolest hatchback of them all.
The exterior is chunky with black ‘A’ & ‘B’ pillars (that connect the windscreen and doors to the roof) offering the ‘glasshouse’ look that has worked so well for BMW with MINI. The wheels are chucked to the far corners of the car making it look sturdy. And sturdy it is having scored four stars in NCAP crash tests and featuring six airbags, yes six as standard.
Swift, which makes a return to Irish roads after an absence of three years is available in three (€13,995) or five-door (€14,395) with both models feature rounded yet fresh looking edges that give the all new Japanese supermini a friendly appearance that will win it many followers.
Inside the car you are not a million miles away from the ‘vibe’ you get in a MINI (€20,750). The cabin is spacious too with plenty of headroom and room in the back. The windscreen is quite vertical and low set while the instruments are well laid out. The integrated stereo with steering wheel controls is a particularly smart touch.
On the go the 1.3 litre (four cylinder) petrol engine pushes out a healthy 92bhp and as the car weighs as much as a wet jumper it feels like its name.
On a brief test-drive the five-speed gearbox helped make the most of the power available with my only criticism of the driving experience the long clutch travel. The car’s cheeky outlook demands a clutch that bites much nearer to the floor.
In the real world the Swift promises to be a faithful friend and when used sensibly will run on the mere promise of fuel! On average Swift will sip 6.2 litres to travel 100km/h (45mpg). 0-100 km/h takes 11 seconds and where speed limits don’t apply you can squeeze 175km/h (109mph) out at the top end.
GL is the standard spec and it is generous with electric/heated side mirrors, electric windows, that decent cd stereo, six airbags plus electric power steering. For now there is only one engine and one specification but the range is set to expand with a 1.3 GLX in 2006 and possibly a 1.5 plus a 1.3 litre diesel is a possibility in 2006. A 1.6 GTi (yes please) and convertible are in development also.
Suzuki in a full year expect to sell 1,500 units.
The Suzuki operation in Ireland is tiny next to the big names but they are pretty good at making small cars and SUVs. The Swift deserves to do really well and with Suzuki Ireland looking for 1% of the ‘B’ (supermini) segment that accounts for 30,000 sales annually and I wish them well.
With a starting price of just €13,995 I really am impressed by this little car.
- Michael Sheridan
