What is it?
It doesn’t look like anything more than a brief encounter with some design software but this is actually a ground-up new generation of the Suzuki Swift.
Time saved in the design department has been put to good use elsewhere. A 93bhp all-alloy 1.2-litre petrol engine resides under the bonnet and an all-new platform that uses MacPherson struts at the front and torsion beam at the rear forms the underpinnings. The result of all the improvements are headline figures of 116g/km and 56.5mpg, but in practice there are many more significant and tangible improvements to the new Swift.
What’s new?
The first and most significant change is the refinement. Aided by the quieter engine and more effective cabin insulation the Swift is now as refined as you would expect of a small petrol hatchback. Engine noise is quite hushed, particularly at normal town speeds, but even at higher motorway speeds it is wind flutter past the A-pillars that intrudes more than engine buzz.
Performance is also much better. A 0-62mph time of 12.3sec is very competitive and, as you’d expect, the 1.2 motor needs some working through the five-speed gearbox but responds well further up the rev range and is an easy unit to plunder.
Join the debate
jelly7961
Re: Suzuki Swift
Looks too much like the old onetheonlydt
Re: Suzuki Swift
[quote ischiaragazzo]Looks too much like the old one[/quote] I don't think that's a bad thing - I like the styling of the current swift. I'm impressed at the engine, 90bhp and almost 90lbf of torque from a naturally aspirited 1.2 is quite impressive. 12 years ago that's what you'd get from a "decent" 1.4 and from the mainstream 1.6s.
beachland2
Re: Suzuki Swift
i knew this would happen, the new swift is celebrated as being lighter and stiffer than the old one, but being 15kgs lighter has not helped things along in the fun stakes, it has been hugely compromised it seems by focusing on emissions and mpg.
5dr old swift 1.3 1055kgs 90bhp 86lbft 0-62mph 11.0s 109mph
5dr new swift 1.2 1040kgs 93bhp 87lbft 0-62mph 12.3s 103mph
old 1.3 swift faster top speed with less power and more weight, old 1.3 swift faster accelerating with less power and more weight.
the power increase is just a trick to make up for its shortfalls.
the old 1.3 makes 90bhp a 5800rpm
the new 1.2 makes 93bhp at 6000rpm.
making the old 1.3 rev to 6000rpm for peak power would make an extra 3bhp.
the old 1.3 makes 86 lbft at 4200rpm
the new 1.2 makes 87 lbft at 4800rpm
again just rpm to get the better figure.
so to conclude the new eco engine/transmission is a sheep in wolfs clothing, even with lighter kerb weight to deal with its 1.3 seconds slower to 62mph! with more power and torque figures (but thats explained..)
i would say a large part of this aswell as the rpm tricks is that the gearing is ridiculously tall for the type of car, all to get good mpg and emissions but at the expense of drivability, this explains its terrible acceleration figures and the much slower top speed because even with 3bhp more it must be so long geared that it runs out of puff before the old model does.
autocar doesnt mention on the first drive if it found the gearing particularly tall, maybe they could comment?
jelly7961
Re: Suzuki Swift
[quote theonlydt]I don't think that's a bad thing[/quote]
Me either - I think it was a great looking car, and was also pretty good too drive. I just think it's a shame that they didn't jiggle it a bit more - to me it now seems a bit bloated.blowerbentley
Re: Suzuki Swift
[quote Autocar]The new Suzuki Swift. It looks uncannily like the old one, even though the platform and every panel are new. Buyers liked the previous Swift, goes the reasoning, so by giving them more of the same in an updated form they will surely return for a new one.[/quote] This is the standard Japanese pattern. If a model is a success then the replacement is a little bigger and a little better. Then the next one will be a radical change. Look back at the various generations of Civics and Accords.
vengey
Re: Suzuki Swift
Out of all the "little" cars these actually look quite nice.
beachland2
Re: Suzuki Swift 1.2 SZ4
i'm taking it this is a non turbo engine, which is interesting as the output is similar to various 1.2 turbo engines. it seems like the turbos which are used on these new range of small engines are completely optimised for economy rather than power. two different methods, which is best and why.
would a 1.2 NA 125bhp engine be suitable for a small hot hatch compared to a 1.2 turbo 125bhp?
i would prefer the NA of course.
i think it would be very driver specific as to which is best, but the manufacturer has to decide for us as they dont make both types available for one model. well in fact nobody makes the small engine type R type hatch (minimum 100bhp/litre NA).
i wish they would though.
will it be the japanese that will do it if they decide to go for it?
theonlydt
Re: Suzuki Swift 1.2 SZ4
I thought it was a shame when Suzuki dropped the 1.5 from the old line-up for anything but auto. Hopefully Suzuki will bring in a larger engine with a bit more power and torque for those who like cars that don't need to be wrung quite as hard.
Zeddy
Re: Suzuki Swift 1.2 SZ4
The 1.5 was a thirsty little mo, though.
I hope they have resolved all the quality/design issues from the start on this version.
If I want an autonomous car, I'll take a taxi.
Big S
Re: Suzuki Swift 1.2 SZ4
Where is this one being built? Hungary - or India?
The Holden Barina version looks much sharper - shame we don't get that one here
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