2017 Suzuki Swift First Drive Review | Simple Yet Sophisticated And Downright Charming
The Suzuki Swift is a well-loved model in the Australian market, and this third-generation model since the nameplate re-launched in Australia in 2005 arrives to boost the brand’s fortunes in the light car market where it traditionally does the best.
The light car market, as with many passenger car segments in Australia, is starting to shrink and is packed full of choices from the smartly styled Mazda2, to the recently-restyled Toyota Yaris, and the perennially popular Hyundai Accent.
The new Swift has no easy task ahead of it, and even goes up against Suzuki’s own Baleno which occupies the same sales class, but with Suzuki’s trademark perky handling and what has now become iconic styling, this new Swift should make plenty of friends.
Vehicle Style: Light hatch
Price: $16,990-$22,990 driveaway
Engine/trans: 66kW/120Nm 1.2-litre 4cyl petrol, 82kW/160Nm 3cyl turbo petrol | 5sp manual, CVT automatic, 6sp automatic
Fuel Economy Claimed: 4.6-5.1 l/100km | Tested: 6.0 l/100km
OVERVIEW
Suzuki offers the Swift in three distinct variants, kicking off with the GL, a manual-only price-leader then onto the ‘mid-spec’ GL Navigator which adds a CVT auto and (as the name suggests) touchscreen navigation and a few other exterior touches like alloy wheels and fog lights.
Both are powered by a naturally aspirated 1.2-litre petrol engine which although smaller than the class-average is barely burdened by the Swift’s super-light kerb weight.
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