Suzuki Swift

• Report 1: The new Suzuki Swift joins the HonestJohn.co.uk fleet
• Report 2: Is there going to be a new Suzuki Swift Sport?
• Report 3: What don't we like about the new Suzuki Swift?
• Report 4: Which Suzuki Swift model should you buy?
• Report 5: The Swift gets a new custodian
• Report 6: Racking up the miles

Report 1: The new Suzuki Swift joins the HonestJohn.co.uk fleet

Should you trade in your Ford Fiesta for a Suzuki Swift? We're finding out...

Date: 8 August 2024 | Current mileage: 1356 | Claimed economy: 64.2mpg | Actual economy: 58.2mpg

I flew out to Bordeaux earlier this year for our first drive of the new Suzuki Swift. This was a car that, on paper, looked like it could have been launched about 10 years ago. While rivals are going all-electric (or simply being ditched from line-ups), the Swift is a no-nonsense little hatchback. It's one of the least powerful cars on sale (with just 82PS), while it comes as standard with an old-fashioned five-speed manual gearbox and only the slightest hint of electrical assistance (we'll come onto what exactly 'mild hybrid' means in another update).

I returned to the UK singing its praises. Maybe I'd been swept up by the hype of the European media launch, but it felt like this little car was a true breath of fresh air. Suzuki talked a lot about the Swift's ability to attract would-be Fiesta buyers, now that Ford's small hatch has now been axed, and I could see the appeal for those looking for an affordable and likeable little car.

I was keen to find out whether I'd like it just as much in the UK. That's how I came about running one for the HonestJohn.co.uk long-term fleet. We'll be spending six months with the Swift in the UK, finding out whether it's just as appealing when I use it as my main car, doing all the things I'd do with any other car: driving it to the shops, commuting to the office and loading it with friends for weekends away.

My car is the entry-level Suzuki Swift Motion, which means it misses out on the fancier alloy wheels, automatic air conditioning and a few minor cosmetic upgrades - nothing I'm going to be too sad about. Like all Swifts, it's powered by a 1.2-litre petrol engine powered by the aforementioned five-speed manual 'box (a CVT auto is also available, but we're yet to try that). Curiously, a Swift 4x4 is due later in the year - a niche model, but one that'll appeal to those who live in rural areas and can't afford to take a day off when winter weather hits.

I'm only a few weeks into my time with the Swift, but it's every bit as good as I remember. It feels quicker than its lacklustre 0-62mph time suggests (12.5 seconds, if you're bothered), while its real-world efficiency seems impressive so far.

Report 2: Is there going to be a new Suzuki Swift Sport?

We chat to the owner of a Suzuki Swift Sport - who's sad the popular hot hatch isn't going to be replaced.

Date: 22 August 2024 | Current mileage: 1895 | Claimed economy: 64.2mpg | Actual economy: 60.3mpg

I'm very lucky to spend a lot of time driving different new vehicles, from the latest hatchbacks to fancy new SUVs or even the odd performance car. Yet it always surprises me which new cars get the most attention.

I popped to the shops in my Suzuki Swift long-termer and returned to find a last-generation Suzuki Swift Sport parked next to it. The owner and his wife were admiring my car, so I stopped for a chat about all things Suzuki Swift.

"I think I'm going to keep my car forever," he said, glancing at his bright yellow Swift Sport. "They're not doing a new Suzuki Swift Sport and I've no idea what to replace it with."

He went on to explain that he'd just finished paying off the finance on his four-year-old Swift. It's one of the last of the non-mild-hybrids, so it's got a bit more power than later models and is the one to go for, according to enthusiastic owners' groups.

It's a shame that Suzuki's confirmed that there isn't going to be a new Swift Sport. It's always been a bit of an underdog in the hot hatch market but - just like the Ford Fiesta ST and Hyundai i20 N - it's been relegated to the history books to make way for new electric vehicles.

"The departure of these models [the Swift Sport and Jimny] will make room for EV and enable us to compete during a period where our sales ratio of hybrid versus EV products will drive our business," said Suzuki GB boss, Dale Wyatt. "We’re exiting the ICE era with a focus on SUVs and new Swift, then starting in the second half of 2025 we’ll begin a period of EV growth."

So there we have it, no more Swift Sport. If anything, I feel more disappointed about this than I am the loss of more powerful, faster hot hatches. I really enjoy driving my lowly 82PS Suzuki Swift and, with a bit more power for not a lot of cash, I think it'd be a really popular little warm hatch.

It's not just Suzuki that's making cuts in this market, though. While the end of the Ford Fiesta ST has grabbed the headlines, Kia's quietly dropped the 100PS Kia Picanto T-GDI, and you can no longer buy a Volkswagen Up GTI. I'm a big fan of electric cars, but it's a shame that we're losing these affordable little pocket rockets in the process.

Report 3: What don't we like about the new Suzuki Swift?

We're big fans of the new Suzuki Swift... but what doesn't it do quite so well?

Date: 5 September 2024 | Current mileage: 2197 | Claimed economy: 64.2mpg | Actual economy: 62.3mpg

If you've read my previous reports on our Suzuki Swift, you'll know that I was genuinely excited about spending six months with this likeable little hatchback. But, now the honeymoon period's over, there are a few little niggles coming to light.

One of which is the speed limit warning system. It's something you'll probably be familiar with if you've driven any new car sold within the last few years - essentially, if you drive over the speed limit, it'll beep at you to slow down.

The issue with the Swift is that a) the speed limit recognition is often wrong and b) it's quite difficult to turn the system off. You can do so - using a hidden menu that can be discovered when you're stopped with the handbrake on - but I'd much rather be able to turn it off using a button when driving. Even better, you should be able to turn it off permanently (but you can't).

I'm also struggling a bit with hill starts in the Suzuki Swift. Now, I consider myself a fairly competent driver, but years of driving modern automatics or cars with features like hill-hold assist mean I'm out of practice at using the handbrake and finding the clutch's bite point. The Swift apparently has something called 'hill hold control' but, to be honest, it doesn't seem to do anything. I've found myself giving the poor little engine far too many revs and slipping the clutch when pulling away on an incline...

I also wish the Suzuki Swift had a sixth gear. It's not a natural motorway car, I know, but it would benefit from an extra cog out of town. Things get a little noisy at motorway speeds, while I also become quite conscious of the Swift's diminutive dimensions - it does feel quite small when you've got a Mercedes Sprinter inches from your rear bumper, which seems to happen far too often.

Report 4: Which Suzuki Swift model should you buy?

There are just two trim levels available in the Suzuki Swift line-up: Motion and Ultra. Which one should you buy?

Date: 19 September 2024 | Current mileage: 2483 | Claimed economy: 64.2mpg | Actual economy: 65.1mpg

If you're looking to buy a new Suzuki Swift, your options are pretty limited. There's just one engine, a choice of a manual or CVT automatic gearbox, and two trim levels.

Whether you choose the manual or auto transmission probably comes down to personal preferences. I think the five-speed manual gearbox suits the car well, though - and that's from someone who'd normally prefer an auto.

'My' Swift is the entry-level Swift Motion and I can categorically say no one needs anything more. It's got everything you could possibly need: adaptive cruise control, heated seats, wireless Android Auto, a reversing camera. I've driven much more expensive cars that are missing these features.

However... if I was spending my own money, it'd go on the top-spec Suzuki Swift Ultra. It's an extra £1100 (roughly £30/month more on a three-year PCP finance deal), which is a worthwhile investment for one thing alone: the alloy wheels.

Now, it's good that the entry-level car comes with 16-inch alloys, but it's like they've been designed to look like wheel trims. Cheap, aftermarket ones at that. The two-tone wheels fitted to the Ultra look much better.

You get a few other nice features, too, such as automatic air conditioning (although I don't hate the manual air con in my car) and folding door mirrors with integrated indicators (fancy!).

So, there we are. The Suzuki Swift Motion is all the car you'd possibly need... but you might want to go for the Suzuki Swift Ultra instead.

Report 5: The Swift gets a new custodian

How does our Suzuki Swift fit into family life?

Date: 11 October 2024 | Current mileage: 3321 miles | Claimed economy: 64.2mpg | Actual economy: 58.4mpg

With Andy moving on from Honest John, the keys to his Suzuki Swift have passed down to me. And far from saying that I’m glad he’s left, I am pleased to have inherited his long-termer.

I have fond memories of earlier Swift models, as they represented considerable driving fun for not much money. But it’s been years since I tried one, and I’d not been in this generation of Swift until Andy dropped it off at my house.

I did have a few reservations, however. Unlike Andy I’ve got a child, which means extra family duties – the Swift and I will likely face multiple shuttle runs to ballet, swimming, birthday parties and the like. But it also had to jump straight in with some fairly lengthy motorway hacks. In the month I’ve had it, it’s been from my home on the South Coast to Derby and back, across to the Cotwolds and on multiple trips to the New Forest.

So, can the little Swift – on the face of it a great around town car for a single person or young couple – cope with family duties and long-haul slogs?

Thus far, yes it can. Isofix child-seat mounting points have meant the Swift can easily take over short family hacks from our regular car, a SEAT Leon Estate. As we have another car for big family days out, it’s usually just me and my four-year-old daughter in the Suzuki, and with the front seat moved slightly forward she has more than enough legroom, even with the bulky car seat installed. The boot is plenty big enough for swimming kit and muddy wellies.

While the boot wouldn’t really be big enough for a family trip away, it’ll easily cope with an overnight bag, which I’ve needed a couple of times over the past month. The Swift is happier around town than on long stretches of motorway, but the inclusion of adaptive cruise control is a gamechanger, really taking the edge off those long, dreary journeys and making it far easier to sit in traffic.

Although road and wind noise is rather loud in the Swift at motorway speeds, the sound system is pretty reasonable, and with tunes streaming from wireless Apple CarPlay it easily drowns out the hubbub. Four-hour trips passed with no discomfort, and with far better fuel economy than I could hope for in the SEAT, although the short stop-start trips and extended high-speed runs have meant I’ve averaged 58.4mpg, which is some way short of what Andy managed last time around.

First impressions, then? Very positive.

Report 6: Racking up the miles

We continue to be impressed with just how adaptable our Suzuki Swift is

Date: 12 November 2024 | Current mileage: 3887 | Claimed economy: 64.2mpg | Actual economy: 56.3mpg

Into my second month with the Suzuki Swift, and its duties have been more onerous than I initially expected. As “my” car rather than the family wagon, most of my trips have been fairly epic ones, and while I only drive it a handful of times a week, I’ve covered 800 miles.

If you’d have asked me how a car like this would cope with multi-hour motorway hauls, I’d have suggested that its fortes lie elsewhere. But I continue to be impressed with just how adaptable it is, chiefly by way of its adaptive cruise control. The clue’s in the name, I guess. Being able to build up to 70mph, tap a button on the steering wheel and then settle back really takes the sting out of long stints behind the wheel. Like a pilot on an aeroplane, I need to be alert just to make sure everything’s going well, but with less to do it’s less tiring over long journeys. Car in front slows down? The Suzuki slows down for me. Car moves out of the way, and back up to 70mph we go.

All I have to do is steer, and to be honest the lane assist system even helps with that; a camera in the windscreen tracks the white lines on the road and nudges the car’s trajectory if it’s not central in the lane. There are times when this particular tech is annoying, of course – not a specific niggle of the Swift, as many other cars have this feature, but there’s a downside to the technology when you’re not on a long straight road, or the quality of the lane markings mean the tech loses its way. But another button on the steering wheel can instantly turn it off.

Because the Swift is so small, I’m saving loads on fuel. I’m lucky to get 40mpg in my own SEAT Leon, but north of 55mpg is common in the Swift. And it makes sense – I don’t need a load of space to rattle up and down the motorways with an overnight bag, which is largely what I’ve been doing this month. So if I can save a few quid at the pumps, then all the better. My average MPG is slightly down on last month, but that’s probably because I’ve either been sat at top motorway speeds or crawling along in traffic, neither of which is the sweet spot for engine efficiency.

One curious incident this month has involved the tyre pressure monitoring system (TPMS). I’m generally a big fan of these, as it’s good to know as soon as possible if there’s an issue with a tyre, but two have been playing up. On a particularly chilly day – the kind of day you don’t want to be scrambling around checking underneath cars – I got in the Swift to find an alert on the instrument display and infotainment screen.

Large red graphics informed me that the front left and rear right tyres were low, and helpfully displayed the pressures, which were… the same as the other tyre on each axle. After a visual inspection I drove and kept an eye on the alerts (which couldn’t be turned off), and when they didn’t disappear, and the pressures didn’t drop any more, I called my local Suzuki dealer. They informed me that the problem was likely due to the cold weather, and is a common issue with the Swift’s TMPS. The advisor suggested I top up the tyres slightly above recommended, go for a drive, and they should sort themselves out. I did, and they did. All is now well.

Although the weather has been frightful of late, I am keen to try and drive the Swift on some more engaging roads than the M23, M25, M4, M5 et al. It has a reputation for being a very affordable way into automotive fun, but I haven’t really given it the chance to prove it so far. That’ll be my project over New Year.