Twinkle twinkle little star
How I wonder what you are?
Up above the world so high
Like a diamond in the sky
Twinkle, twinkle, little star
How I wonder what you are?
A few years ago, we may have wondered who or what this little star is, but the numbers confirmed its popularity and this year alone, the brand overtook the VW Polo sales, claiming position two on the sales charts, much to many an unbeliever’s surprise.
And, prior to the launch of the fourth generation Suzuki Swift, this little South African star had sold more than 600 hundred units.
So, what makes the Suzuki Swift so popular?
Things I like about the new Swift
Before the launch I saw the Swift on the highway, and I was a little torn in terms of my first impressions. But, having seen it in flesh and driven it recently in Cape Town, I am sold all over again. I am quite sure I will speak for many enthusiasts, as the sales figures do not lie.
So here are a few things that stood out for me:
- Compared to its predecessor, the new Swift looks bolder, with slightly more aggressive lines and curves in the right places, very noticeable in the front and rear ends.
- All-round LED light clusters are appealing, and functional, front grille is also sportier.
- New colours have been introduced to the model and they are bright and fun. Because of the high customer demand, the dual tones have been withheld but will come at a later stage, but I am told that some dealers are already finding a solution to this.
- Hill hold is available across the range.
- The interior is fresh and crispy with ample space for storage and bottles in the doors.
- The new dashboard design is sporty, and the new dials may just tempt you to want to race all the time.
- The rear-view mirror has been mounted on the roof as opposed to the traditional windscreen placement, making windscreen replacement hassle-free and economic.
- You still get a full-size spare wheel.
- The new Suzuki Swift is fun to drive
Engine and transmission
The new Swift has had an engine upgrade, the previous K12B engine has been replaced by a new 3-cynder Z12E engine (1197 cubic centimeters), which delivers 60kW at 5700 rpm and at an engine speed of 4300 rpm will peak at 112Nm of torque.
The launch took place in Cape Town and at no point through the mountain passes did the Swift show signs of fatigue or sluggishness.
The motor is mated to either a 5-speed manual gearbox or a CVT gearbox, I liked the manual more, not that there were any issues with the CVT variant.
Suzuki claims a fuel economy of 4.4 liters per 100km, but my best was only 5.4l/100km.
Final thoughts
With only a curb weight of 908 kg, the new fourth generation Swift is light, even lighter on your pocket is its price. It sells from R219 900 to R284 900 and competes with the likes of the Hyundai Grand i10, KIA Picanto, Hyundai Exter, VW Polo Vivo and the Mahindra XUV 3XO.
While we may be fixated on engine specifications, power, and torque outputs, we often miss the technology behind the engineering, and difficulties to carry out simple services. Whether an engine is chain or belt driven, is crucial information to me, and will eventually impact on issues of reliability, ease of maintenance (cost), which I doubt many people would be clued up about. This is where I think the Swift will have the upper hand – reliable and easy to maintain. Not to mention playful and fun to drive.
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