Jonny's Best of Europe: Suzuki Swift Sport

"Jonny Edge (@thejonnyedge)" (thejonnyedge)
03/10/2014 at 09:15 • Filed to: BEST OF EUROPE, SUZUKI SWIFT SPORT, SUZUKI, HOT HATCHES

Ahhhh! Curveball! Caught you out on this one didn't I! Best of Europe with a Japanese manufacturer? OK, so you might think I'm cheating a little bit here, but 'Best of Europe' for me covers anything made here, or sold here but not sold in the USA. The Swift Sport is the latter of those two, and let me tell you; for the price you pay, this car is unbeatable. You need to know about this car.

I have to talk about the price right out of the gate. List price of this little Suzuki is Ł13,999 but with some negotiations you'll get it for much, much cheaper than that. What do you get for the money? Well, you've got a very light, and beautiful looking 'warm' hatchback. Don't get me wrong, this won't compete with the !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! , but it isn't supposed to. This car brings an old fashioned feel to the driving experience with its normally aspirated 1.6l petrol engine. It only produces 136bhp, but it only weighs in at 1045kg. Many of the motoring press in the UK compared this car to that holiest of all hot hatchbacks; the Peugeot 205 GTI. The general consensus was that it drove very similar to that car and brought back many happy memories of the old school style of hot hatches.

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What do I think of it of then? Let's first take a look at the styling. This may well be the most beautiful of all super-minis on the market. The shape of the car is absolutely fantastic, I can't think of a better looking small car, I love it. The twin exhausts in the diffuser and the shape of the light clusters in particular are a highlight for me. Moving inside the car we have some very nice little touches for such a cheap car, red stitching and bucket seats make you feel very welcome indeed. It doesn't feel as cheap as it actually is, but you will find cheap plastics in some areas of course. This isn't a Volkswagen Golf. Equipment levels are fantastic for a car of this price too, automatic HID projector headlights with washers, electric folding door mirrors, Bluetooth, automatic air conditioning, traction control, keyless entry with a very cool start-stop button, and even digital radio. Suzuki really go wild with the equipment on this car and better still; there isn't an options list. You get this all for free.

You're probably thinking that the driving experience might be a little disappointing with a lower power figure than what we are used to in these modern times, but I say the same thing to everybody who talks to me about power. Power is just a figure, it's a number. What's more important is how a car makes you feel and how much fun it is to drive. Get out there and drive one for yourself if you can and make up your own mind. Don't be put off by the ridiculous sausage measuring contests going on all over the automotive world right now. Make up your own mind and judge each car as an individual upon your own tastes as a driver. For me, the engine was just right for the car, I love the normally aspirated engine. Revving high and taking it up to the red line and listening to what is actually a glorious exhaust note from this little car is an absolute laugh. Handling was absolutely superb, changing direction so quickly and inspiring more and more confidence within you with each corner you took on. It rode just right over the bumpy British back roads I'm blessed to have in my local area, it didn't feel too harsh but it remained planted and precise with whatever I made it do. Really, I can't recommend this car enough.

I think we're coming to a point in time now where value and fun is coming to the fore. This car is several years old now but I feel it's more relevant than ever. It's cheap to the point where you feel like a thief, packed full of equipment and infinitely fun to drive on the twisty roads. If you bought this car I really can't see how you could end up regretting it. That's why this Suzuki Swift Sport, despite it's Japanese heritage, is one of the very Best of Europe.

DISCUSSION (11)

Jonny Edge (@thejonnyedge) > Jonny Edge (@thejonnyedge)
03/10/2014 at 09:33

As always, if you guys can let me know if you want more of these with your opinions here in the comments or a click of the star if your pressed for time that would be great. Just let me know what you'd like from me!

crown victor victoria > Jonny Edge (@thejonnyedge)
03/10/2014 at 10:43

Always liked these. Like most Americans, my only access to them was through the Gran Turismo series. Unfortunate that Suzuki never gave it a go in our market, though I can understand why.

And no, I am not counting the rebadged versions of the Cultus that we did get in the 80s and 90s and neither should anybody else.

Jonny Edge (@thejonnyedge) > crown victor victoria
03/10/2014 at 12:28

It's such a fun car to drive. I really can't speak highly enough of them. I would have bought one myself but it never quite came along at the right time.

Alex87f > Jonny Edge (@thejonnyedge)
03/11/2014 at 08:16

As the owner of a first gen one, I couldn't agree more \o/!

Kinja'd!!!

The best thing about them? 40 imp. MPG on daily use, dead reliable, cheap road tax, and an engine that can take 20mph in 4th without saying anything.

And for amateur use, you can put them on a track without a single modification.

Jonny Edge (@thejonnyedge) > Alex87f
03/11/2014 at 08:20

Oh great! You know what I just looked at your avatar over in the Alfa article and thought... wow Alex's avatar sure looks a little bit like a Swift...

I'm really glad I could do this article for you mate! Did I pretty much nail it down for you? Awesome shot of it on the Carousel there!

I really love this car, I had an absolute blast in it for the all-too-short a time I had it for. It was about two days, but boy I had fun.

Alex87f > Jonny Edge (@thejonnyedge)
03/11/2014 at 13:40

That's a great write up. It's true the car has its flaws, but the fun / equipment / price / running costs ratio is just unbeatable. New ones can be had for under 12 500Ł.

The only valid contender would be a Twingo RS, but it ultimately couldn't match what the SSS1 offered, so I doubt it's any good when compared to the SSS2. Though I've read the second gen. lost a bit of the SSS1's fun factor, in exchange for the added comfort and equipment (that 6th gear... how nice it must be!)

You've only had a Swift for two days? That sounds like you went to Rent4Ring!

Jonny Edge (@thejonnyedge) > Alex87f
03/11/2014 at 14:05

Thanks very much Alex! I'm glad you feel I covered it well with my article.

I actually had a Swift Sport from a local dealer who I very very nearly bought it from, but I decided against it in the end. It was close though.

Flavien Vidal > Jonny Edge (@thejonnyedge)
03/13/2014 at 00:26

That's the cheapest car you can rent at the nurburgring and it's the one I take pretty much everytime, because it's the cheapest... If I could afford anything else, I would though. One nice thing though, the pedal placement is pure awesomeness for heel and toes...

punksmurph > Jonny Edge (@thejonnyedge)
03/14/2014 at 14:11

I want the newer Swift sooooo bad. I am a huge Suzuki fan and super sad they are no longer here in the US. The biggest miss for Suzuki was not bringing over the Swift, I think it would have had good sales based on its looks and driving. But I am sure Suzuki would have never advertised it so it would not have been a sales leader, just like the rest of their cars.

Daniel > Jonny Edge (@thejonnyedge)
05/03/2014 at 23:20

I bought the five door and it costed me only 17k USD, new.

And i have shorter front doors and five seats. Not even an used WRX(what I almost bought) could paint me such a big smile. And its running cost are great 30 mpg city and 42 mpg highway. Truly a car that goes way faster than you think.

Porcine > Jonny Edge (@thejonnyedge)
06/17/2014 at 04:08

Looks great, well specced and good value for money...but pretty gutless to drive. Not really sure this should be classed as anything other than a 1.6 hatchback that looks faster than it actually is. In fact, with the weedy torque it manages to feel slower than it actually is and that's with thrashing the engine as well.

Really wanted to like this car, but in the end went for a Fiesta ST which with a big ford discount only ended up costing Ł2,500 more for a car that's a proper hat hatch.

Just don't see where the Swift Sport fits in these days. And that dated engine..worse fuel economy and mpg than the 200bhp hatches. Way to go Suzuki.