Suzuki Swift 1.2 Dualjet SHVS Allgrip SZ5 2017 first drive

What is it?

Believe it or not, the Suzuki Swift has been around in one form or another since 1985 and in that time it has worked its way into the hearts and minds of everyone, from typical hatchback buyers to track day enthusiasts.

How, you might ask? Well, the second-generation Swift (released in 2005) and its mildly tweaked follow up managed to hit the ideal supermini superfecta: it was affordable, pretty enough to stand out from the crowd, came with a choice of three- and five-door variants and was, most importantly, utterly beguiling to drive.

However, times change and the secret to supermini success no longer looks quite so straightforward, with diversity now the aim of the game. Suzuki currently offers three small hatchbacks, in the form of the Baleno, Suzuki Ignis and aforementioned Suzuki Swift, with other marques such as Vauxhall and Ford offering similar head-scratching levels of variety.

Clearly, if manufacturers are to be believed, giving buyers maximum choice is the key to sales success - which goes some way to explaining this four-wheel drive Swift. According to Suzuki, its Allgrip technology gives the hatchback a unique selling point in the supermini market. A claim, which on paper, certainly looks believable.

Previously, if you wanted all-wheel drive in a compact package, you’d have to opt for a Fiat Panda 4x4 or a more expensive crossover. Instead, the Swift is available with Allgrip for a not unreasonable £1000 premium over a similarly equipped 1.0-litre. There are some compromises, however, if you want that go anywhere ability.

Unsurprisingly, all-wheel drive is only available in top-spec trim, and you can’t have it mated to our favourite 1.0-litre Boosterjet engine. Therefore you have to settle for the 89bhp, naturally aspirated 1.2-litre four-cylinder Dualjet motor; an engine which already felt underpowered in the lighter front-wheel drive variant we tested earlier this year.

That said, even with a hybrid system and four-wheel drive, the Suzuki Swift still comes in at under 1000kg. So perhaps it will still have that stellar handling that we’ve come to know and love. We take to the Peak District to find out. 

What's it like?

As with the 1.0-litre SHVS Boosterjet, the mild hybrid system is slick in its operation, with the integrated starter generator allowing for smooth and relatively silent restarts when pulling away. Combined with light steering, a slick six-speed manual gearbox and a firm yet consistent ride, the Swift is breeze to guide around town.

It’s only when you leave the confines of an urban environment that you start to question the relevance of both the four-wheel drive system and naturally aspirated 1.2-litre engine. Despite our full-fat test car weighing just 980kg, it’s immediately obvious that you have to work the little four-cylinder far harder than the front-wheel drive three-cylinder Boosterjet. Long uphill drags require a low gear and plenty of revs, while overtakes demand an unnerving mix of bravery and momentum.

Thankfully, maintaining momentum is one of the Suzuki Swift’s fortes. With a lighter and stiffer platform than its predecessor – a car universally praised for its dynamic prowess – the little Suzuki is genuinely entertaining on the right road. Despite some initial body roll, once turned in the Swift feels stable, well balanced and if provoked, adjustable. Granted, the steering lacks the off-centre directness of the formidable Ford Fiesta, but it is certainly the best of the rest.