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New Suzuki Swift Auto – Swift Shifter

New Suzuki Swift – Swift by name & nature

Since coming to Ireland in 1985, Suzuki’s range of cars, SUV’s and 4×4’s have gone from strength to strength. There is no stopping the momentum now, as hot on the heels of the talented Baleno and the wonderful Ignis comes the next generation of one of Suzuki’s best selling vehicles, the Swift.

Those of us who are old enough to remember the original Suzuki Swift which was launched in 1988, will remember the sheer volume of them that appeared on Ireland’s highways and by-ways. The Swift quickly earned itself the enviable reputation of being one of the most reliable and fuel efficient cars that money could buy. In the tough economic climate of the late 1980’s these traits were a recipe for success for Suzuki – and deservedly so.

In 2004, Suzuki launched the 2nd generation of their timeless classic and, once again, it proved to be a very successful car for the Japanese brand. This car was so good in every way that it was crowned Irish Car of the Year 2006. Interestingly, it also won the coveted title of ‘Most Fun Car To Drive’ in the 2006 Japan Car of the Year awards.

Now, 13 years later it is time for an all-new Suzuki Swift which arrives with the very lastest in engine technology, safety features, driver assistance packages and occupant comfort. Bulit on an all-new platform (and shared with the Baleno and Ignis), the new Suzuki Swift is 10mm shorter than the outgoing model but is 40mm wider for extra shoulder room. Crucially, the new car benefits from a 20mm increase in its wheelbase – thereby allowing extra legroom for taller passengers and giving the car a more solid feel than ever before. The new Swift also benefits from an all-new lightweight construction thanks to the use of high-tensile steel, thereby shedding weight in the process – meaning that the new Swift weighs from as little as 890kg. This translates into excellent fuel efficiency and lower emissions making the car extremely cheap to run.

There are 3 specifications available in the new Suzuki Swift. They are; SZ3 (1.2-litre DualJet engine with 90bhp), SZ-T (1.0-litre BoosterJet 3-cylinder engine with 110bhp) and the range-topping SZ5 (1.0-litre BoosterJet engine in manual or 6-speed automatic guise or a 1.2-litre DualJet with ALLGRIP 4X4 in manual only). The SZ5 (manual only) also features Suzuki’s mild hybrid system (SHVS) which is a compact and lightweight system that incorporates an Integrated Starter Generator (ISG) which acts as both a generator and starter motor. The ISG is belt-driven and assists the engine during vehicle take-off and acceleration. It also generates electricity through regenerative braking. The system uses a compact high-performance 12V lithium-ion battery placed under the front passenger seat to store energy and incorporates an idle stop function operated via the ISG.

The entry-level SZ3 comes equipped with LED daytime running lights, 15” steel wheels, DAB radio with 4 speakers, Bluetooth, air-conditioning, leather steering wheel, front electric windows and rear privacy glass. The SZ-T model adds a rear view camera, Smartphone link display audio, 16” alloys and front fog lamps to the mix. Upgrade to the SZ5 and you will also get sat-nav, adaptive cruise control, auto air-con, keyless entry & start, LED headlamps, advanced forward detection and many, many more features.

My test car was the SZ5 1.0-litre BoosterJet model in 6-speed automatic guise and is capable of a 0-100km/h sprint in just 10-seconds, leading to a top speed of 190km/h. Suzuki claim a fuel consumption figure of just 4.3-litres of petrol for every 100km driven on an extra-urban driving cycle. Annual road tax is just €200 thanks to low emissions of 114g/km. The steering is nicely weighted and consistent, making it relatively composed in corners. The new Swift’s lightweight construction allows the car to feel agile and is certainly a match for any competitor in the super-mini class.

The new Swift’s interior design is practical and all of the switches are easily accessible. Boot space in the new Swift is 264-litres with the rear seats in the upright position and is adequate for this size of car, but drop the rear seats and this volume increases to 579-litres.

Prices start at a very reasonable €14,995 for the new Swift SZ3 model, while my test car costs €20,995 and provides big car features at a small car price. A 3-year/100,000km warranty comes as standard across the Suzuki range.

 

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