New Zealand Autocar magazine is bowled over by the long-term Swift Sport they have been using. From the Auckland-based office, the journalists and staff have notched up more than 16,000 kilometres in a bright yellow Sport.
“In between project stories our Swift Sport has been doing an excellent job filling in transport needs around the Autocar office,” wrote Ian Ferguson in a recent edition of the glossy, motoring monthly. The car started life as a launch vehicle with Suzuki in Japan before going to Autocar with just 900 kms on the odometer.
Ferguson reckons the Suzuki has been one of the best long-term drives the magazine has had. “Driving across the Queen City in fickle traffic conditions on a mix of motorway and cross-town ‘rat running’, the Sport has few equals,” he said. “It’s nimble and responsive, with few vices in any weather conditions.
“The suspension and brakes give the driver the confidence of being totally in control. The former is set up harder than the standard Swift, but the Sport feels spot on for pressing on once open-road speeds are reached,” said Ferguson.” The Hyper Yellow colour has been a major point of discussion, generating a mix of loving and loathing.
Autocar said: “We would without hesitation recommend Suzuki Swift Sport to any prospective small car purchaser.” The magazine rated fuel economy as the best feature. During the long-term test, the publication averaged 13.6 kms per litre, or 37 miles to the gallon. “Even an accountant will approve of this sports-hatch,” said Ian Ferguson.
Writing about the Swift in a recent edition, the magazine asked a question under the sub-title of “things the magazine would like to do”. Its simple two-word answer: “Buy it!”
And, across the other side of the world…
Swift has been earning high praise from the weekly Autocar publication in Britain, the oldest motoring magazine in the world. “No matter how hard you try, it’s impossible to hold a grudge against a car that looks this good, is this much fun and costs so little,” said Vicky Parrott, staff writer on the magazine.
She was commenting on the long-term test Autocar has been running on a Swift Sport. While she has some issues with the engine noise when motorway cruising, the five-speed gearbox that meant a rather high-revving engine, and rear visibility, these did not put her off the Suzuki. If cruising ability had to be compromised to achieve the strong qualities, then it was the right decision, according to Parrott. “This is,” she said, “a sporty hatchback, after all.”
The magazine wrote the Swift continues to uphold its “want one” appeal nicely, with demand on the used car market reflecting this. Depreciation levels are lower than most rival superminis. Autocar strongly recommends the Swift as a used car. “One of the best-looking superminis around, the Suzuki makes a great used buy,” said the magazine. “Residuals are stable, too.”
John McIlroy, another Autocar writer, said he rediscovered the Swift Sport the other night and remembered what a proper little buzz-box it is. “Does that sound critical? It’s not. What Suzuki has created is a car that had just enough poke and which encourages you to exploit it at every turn. In a way it’s like an old small Fiat, except that it doesn’t go wrong. Brilliant.”
Still in Britain, a recent edition of What Car? magazine rated the 1.5 Swift GLX five-door a top supermini. “The Japanese are good at building small cars, and the Swift is better than most. It’s stylish, smart and fun, with sharp handling, a punchy engine, and loads of equipment. Proves you don’t have to spend loads to get a good car,” said the journal.
The winner of many awards
Swift has won no fewer than 17 international awards, so it is no wonder an increasing number of people regard the little Suzuki as a chic, no fuss car with heaps of appeal.
The Yahoo! Website in the UK reckons the Swift Sport is “a lot of fun for not much money”, a good recommendation for starters.
This is the car that provided the first glimpse of Suzuki’s innovative new design strategy, and since its introduction, the car has received the ringing endorsement of many discerning audiences. The Tiscali website says, “There’s an attractive, modern feel to the exterior design with the ‘Miniesque’ floating roof, defined wheel arches and wraparound front and rear lights.”
From Britain, the Keys website has this to say about the highly popular car: “Suzuki caught the motoring press by surprise when it announced the current-generation Swift. The new model turned out to be fun to drive, reasonably practical and without question an interesting alternative to mainstream hatchback design.”
Tony Dron, a driver of no mean ability who has done a lot of track work, wrote about the Swift in the highly respected Daily Telegraph newspaper in Britain. He said, “What should not escape any driver of a new Swift is the secure feel of a sporting chassis from a company that has repeatedly excelled in the Junior category of world championship rallying.”
Swift is receiving more international attention, and has recently gone on sale in China, a rapidly expanding market that seems destined for a bright future. And, of course, Swift was once again New Zealand’s top-selling small car in 2007.
Making it on television
The Fifth Gear motoring television programme is highly popular in the UK and is often screened on New Zealand TV at weekends. Tiff Needell is the programme’s star test driver, and a racer with ability, so his comments are well respected. He was “mightily impressed” with the 1.5-litre Swift, and then took a 1.6-litre Swift Sport over deserted, wet (and often slippery) rural roads in Wales.
His first impressions were of firm suspension, and heavy steering at parking speeds that came right at speed. “The car feels alive, frisky. It has a functional and funky interior and is user friendly,” said Needell. The Englishman commented “the car takes the power well, has good turn-in and traction”. He agreed the Swift encourages driving for the pleasure of it and rated the Suzuki the best value warm hatch on the market today.
