The Suzuki Swift 1.5 GLX is all-new from the ground up, but can the 1.5 GLX be practical in the city, yet be fun enough for rapid B-road blasts? We find out...
Price: £9,199
On sale: Now
0-62mph: 10.6 seconds; top speed 112mph
Average fuel: 43.5 mpg
Standard equipment: Body-coloured door handles and mirrors, power assisted steering, electric front windows, air-conditioning, a CD/stereo, remote central locking, steering wheel-mounted audio controls, keyless entry and start.
Tiscali verdict: Stylish, well-equipped alternative to a Seat Ibiza and Nissan Micra 8/10
The current Swift shares little with the old car except the name. The 1.5-litre unit might be a development of the existing unit, but the Swift sits on a new platform and suspension. There's an attractive, modern feel to the exterior design with its MINIesque floating roof, defined wheel arches and wraparound front and rear lights. Inside, it's equally stylish and there's a real air of quality. But should the Swift be considered alongside better-known rivals. Let's find out.
£9,199,102bhp and group six insurance doesn't sound like much for the Swift 1.5 GLX. But, for that you get pretty much all the equipment you'll ever need. Included as standard are a neat set of 15" alloy wheels, keyless entry/start, air-conditioning a CD/audio system and electric front windows.
What are the most frugal new cars? The ten best cars rated by Auto Express are here.
The Swift GLX we borrowed was powered by a 1.5-litre, 16-valve engine with variable inlet-valve timing, mated with five-speed manual transmission. The engine doesn't really live up to the name, top speed might be a sprightly 112mph but it takes plodding 10.6 seconds to get to 62mph. Best go for the Swift Sport if you're after MINI Cooper chasing thrills!
With a Combined fuel economy figure of 43.5mpg from the 1.5, the Swift should be cheap to run. Sadly, the 1.5-litre engine is not the most flexible of units. It does its best work higher up the rev range, but sounds stressed and uncouth. The gearchange doesn't help either. The five-speed box is rubbery in use and feels disappointingly notchy on up and downshifts. Still, group six insurance means it should be insurable.
The Swift maybe a small car, but there's the full compliment of safety kit, with the side and curtain airbags are standard in all UK-market Swifts. The outer rear seats have Isofix child-seat mountings. ABS and electronic brake-force distribution are fitted as standard.
So what's it like to drive then? Surprisingly good fun actually, with the handling best described as pointy. There's good feedback from the steering and the Swift turns in keenly, but there's pronounced body roll. The Swift's handling is quite adjustable too, you can get the nose to tuck in and the tail edge of the Swift out if you back off in a corner, but there's no pleasure in working the thrashy engine or clunky gearchange
The Swift 1.5 GLX is well priced, looks sharp, is good fun to drive and it appears to be built to last. Easy to see why the Swift is becoming a more popular sight on our roads.
Fancy a closer look? Check out our Suzuki Swift 1.5 GLX gallery
