The brand new Suzuki Swift Hybrid is hogging the limelight proper now, however the present Swift Sport stays on sale.

Whereas it’s unclear whether or not the efficiency hatch can be renewed for an additional technology, the newest Swift and the previous-gen Swift Sport will proceed to be produced concurrently on the time being.

You’ll be able to nonetheless get into one for below $30,000 plus on-road prices… simply. However if you happen to don’t need to change gears your self, you’re wanting on the automobile on check – the 2024 Suzuki Swift Sport auto, priced from $31,990 earlier than on-roads.

It’s nonetheless primarily based on the previous-generation Swift, that means it lacks the tech and have developments of the brand new Hybrid. However, that’s not essentially all unhealthy.

The Swift Sport is at present the one model of the Japanese model’s metropolis hatchback that you would be able to purchase with a turbocharged engine. Plus, its physique equipment and alloys make it look very… tuff

Is it nonetheless value a glance over the new-gen electrified mannequin, or do you have to go for the newer, much less highly effective different?

How does the Suzuki Swift evaluate?

View an in depth breakdown of the Suzuki Swift towards equally sized autos.

Suzuki

Swift

How a lot does the Suzuki Swift value?

Pricing has crept up through the years, however the Swift Sport begins at a still-affordable $29,990 plus on-road prices for the six-speed handbook, with the six-speed auto on check asking for $2000 extra.

To see how the Swift Sport strains up towards its rivals, take a look at our comparability instrument.

What’s the Suzuki Swift like on the within?

Not a lot has modified for the reason that third-generation Swift launched regionally in 2017.

In comparison with the brand new fourth-gen Swift Hybrid, which receives some wholesale design in and out, the 3GEN-based Swift Sport doesn’t change the formulation an excessive amount of aside from some lashings of purple trim and sportier seats.

It provides a standard and clear structure that hasn’t aged badly, however it’s wanting fundamental for a metropolis automobile value over $30,000 earlier than on-roads in 2024.

For instance, a budget plastics lining nearly your complete inside have been palatable when a base Swift began for properly below $20,000 however within the $31,990 earlier than on-roads Swift Sport automated it’s not as acceptable.

Fortunately, the primary contact factors just like the chunky flat-bottomed and leather-based steering wheel, and the solid-feeling switchgear, assist to make up for this considerably.

That brings me to the entrance seats, that are maybe my favorite factor in regards to the automobile earlier than you begin driving it.

The generously padded sports activities seats are stunning to sit down in. Comfy, supportive, and properly bolstered, it’s as if the automobile is providing you with a heat hug. Additionally they hold you cosy when cornering – extra on the driving later.

Now one thing not so nice: infotainment. In the course of the COVID-19 pandemic Suzuki was pressured to toy with aftermarket infotainment programs resulting from part shortages, although initially the Swift Sport was spared.

Now, the manufacturing facility 7.0-inch touchscreen has been changed with a 7.0-inch Pioneer unit, and it was certainly one of my biggest frustrations with this automobile. It’s fundamental, sluggish, and properly behind any of the programs provided by rivals.

There’s no embedded satellite tv for pc navigation, the interface is so aftermarket it may have come from Autobarn, and the standard and readability of the show is sub-par. With wired Apple CarPlay, the colors of the app tiles appeared off and overly saturated, and the brightness was too uninteresting in daylight even in its highest setting.

Additional, audio high quality throughout telephone calls was garbage on each ends, with a number of callers complaining of extreme echoing and background noise. It’s as if the microphone is fitted to the show, and never the precise automobile.

Audio high quality when enjoying music was higher, with the infotainment unit hooked as much as the Swift Sport’s respectable six-speaker sound system. There’s a pleasant crispness to the audio, and you’ll dial up the bass – although you’ll be vibrating the hell out of the skinny home windows and door trims.

It actually puzzles me why the outdated 7.0-inch navigation system isn’t right here, or why a model of the brand new Swift’s 9.0-inch touchscreen operating the newest interface couldn’t have been tailored. A minimum of it’s neatly built-in, above round local weather controls that proceed to be a pleasing ergonomic expertise by comparability.

Regardless of the compact dimensions, you’ll be stunned to discover a useful quantity of house within the rear, at the very least for 2 adults.

The Swift has at all times been properly packaged within the second row because of its tall roofline, which suggests even at 6’1 I can sit behind my very own driving place in average consolation. Should you’re smaller, even higher.

As you’d anticipate, it’s fairly fundamental again right here – there aren’t any air vents, energy retailers, or padded elbow rests within the doorways. You do get adjustable headrests and the requisite ISOFIX and prime tether youngster seat mounting factors, however that’s about it.

The shocking quantity of rear passenger room as clearly comes at the price of boot house, with the Swift quoting 265 litres which is way nearer to a Kia Picanto than a Volkswagen Polo.

It’s a reasonably quick house, albeit one which’s properly squared off. You’ll be able to fold the rear seats (60:40 cut up) however there’s an enormous step up from the boot flooring to the seat backs, they usually don’t fold significantly flat.

Disappointingly there’s no spare wheel below the boot flooring both, with only a tyre restore equipment provided.

To see how the Swift Sport strains up towards its rivals, take a look at our comparability instrument.

What’s below the bonnet?

The identical 1.4-litre Boosterjet turbo 4 stays below the bonnet of the Suzuki Swift Sport.

To see how the Swift Sport strains up towards its rivals, take a look at our comparability instrument.

How does the Suzuki Swift drive?

As has at all times been the case, the Swift Sport is a hoot for such a small, fundamental automobile.

The engine’s outputs might sound a bit of tame on paper, however slotted below the bonnet of a light-class hatchback weighing lower than a tonne (990kg in auto spec), it flies!

It provides 230Nm of peak torque that comes on-line from 2300rpm, which is a bit of excessive for a contemporary turbocharged motor, however it nearly has that old-school turbo character the place it hits you within the again because it comes on enhance.

Suzuki Australia doesn’t quote a 0-100km/h time however it simply looks like a low 7.0-second automobile, and roll-on acceleration is spectacular for a automobile of this measurement.

The zesty response is addictive and feels just like the automobile is egging you on to present it a push. Only a disgrace it doesn’t sound significantly sporty, even when there’s a slight raspiness to the exhaust observe.

Whenever you’re not zipping by visitors and metropolis streets, the Swift Sport stays a really comfy and agreeable commuter, drawing upon its metropolis automobile underpinnings to make for a really succesful runabout.

Tall home windows, direct steering, and a well-sorted experience make the Swift good for navigating inner-city Melbourne. It’s a cinch to park, and can slot in any spot given its teeny 3.9-metre size. You additionally gained’t really feel squished in slim laneways or automobile parks.

It doesn’t come undone at larger speeds. The Swift sits comfortably at a cruise on Australian freeways regardless of its diminutive measurement, helped considerably by the Sport’s extra substantial wheel and tyre bundle in comparison with decrease grades from this Swift technology – there’s an additional 10mm of width on every tyre.

Whereas this metropolis automobile is can capably deal with journeys out of the large smoke with out getting blown away by heavy winds or passing vehicles, the extent of street noise on coarse-chip roads is excessive. You get droning and ringing from the tyre roar that’s not very nice, and the skinny home windows don’t hold a lot out both.

The Swift Sport’s age is considerably given away by its driver help programs, or relative lack thereof in comparison with one thing like a Volkswagen Polo (GTI or not).

There’s adaptive cruise management that does with out cease/go performance, that means you must nonetheless do the work your self in visitors jams. The lane departure warning additionally lacks an energetic help or centring operate like the brand new Swift Hybrid.

You do get blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert that are good, however the reversing digital camera is so unhealthy being situated within the licence plate space and feeding onto the sub-bar infotainment show. The viewing angle is proscribed and the standard of the imaginative and prescient is properly beneath common.

In any other case, it covers the fundamentals and never far more. If this sort of help tech is necessary to you and also you don’t want the Sport’s turbocharged efficiency, the newer Swift Hybrid GLX might be the go for you.

What do you get?

Only one specification is on the market, with each handbook and automated transmissions out there.

Swift Sport tools highlights:

• 17-inch alloy wheels
• Automated LED headlights
• LED daytime operating lights
• Entrance fog lights
• Rear privateness glass
• Electronically folding heated aspect mirrors
• 7.0-inch touchscreen
  • Apple CarPlay – wired
  • Android Auto – wired
  • Bluetooth telephone, audio
• Single-zone local weather management
• Keyless entry and begin
• Semi-bucket sports activities seats
• D-shaped sports activities steering wheel
• 60:40-split folding rear seats

Is the Suzuki Swift protected?

The previous-generation Swift wore a 2017-stamped five-star ANCAP security score, which has now expired.

Normal security tools consists of:

• 6 airbags
• Adaptive cruise management
• Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB)
• Blind-spot monitoring
• Lane departure warning
• Rear cross-traffic alert
• Rear parking sensors
• Reversing digital camera
• Weaving alert

How a lot does the Suzuki Swift value to run?

Like the broader Suzuki lineup, the Swift Sport is roofed by a five-year, unlimited-kilometre guarantee.

CarExpert’s Tackle the Suzuki Swift

There’s so much to like about this little automobile.

As has at all times been the case with the Swift Sport, it’s a bit of ball of enjoyable that doesn’t value an arm and a leg. It’s additionally surprisingly sensible as a each day offered you don’t want to hold three or 4 passengers often.

Town-friendly dimensions make it a cinch to stay with on the each day commute, and its turbocharged efficiency and dynamics make it a hoot whether or not you’re zipping by CBD laneways or tearing up a winding B-road out of city.

I additionally suppose it’s lovable, and in one of many brighter color choices actually pops and appears particular. Our gray tester may be very demure, but additionally a bit of too unassuming for me.

Drawbacks? It’s not as low-cost because it was once, and the tech suite is dated in comparison with the brand new one, not to mention the Volkswagen Polo and Toyota Yaris.

The aftermarket-looking Pioneer head unit would nearly be a dealbreaker for me, particularly in comparison with the brand new 9.0-inch unit within the new Swift Hybrid which is a world away from the outdated OEM system not to mention the one right here.

It’s additionally fairly tinny once you begin venturing past metropolis limits, with skinny panels and home windows that means numerous ambient noise enters the cabin just about on a regular basis. It simply is feeling a bit outdated in these respects.

However if you happen to’re after comparatively low-cost, no-nonsense thrills in a pocket-sized bundle, the Swift Sport is the proper match.

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