Suzuki Swift Review (2005 to date)

Quick Summary

The Swift hits the spot. It's well built, cheeky, safe, inexpensive and. above all, fun to drive. Many small cars can offer two or three of those attributes but to get the full house is a rarity. If you're looking for a supermini that's a little different to the usual boring names, give the Swift a try.

Overall:

Models Covered:3 & 5-door hatchback: 1.3, 1.5, 1.6 petrol, 1.3 diesel [GL, GLX, Sport, DDiS]

SWIFT JUSTICE

Although Suzuki would probably beg to differ, their old 1998-2003 Swift was often regarded as a bit of a joke, one of those Japanese oddities that missed the mark by some considerable margin. Yes, it was well engineered and relatively cheap but it lacked that element of personality and sparkle behind the wheel. It seems Suzuki was paying attention. Nobody really saw the 2005 Swift coming. Suddenly here was a small car that keen drivers would turn to, a car that was fun, cheeky and affordable. As unlikely as this turnaround may have been, it's to the benefit of used car buyers who now have a fairly sizeable park of used stock to choose from.
Used Suzuki Swift for sale

History of the Swift

The reason for the modest sales of the Swift's predecessor was easy to identify. It was just so easy to overlook. For the same price as Suzuki wanted for the Swift, there were all manner of rivals that were quicker, more practical, boasted a better badge or were promoted far more effectively. Try to define the brand values of an early Swift. Tough, isn't it? Needing to act decisively if they were to stop haemorrhaging a huge opportunity cost in the lucrative supermini sector, the Japanese company unleashed a completely new Swift in 2005 that, for the first time in a very long time indeed, had commentators abuzz with excitement about a new Suzuki tot.The tactics used in developing this model were not new. Honda and Toyota had shown in the past that plenty could be lost in the translation when small cars were exported from Japan to Europe and had embarked on design and manufacturing ventures in Europe to offer this huge block of customers a little more of what they fancied. First shown at the 2004 Paris Motor Show, the Suzuki Swift benefited from a determined 'Europeanisation' insofar as a dedicated team of designers and engineers have collaborated closely with European automotive professionals and enthusiasts,The first job for Suzuki was to develop a European centre of operations where rival cars could be benchmarked and analysed. Six months spent understanding what makes Western superminis so different from Oriental ones resulted in clear changes to the handling, packaging and design of the initial proposal. The Swift arrived in UK dealers in March 2005 with the 1.3-litre DDiS diesel following in August. The car that really made many sit up and take notice was the virulently infectious Swift Sport which made landfall in October 2006.
Used Suzuki Swift for sale

Suzuki Swift Road Test

The entry-level option is a 92PS 1.3-litre petrol unit that has been a big seller. Next up is a 102PS 1.5-litre petrol powerplant and then there's the 65PS 1.3-litre DDiS diesel. The Sport is powered by a 125bhp engine and this is the standout motor in the range. Suzuki quotes a sprint to 60mph of just 8.9s, making the Swift quicker off the mark than a MINI Cooper or a Citroën C2 VTR. High-lift cams help top-end performance, the peak power being reached at a lofty 6,800rpm, a reminder, if ever it were needed, that Suzuki make some very decent motor bikes! The intake manifold has been widened and polished while the forged pistons and free-flowing exhaust also help the Sport realise its dynamic aspirations. Drive in a more measured fashion and you might match Suzuki's quoted combined fuel consumption figure of 37.7mpg. Just don't bank on it. That throttle pedal is an addictive thing.The diesel unit is also interesting, featuring common rail architecture allied to a turbocharger and intercooler. The result is a surprisingly flat torque curve that offers strong responses at a wide range of engine speeds. The 1.3-litre petrol engine is capable of hitting 60mph from standstill in 11 seconds on the way to its 109mph top speed. The 1.5-litre option cuts a second from that time and has a top speed of 115mph, although those figures are dulled slightly if you substitute the standard manual transmission for the automatic gearbox. Fuel economy is key in a car like the Swift and averages of 45.6mpg and 43.5mpg for the two petrol engines respectively is a good showing. Better still is the diesel's 61.4mpg.
Used Suzuki Swift for sale

Buying a Suzuki Swift

The build quality feels way better than early Swifts and Suzuki has developed a burgeoning reputation for good dealer service and sensible spares pricing. As with any car that gets used in the city a good proportion of its life, check for shopping dents and scrapes, wheel alignment and kiddie damage. The Sport model is likely to have lived a slightly more exercised existence, so check for crash damage, tyre wear and clutch life.
Used Suzuki Swift for sale

Suzuki Swift Typical Pricing

A Swift 1.3 GL starts at around £5,700 for an 05 plate model in the three-door body style. Plump for the five-door and you'll need to front up with a couple of hundred more. The 1.5-litre engine is usefully pokier and the three-door GLX kicks off at just over £7,000 on an 06 plate. The automatic version has proven quite popular and these start at around £6,900 on an 05 plate. The diesel is a little rare but clean 2006 55 platers can be found from around £7,500.
Used Suzuki Swift for sale

Suzuki Swift Parts

(approx based on a 2006 1.5 GLX - ex Vat) A clutch assembly is around £90 and an exhaust system about £115. Front and rear brake pads will be about £60 and £35. A radiator is about £100 reconditioned, a recon alternator about £150 reconditioned and a recon starter motor around £110.
Used Suzuki Swift for sale