RE: Suzuki Swift Sport: Spotted

RE: Suzuki Swift Sport: Spotted

Saturday 21st April 2018

Suzuki Swift Sport: Spotted

The Suzuki Swift Sport has just been replaced, but you'll be wanting the brilliantly affordable last one



For a number of years now, more and more of our favourite hot hatches have adopted turbo engines to deliver the performance that customers demand while reducing emissions and fuel consumption. However, there was always the Suzuki Swift Sport to buck that trend; until now. Yes, alas, the new generation of Swift Sport is here and it has gone down the forced induction route. Shame.

Fortunately, you can still buy a good example of the old Swift Sport on the used market. It's not the fastest hot hatch out there, but it is an entertaining little rascal nonetheless, one worthy of being highlighted in a Spotted. There are plenty out there to choose from, too, including this low mileage, two-year-old example.


The sensible stuff first. Equipment levels are generous, though, with all the mod cons such as climate control, sat nav, cruise control, and a DAB radio; none of this helps it to go any faster, but it's good to have in a sensible commuter car. The boot is small, but it's not a very big car, so this is to be expected.

When you do escape the urban sprawl, there's a naturally aspirated 1.6-litre petrol engine that thrives on revs, and it's paired with a slick six-speed gearbox to enable you to keep it near the redline, at all times.

The Swift Sport has a firm ride, but it does have the word 'Sport' emblazoned on the back, so you were warned about this. It never becomes uncomfortable, mind, and it does help to keep body roll under control. The tyres stick tenaciously to the road surface, meaning that you'll need a good yank of the handbrake to really get the tail to step out of line. In other words, you can enjoy throwing the car around without fear of it biting back.


Insurance might be a little higher than its rivals and road tax is £150 per year, but that's not the end of the world. Fuel economy is good for this type of car and the reliability is sound. All in, there is a lot to like about the Swift Sport. You can buy one; thrash it for a few years and it'll still be working fine when you come to sell it.

This two-year-old Swift Sport is now down to £8,680, or less than half the price of the new car, and with only 16,000 miles on it there's plenty of life left in it. If you want your naturally aspirated thrills, buy one now, while you still can.


SPECIFICATION - SUZUKI SWIFT SPORT

Engine: 1,586cc, four-cylinder, N/A
Transmission: 6-speed manual, front-wheel drive
Power (hp): 136@6,900rpm
Torque (lb ft): 118@4,400rpm
MPG: 44.1
CO2: 147 g/km
First registered: 2016
Recorded mileage: 16,000 miles
Price new: £14,004
Yours for: £8,680

See the full ad here.

Author
Discussion

r11co

Original Poster:

6,244 posts

229 months

Saturday 21st April 2018
quotequote all
Interesting how prices on these seem to have held strong while supply became scarce as production had ceased. I paid considerably less for a lower mileage four-door example in August last year.

My best mate was looking for a four-door one in the last couple of weeks and couldn't get one anywhere.

Edited by r11co on Saturday 21st April 08:02

Frimley111R

15,537 posts

233 months

Saturday 21st April 2018
quotequote all
I think of these as small cars but I was behind a new one yesterday and it was at least as wide as my (current shape) 1-Series.

anonymous-user

53 months

Saturday 21st April 2018
quotequote all
After procrastinating for a year, just bought one. Took it to Devon the other weekend. A bit noisy on the motorway (thanks Janspeed) but also hilarious on the B roads & overall 48mpg.
A fun toy that makes you smile.

mnx42

215 posts

162 months

Saturday 21st April 2018
quotequote all
I have one of these on a '13 plate. I have had it for 4 years and have done nearly 50,000 miles in it, commuting mainly. In all that time I have had to have a new battery and a new clutch.
I average 45 MPG (on the clocks) as I have a decent run into work and enjoy most of them. I have had "Hot" hatchbacks all my life and although this isnt one of the fastest it is one of the most fun and the most reliable I have had.
It is comfortable enough and handles really well. I thought I might trade it in against the new one but after reading a few reviews.. I think I have changed my mind.

dieseluser07

2,452 posts

115 months

Saturday 21st April 2018
quotequote all
Used to have the old one of these, at the time i enjoyed it and thought it was quick, however getting back into one after my current fiesta st turbo 215bhp, makes it feel completely glacial and i dont think i could drive something that slow again.

Shame really as i did enjoy it but this model only has 10bhp up on the one i had.

Plug Life

978 posts

90 months

Saturday 21st April 2018
quotequote all
Frimley111R said:
I think of these as small cars but I was behind a new one yesterday and it was at least as wide as my (current shape) 1-Series.
Visit Specsavers ASAP, the BMW is more than 11" wider.

Mercury00

4,098 posts

155 months

Saturday 21st April 2018
quotequote all
Frimley111R said:
I think of these as small cars but I was behind a new one yesterday and it was at least as wide as my (current shape) 1-Series.
I have the new one and it's really wide, in fact I'm sure it's about as wide as my mate's Qashqai.

Ron99

1,985 posts

80 months

Saturday 21st April 2018
quotequote all
Frimley111R said:
I think of these as small cars but I was behind a new one yesterday and it was at least as wide as my (current shape) 1-Series.
A true small car is a rarity nowadays.
Just like their owners, cars get an inch wider every few years. What were once small town cars have grown to become large family cars.

My wife's 2016 Vauxhall Viva is as large as my neighbour's 15yr old Corsa (early-2000s) and that's as large as a 15-year-older (mid-1980s) Astra.



macky17

2,210 posts

188 months

Saturday 21st April 2018
quotequote all
Don’t get me wrong - great little cars. But is it me or do PH keep doing features on the same cars? This must be the 3rd or 4th Suzuki sport article over the past year.

r11co

Original Poster:

6,244 posts

229 months

Saturday 21st April 2018
quotequote all
macky17 said:
Don’t get me wrong - great little cars. But is it me or do PH keep doing features on the same cars? This must be the 3rd or 4th Suzuki sport article over the past year.
Single figures only?! They must be into their 20th or 30th BMW M/Porsche article in the same time surely...

Otispunkmeyer

12,557 posts

154 months

Saturday 21st April 2018
quotequote all
Currently looking at swapping my Abarth for one of these. Can anyone tell me range on a tank? I definitely need 300 -330 miles before needing a refill. Commute is mostly A roads. 30 miles each way.

V88Dicky

7,302 posts

182 months

Saturday 21st April 2018
quotequote all
One of these is definitely on my list as my next daily, just need to convince 'er indoors.


hehe

V88Dicky

7,302 posts

182 months

Saturday 21st April 2018
quotequote all
Otispunkmeyer said:
Currently looking at swapping my Abarth for one of these. Can anyone tell me range on a tank? I definitely need 300 -330 miles before needing a refill. Commute is mostly A roads. 30 miles each way.
370 mile range @ 40mpg

Easy peasy biggrin

HannsG

3,031 posts

133 months

Saturday 21st April 2018
quotequote all
Selling my Panda 100HP soon. Seriously tempted by one of these. Wife wants me to go get a car for £15K+.

Why would I? Cheap motoring is what I'm after

Mr2Mike

20,143 posts

254 months

Saturday 21st April 2018
quotequote all
Plug Life said:
Frimley111R said:
I think of these as small cars but I was behind a new one yesterday and it was at least as wide as my (current shape) 1-Series.
Visit Specsavers ASAP, the BMW is more than 11" wider.
The current model 1-Series is about 30mm (1.2 inches) wider than the new model Swift.

If you think it's 11 inches. you are going to severely disappoint a woman one day.

nickfrog

20,872 posts

216 months

Saturday 21st April 2018
quotequote all
Ron99 said:
A true small car is a rarity nowadays.
There are plenty around but they are simply not called what they used to be called. For instance, if you find the Golf has become too big, then just buy a Polo, which is probably the size the Golf used to be 15 years ago.

soad

32,829 posts

175 months

Saturday 21st April 2018
quotequote all
Too dear (major depreciation to come yet). Would rather buy an earlier plate one.

Otispunkmeyer

12,557 posts

154 months

Saturday 21st April 2018
quotequote all
V88Dicky said:
Otispunkmeyer said:
Currently looking at swapping my Abarth for one of these. Can anyone tell me range on a tank? I definitely need 300 -330 miles before needing a refill. Commute is mostly A roads. 30 miles each way.
370 mile range @ 40mpg

Easy peasy biggrin
Well... good news to my eyes. I had read of one long term review at a mag where he'd struggled to get 280 from it. Ditto a lad on Youtube (MR DJC) who commented that he liked the economy and was getting 290 from it.

Depends how hard they are ragging it but Honest John Real MPG reports 42 MPG from owners and Spritmonitor a perhaps more realistic 37. With a 42 liter tank @ 37 it should be 300+ easy. Perhaps Suzuki QC isn't great and there are good engines and bad ones hehe


nickfrog

20,872 posts

216 months

Saturday 21st April 2018
quotequote all
soad said:
Too dear (major depreciation to come yet). Would rather buy an earlier plate one.
Major ? It's just over £8k. Probably £150 / month depreciation for 2 or 3 years to come doesn't seem major to me but I guess it's relative.

gweaver

906 posts

157 months

Saturday 21st April 2018
quotequote all
HannsG said:
Selling my Panda 100HP soon. Seriously tempted by one of these.
I've seen some of your posts on the Fiat. I test drove one and didn't gel with it. I can see the appeal though.
In my limited experience, the steering and ride of the SSS is much better, but the Panda wins easily on practicality.