Suzuki Swift Sport: PH Fleet
It's the last naturally aspirated hot hatch on sale, of course we had to run one!
But something has been lost in recent developments: the naturally aspirated engine. Indeed the Suzuki Swift Sport you see here is the last hot (ish) hatch on sale without a turbo. It makes its 136hp peak at 6,900rpm and needs 4,400rpm before it will muster its full 118lb ft. Figures from an older hot hatch then, but also the promise of a traditional driving experience. Because aren't hot hatches all about revs and last minute shifts?
In addition, the Swift boasts a refreshingly old fashioned kerbweight of just 1,045kg. Even a Fiesta ST is 100kg more, a Focus RS half a tonne (!) heavier. There are no modes either, simply a well sorted passive suspension set up, three pedals and a six-speed gearbox. All this time we've been bleating on about the detrimental effect of turbos and the unnecessary complexity of modern cars; the Swift would appear to be the answer to those concerns.
First impressions - it's only been with us for a week - are very good indeed. KY66 OVA doesn't have a single option fitted to it; there are a few extras listed on the Suzuki site, but none appealed especially. And if we're using this car as an example of simple being best, completely standard seemed appropriate. For £14,399, you get plenty of equipment too: Bluetooth, DAB, sat-nav, keyless entry and curtain airbags are all standard.
Enough of the worthy stuff though; what's it like to drive? As you can probably tell from the ridiculous look on my face, rather good fun. Suzuki had already covered 300 miles in the car, their parting advice being that "it loves revs" and meaning we could get on with driving in a, er, traditional hot hatch style.
It does love revs! As mentioned in our five-door review, the Swift perhaps doesn't quite zing like the best Japanese engines, but it feels really keen between 4,500 and 6,500rpm. With fairly modest performance you can use those revs too, and drive the Swift so much harder than most modern performance cars. If the engine loosens up just a fraction over the coming miles, it promises to be really good fun.
It's a simple car too: you start the engine, switch the ESP off if you really want to, select a gear (yourself) and drive away. There's nothing to configure, no adjustable steering weights and not a paddle in sight. Jolly good!
The Swift is with us for six months, during which time we're hoping to get it out on track, explore its rallying success and pitch against a few other classic hatches too. Eager would be an understatement!
FACT SHEET
Car: Suzuki Swift Sport
Run by: Matt
On fleet since: October 2016
Mileage: 422 (delivered on 300)
List price new: £14,399
Last month at a glance: From one of the most expensive hot hatches to the most affordable!
Photos: Dan Trent
We had a boggo mk1, not the sport and we loved it.
You get what you aim for......
We had a boggo mk1, not the sport and we loved it.
You get what you aim for......
One of these would be a lot of fun, what should I be aiming for in your book.
Replaced it with a Fabia VRS Estate (1.4tsi) she cried when we px'd it at the dealership.
Our lad is 2 now meaning we haven't got to cart at much stuff about so I can see us returning to the swift sport.
They're such good fun, you can drive the wheels off them and not be doing stupid speeds.
Fabia is boring in comparison I can't wait to get rid of it!(never really got on with it)
Only annoyances were;
very occasionally you'd struggle to get 1st from stand still and have to select it via 2nd (they all do that sir, apparently) and when you folded the front seat to get in the back. The seat reset to a bolt upright position too far forward meaning it had to be re adjusted. However all was forgiven for how good the rest of it was!
One of these would be a lot of fun, what should I be aiming for in your book.
It's a bloody riot to drive I love it...oh and it's never missed a beat.
We had a boggo mk1, not the sport and we loved it.
You get what you aim for......
Some people might aspire to own a brand new Mondeo, others a Ferrari.
Everyone is different.
People that aspire to own something that is realistic to own in the future are generally much happier.
That's not to say I'm knocking ambition.....far from it.
It's a bloody riot to drive I love it...oh and it's never missed a beat.
Looking forward to the updates very much!
I use it daily and will do around 25000 miles a year A,B, and MWay driving. My only 2 minor niggles are seat related.. 1) If you move the drivers seat to let someone in the back it returns to a default position (so everyone has to enter my car via the passenger door!) and the drivers seat is set a little too high for my liking.
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