Suzuki Reviews

. . . as we chug steadily up a steep, slippery hill in the new Suzuki Grand Vitara Turbo Diesel it is evident that this is what oil-burners do best.Sure, the new 1.9-litre, direct-injection, intercooled turbo diesel engine miserly sips the Earth's fossil fuel resources and emits greenhouse gases at the same rate as a small car.But it is the generous 300Nm of crank-twisting torque that I am thankful for as the latest in the long and trusted line of Grand Vitaras plods steadfastly up the greasy Mt Cotton hill at just a tickle over idle.Grand Vitara Turbo Diesel is only the third diesel in the competitive compact SUV class, after the launch last year of diesel versions of the Kia Sportage and Jeep Patriot and Compass.The five-door diesel Grand Vitara is listed at $34,990 which places it just behind the top-of-the-range V6 Prestige and completes the five-model range.It comes with the same specification as the Prestige, but without the leather upholstery. So that means it gets a leather-wrap steering wheel, stability control, climate air, MP3 compatible CD player, cruise control and remote keyless entry with immobiliser.Powered by a Renault 1.9-litre common-rail turbo engine, the Bosch magnetic coil piezo injectors can squirt precise amounts of fuel from the high-pressure (1600 bar, 23,000psi) common rail up to five times during one cylinder's combustion cycle.This not only reduces fuel consumption and gas emissions, but also compression knock and therefore engine noise.The water-cooled Garret turbocharger features energy efficient variable fins which at low revs are almost flat so turbine speed is high and boost is up.At high revs the fins turn to a steeper angle, so turbine speed does not go off the scale.Turbo cooling is provided by an electric cooling pump, which keeps engine coolant circulating through the turbo charger after the engine has stopped.The diesel is married to a new five-speed manual gearbox which is notchy but robust. There will be no automatic.Paul Dillon, general manager of Queensland importers Suzuki Auto Co, said their technicians last year evaluated a test vehicle here over 3000km and had not encountered any issues.On a test drive with Dillon around Brisbane last year and on the very short road test at last week's state launch, the vehicle sounded quiet and strong, pulling from as low as 1700rpm.From 2200rpm, it rolls on with more urge than the V6 Prestige for reasonable passing duties. However, with only 95kW on tap, the top end isn't as vibrant as the V6.As it approaches red line, the engine begins to groan and there is minor coarseness through the gear shift and pedal.At 100km/h in fifth gear the diesel ticks over at just 2200rpm, which should yield good fuel economy. Suzuki claims 9.4l/100km in city duties and 6.7 on the highway.The Japanese brand proudly boasts that its compact SUV range is more likely to be used for off-road ventures than most of its ilk.Consequently, the major portion of the launch was conducted on the four-wheel-drive circuit of the State Government's Mt Cotton driver training facility.Here the little diesel "Zuke” is in its element, splashing through the bog holes, stepping over tree roots and chugging up gnarly hillclimbs.Going down some steep hills, the low-revving diesel engine helps to negate the need for a hill descent feature despite its under 2:1 transfer case ratio. Only perpendicular slopes are going to prove a problem.This is a genuine off-roader suited to beach runs, forestry trails and some tight bush work. Only rock crawling is beyond its capabilities.However, greenies shouldn't be perturbed by this off-roader. It is fitted with a particulate filter incorporated in the exhaust that burns off carbon deposits.Inside, the Suzuki looks crisp and modern with comfortable seats, generous leg and head room, and clear vision all round for an open, airy feeling.Safety is aided by stability control that includes traction control and anti-lock brakes with electronic brakeforce distribution and brake assist.There are also six airbags in the cabin and the bonnet and bumper area are designed to be pedestrian friendly.Suzuki Auto Co sales and marketing manager Stephen Craig said they expected to sell more than 500 diesel Grand Vitaras in a year, accounting for about 28 per cent of all their 4WD sales, which also includes the practical little Jimny.Suzuki will follow up the diesel Grand Vitara with a minor update and increase in engine capacities for its petrol models in the middle of 2008.The 2-litre four-cylinder will become a 2.4, while the 2.7-litre V6 grows to 3.2. Grand Vitara diesel$34,990ENGINE: 1870cc 4-valve, 4-cylinder direct injection common-rail turbo dieselPOWER: 95kW @ 3750rpmTORQUE: 300Nm @ 2000rpmBORE X STROKE: 80 x 93MMCOMPRESSION: 17:1DRIVE: 4-mode 4 x 4TRANSMISSION: 5-speed manual; transfer high 1.000, low 1.970KERBWEIGHT: 1605kg (1660kg with full options)PERFORMANCE: 170km/h (max), 0-100km/h in 13.2secECONOMY (L/100KM): 9.4 (city), 6.7 (highway), 7.6 (combined)EMISSIONS: 195g/km of CO2; Euro 4 compliant 

The first SX4 landed in February and the range is already out to three models, with more to come and a target of 5000 sales for the full year next year.Eventually there will be a Suzuki pocket rocket, with a turbocharged engine and all-wheel drive, as the SX4 range expands and reflects the company's push into the World Rally Championship.An SX4 WRC competed for the first time this month at the Corsica Rally in France and, despite some glitches, Nicolas Bernadini got it to the finish.In Australian showrooms, the SX4 newcomers are the front-drive sedan and hatch, which have just joined the all-wheel-drive hatch that kicked off the line-up.They have been set against the conservative contenders in the small-car bazaar, led by the Toyota Corolla.“Our aim is to get a reasonable share of that huge small-car segment, within which there are many body types; and we believe we cover the whole spread,” Suzuki Australia general manager Tony Devers says.“Small cars are about 22 per cent of the total market now and we haven't had a presence there.”The SX4 is built from the same basic package as the baby Swift, but with a much larger cabin and a 2.0-litre engine. The new sedan is a genuine five-seater, but has more conservative styling than the hatch.There are two models, with a starting price just below the crucial $20,000 mark. Even the base car comes with the essential airconditioning and regular electric assists.The S pack, with alloy wheels and cruise control, is still pretty affordable from $22,990. The four-speed automatic is an extra $2000.Suzuki Australia says it expects to move about 2000 front-drive sedans next year.“Swift is still the number one seller for us, even with restricted availability from Japan,” Devers says.“It will be 9000 to 10,000 cars this year. And once the new SX4 comes on line in Hamamatsu next July we should have much better supply of Swift and SX4.“Suzuki is now on the road to being a global company. The SX4 tells us that Suzuki is not just a micro-car maker.”The SX4 has even sparked an in-house sales race between Suzuki Australia and the company in Chile, which has a target for this year of more than 20,000 deliveries.The result could be line-ball between Chile and Australia because both countries reflect a global drive built around new-age cars. On the roadThe SX4 sedan is a sweet little car. It is quiet, comfy and does everything you need. It looks good, too, though it does not stand out in a crowd the same way the SX4 hatch does.It gets along quite well, is light on fuel, and will carry five people with no trouble in a body that is noticeably longer than the SX4 hatch.Is that enough? For people who will shop it against something like a Nissan Tiida or a Hyundai Elantra, it will be just fine.And against the top-selling Toyota Corolla or my favourite Ford Focus, it has a considerable price advantage and plenty of equipment for the money.The biggest problem for Suzuki will be to get the SX4 sedan on to shopping lists, but that is what the WRC rally campaign; and the company's flashy new television advertisements; is all about.Suzuki plans to push a more youthful image for the brand, partly through the WRC program but also because the SX4 lends itself to tweaking. A monster sport body kit is already under way for the hatch. The company believes it can walk people up from the Swift as they need a more family-focused car.The SX4 sedan is a perky drive and still gets economy, which will be great for commuters. The manual gearshift is light, the controls are clear and simple, the sound system is fine for the price, and it rides and handles without any vices. It also comes with the safety gear you expect for the price in the class, and is easy to park.But it has a significant flaw in the back seat. The SX4 has a split-fold system that still leaves a giant step-up because the seat-back does not fold completely flat, a design drama that makes it impossible to load some long items into the boot.I also believe it could benefit from some Australian input on the handling, which is not as crisp as the smaller Swift. But it's a solid effort and a car that will be easy to recommend. The bottom line70/100Sweet little car that is a nice drive and good value. It also shows the potential at Suzuki. All anglesFast factThe SX4 will be entered in the full World Rally Championship from the start of next season. 

Rear legroom also continues to be generous for this size sedan and there are three child restraint anchor points in the backSuzuki has halved its drivetrain and added a boot to give its SX4 small car a sales lift.The SX4 all-wheel-drive hatch was launched here in January as a small car with youthful and aggressive attitude.Now Suzuki is looking to broaden its appeal with the addition of a sedan and a substantial drop in price to a sub-$20,000 starting price.The AWD SX4, which attracted only 5 per cent import duty because of its clearance and all-wheel drive, costs $24,390 for the manual and $2000 more for the auto.Now, despite attracting import duty of 10 per cent, Suzuki has saved enough on the less complicated drivetrain to offer the five-speed manual SX4 hatch and sedan for the same price of $19,990 in GLX base trim.The better-equipped S trim level adds $3000 and the four-speed auto is an extra $2000. There is no price premium for the sedan right across the range.Suzuki Auto Co general manager Keith Carroll said the SX4 had been a success, representing about 10 per cent of sales, but the addition of two-wheel drive and a sedan option would further increase its share.“We would expect that SX4 will be about 12-14 per cent of our total sales this year,” he said.“It will add to the younger end of the market because of the price, but with the boot we have a car that will appeal to either end of the age range.”With lower clearance than the AWD SX4, the tidy small car looks neater and less gawky. While the AWD SX4 sits 200mm off the ground, the hatch is 175mm and the sedan lower still at 165mm.However, older drivers attracted to the higher hip entry point of the AWD SX4 will still find the hatch and sedan easy to access because of their generous roof height.The sedan variant has a massive boot for this class of car with little intrusion from the torsion beam rear suspension, a flat and serviceable cargo floor, wide and low access, but a temporary spare under the floor.Rear legroom also continues to be generous for this size sedan and there are three child restraint anchor points in the back.Carroll predicts they will sell about 840 SX4s in Queensland this year with 640 of those being hatches.Standard features are airconditioning, electronic power steering, steering wheel-mounted audio controls, eight speaker sound system with MP3 capability, electric windows, power door locks, and remote key entry and locking.On the safety side they get dual front airbags, anti-lock brakes, electronic brake force distribution, emergency brake pedal assistance and a four-star Euro NCAP safety rating that includes pedestrian safety.The S adds leather-wrapped steering wheel, cruise control, 16-inch alloy wheels, smart key entry, fog lights and side curtain airbags that go back to the rear seat.While the Suzuki's top-selling Swift Sport now gets electronic stability program (ESP) thrown in for no extra cost, the SX4 goes without this vital safety feature.Carroll said if ESP became available on the vehicle, it would be offered.“I would be hopeful that if we get it, it would be at a similar price,” he said.The chassis and suspension were re-tuned for the front-wheel-drive version, but the engine remains the same with peak power of 107kW at 5800rpm and maximum torque of 184Nm at 3500rpm.Suzuki service manager Mike Turner described the powerplant as 'bulletproof.'“Amazing but true. In Australia, we have never had a mechanical failure of this engine assembly,” he said.“This engine, with very few changes and the addition of a turbo charger, will power Suzuki's SX4 World Rally Car, due to make its debut later on this year.”Queensland's Suzuki importer, Suzuki Auto Co, this year expects to sell four times the number of vehicles it did three years ago.Their sales to the end of July were 5026, compared with 3970 for the same period last year.“That means we now are tracking more than 1000 vehicles ahead of last year,” Carroll said.Internationally, Suzuki would increase its 'fire power' by building new plants, he said.“There are new plants underway in Hamamatsu and even Russia where a plant is being built in St Petersburg.“The Russian plant is scheduled to come on stream in late 2009... They will boost our ammunition significantly and allow us to sell more than 3 million cars a year in 2010 . . . which will give us five per cent of the world market.”

It appears to be a question rather than an answer. One that a TV quiz presenter would start by asking: “What am I?” then throwing it open to frazzled contestants barely coping with a live audience and the knowledge three million people watching at home are waiting for the contestant to make a complete prat of themselves.The Suzuki SX4 is the answer to a question few would ask. It's a hatchback, but could be a wagon; it's not a 4WD, though it has all-wheel- drive; it's not really a sports car despite its healthy 2.0-litre engine.In a world of cars with a dedicated purpose, the SX4 is an anomaly. It can be all things to all users and that is its appeal. It will cope with some light running along gravel tracks, even a jaunt on firm beach sand.It is also nimble enough for the city and spacious enough for a couple or a young family.And carrying a price tag of $24,390 for the manual model, the SX4 may not be at the cheapest end of the scale, but it's still an affordable package. Especially when considering the small car has a personality crisis when it comes to its definition, not to mention the features and a four-star Euro NCAP safety rating that comes with it.The four-speed auto is a little more expensive, adding $2000.But the five-speed manual does a fine job with a smooth shifting gearbox. It will also give you a more frugal performance than the auto.The hatch styling lends itself to a versatile life and the roof-racks cry out for mounting a wave ski (preferably one less than the car's 4.1m length) or mountain bike, just to show you are the adventurous type.Inside, the SX4 seats four adults and has a fold-down rear seat to boost cargo space. It feels more spacious than your average small car, a result of the big windows and the taller height of the car perhaps.The cabin design is neat and exceptionally simple to use, although a little plain. But it comes with a high level of features for the price.Standard gear includes a CD player with audio switches on the steering wheel, cruise control, climate airconditioning, electric windows, rather large mirrors and a trip computer. It even has keyless entry and start. You keep the keys in your pocket to open and start the car. While this is unprecedented in the car's price category, motorists who like the tradition of having the keys in the ignition will find it unusual.The seating position is much higher than the Swift donor vehicle, which makes for good forward visibility, but incites body roll through fast corners and on winding roads.The drive train is as flexible as the cabin. Based on the Suzuki Swift, the SX4 is predominantly a front-wheel-drive. By simply flicking a dashboard switch, it becomes an on-demand all-wheel-drive, or, by flicking the switch again, a full-time 4WD.Use 2WD for economy and your regular daily driving in good weather conditions, on-demand auto mode for a rainy day and 4WD when venturing away from the bitumen.It all works well, but beware of the fuel consumption in 4WD. The combination of the 2.0-litre engine and the taxing drive to all wheels can result in drink rates of about11 litres per 100km. But for regular city driving in auto mode, we averaged about 9.7 litres per 100km.Fuel use is accentuated by the car's relatively small 45-litre tank.Safety gear also rates well, with standard dual front airbags, ABS brakes with brake assist and electronic brake force distribution. On the downside it doesn't get ESP, even as an option. It also misses out on a full-size spare tyre, promptly dampening any off-road aspirations and even clouding country trips.The windscreen A-pillars are thick — which is becoming a trend. This indicates high body safety but also creates an awful blind spot to the sides, so extra caution is needed.Those points aside, it's a user-friendly and engaging little machine. The engine is lively and only gets noisy at the top end of its rev range.Performance is best above 3000rpm, and has an energetic feel, although it still cruises nicely around 2000rpm. It delivers its full 107kW potential at 5800rpm, and the 184Nm of torque comes on at 3500rpm.The steering has quite a good feel to it, with good feedback as you turn corners, and is very responsive and easy to live with.When it comes time for quickly engaging the brakes, the SX4 pulls up quite nicely. A sudden brake from 80km/h showed a short braking distance, and some wheel slippage was evident in the wet, but it didn't affect the control of the car.It might not be the trendiest small car on the market, but with its “I want to be a four-wheel-drive persona”, it does have an attractive, youthful appearance.An SX4 is currently part of the CARSguide long-term garage. In our hands over the past few months it has done more than 3000km across a variety of terrain, from shopping centre car parks to winding country roads. Much of that mileage, though, has been around town where, thanks to Sydney's many below-par roads, it has had to cope with some rough riding. Several pot-holed parts of Parramatta and Old Windsor roads, for example, give a reasonable test of the car's handling ability.Suffice to say the SX4 bounces in and out of the potholes well.It also kicks along well on the open road. However, the level of road noise inside the cabin is a concern. Overall, the little car that offers something for everyone has many plusses that make it a competitive buy in a busy market.Suzuki's quirky little soft-roader offers a unique driving experience. Its unusual tall stance for a small car and its overall looks will polarise opinion.

So when it came to taking her for a ride in the Suzuki SX4, I expected a barrage of criticism about a nifty but frankly impractical car for city driving. But she loved it.Apart from the nice dark blue (Kashmir Blue) paint job and the aircraft-like control panel that lit up brighter than Halley's Comet, it was all about comfort.This meant the ease with which she could get in and out of the vehicle. She had no problems, unlike the struggle she has with my ageing Laser hatchback.She was also riding a little higher than usual and had a good clear picture of the road ahead again.I suspect mums with young children would also find the height of the Suzuki much easier to negotiate for baby capsules.But for the driver, a few negatives need to be stated.For a start, the boot space is small - my grandmother's walker wouldn't fit into it - unlike my little Laser. I found the five-speed manual slightly clunky, but I've been reassured they loosen up after a few thousand kilometres. There is a blind spot at the front where the car has an extended A-pillar and a slight noise issue at 110km/h.But there are plenty of positives.Number one is the keyless entry and keyless ignition. After initially believing this feature was more gimmick than useful gizmo, it proved surprisingly practical.Take the scenario of diving into a handbag searching for keys while holding six bags of shopping. It doesn't happen with the SX4. While the “key” needs to be very close to the car - in your handbag or pocket - the driver merely pushes a door handle button to gain entry, then turns the ignition starter.The SX4 has great handling around corners and the steering isn't too sensitive like many new cars. It was a nifty city driver, particularly when it came to parking.But the SX4 is an off-road vehicle and it needed to be put through its paces in the mud around Port Gawler. I'd never driven in the sand and mud and I'm sure my husband expected the car to get bogged and to be hailing for help. Fortunately, the water hazards proved far from that and the good grip from the 4WD ensures the driver is in control.For a small car at a good price of about $24,000, there are plenty of nifty standard features, including six-stacker CD, cruise control, roof racks, power windows, fog lamps and a leather-clad steering wheel.It has six airbags, an immobiliser and child-proof rear door locks.The SX4 is a great car for the price and a petrol miser. But don't believe me. Ask my grandmother.

The original Suzuki Swift GTi, sold here in the mid-'80s, was a budget-priced bucket of bolts attached to one of the sweetest, micro-sized, twin-cam, multi-valve engines this side of a Suzuki motorbike.You don't see too many of those old GTi Suzies around these days; many were spontaneously added to roadside shrubbery when the engine proved too much for the rest of the car to cope.Still, it was a loveable little rogue of a thing, despite wrist-snapping torque steer and wet-weather handling that left drivers ashen-faced and trembling, as though they'd just been shot (or seen The Catch-Up).Maybe “despite” is the wrong word. The adventurous thrilled in numbers to the GTi's mix of dash and destructiveness, making it an unlikely cult machine. Of surviving GTis, possibly only one or two remain unmodified; such is the fate of the cult car.Twenty years on, Suzuki has incorporated the GTi's DNA into its latest bargain hatchback, the Swift Sport.This isn't as simple as you'd expect. Modern designers face unusual design challenges: the technology exists to make even budget-level cars completely smooth and refined, which sometimes — especially in the case of sporty runabouts — isn't what you want.So some reverse engineering is needed: winding back sophistication to a point where the fun kicks in.The harder you drive the Sport, the more you notice its ancestor's kookiness creeping to the surface.There's barely any torque steer, but enough power is communicated through the wheel to give you at least an idea of something raucous happening up front — without any particular danger that you'll be incorporated into a tree, or oncoming traffic.In fact, given the test car's nuclear yellow paint, there was more danger of blinding oncoming drivers than hitting them. This paint could be seen through walls. It was like driving a glowstick.Forget wet-weather trauma, too — although probably more credit should go to the Suzuki's gluey Dunlops than to its suspension engineers.(By the way, when did tyres become so good? These Dunlops are exceptional, but almost all new tyres are capable of grip levels higher than most competent drivers can exceed. Even those cheap Taiwanese brands with names like Myong Tsing and Tong Foon Speed Monkey Radial aren't entirely dreadful. Someone should re-introduce crossplies, just for nostalgia's sake and to keep the population down.)As with any car so over-tyred, handling in the dry is foolproof. Hit a corner too quickly, and it's no great problem to scrub off speed and change lines.Interestingly, the Sport seems set up to oversteer slightly at exit from medium-quick curves. This is so rare among front-drive hatches as to be almost unique.Suzuki evidently has a playful bunch in its suspension-geometry lab. Hey, for all we know the same guys may be responsible for that hyper-cute exterior.Some gambles have been taken here, but it hangs together well across what is a surprising amount of surface area for such a compact unit.Two things about the Suzuki's interior: it offers enough headroom to wear a top hat, should you be so inclined, and features front seats that, by happy accident, are perfectly sculpted for a certain 42-year-old reviewer's dodgy back.Seriously — and it's purely by coincidence — those seats were perfect. A certain reviewer was tempted to remove them for use in his office.A certain reviewer may even have idly sorted through his tools in search of the correct-size spanners for the job before a certain reviewer considered his bail conditions and woke up to himself.The engine — 1.6 litres, four variably timed valves per cylinder, all the usual tricks — is slightly undersquare (greater stroke than bore) which should provide a little more torque than seems available.No big deal; the engine's sound makes up for that. Suzuki must have had its sonic technicians working harder than Israeli airport security to come up with a note so zesty.For only $24,000, ridiculous value is represented here. It's only after a few days of driving that tiny quality differences between the Sport and its more expensive Mazda and Honda competitors become obvious.They're only small matters — a slightly buzzier reverse gear, for one — and nothing that would be a deal-breaker.Of course, for some drivers wanting to reconnect with some GTi rawness, that buzzy reverse might well be a feature, not a bug.

In a little over six months the SX4 will be morphed into a World Rally Car, complete with a turbocharged engine and four-wheel drive, to chase global motorsport success.The SX4 will also grow beyond a baby stationwagon to become a four-door sedan and, probably, a compact hatch before Suzuki has finished with development of its newest model line.The SX4 is designed as a crossover wagon, which means it is fine for young families but was really planned for people who want a wagon for carrying work. That could be dogs or bicycles or any other lifestyle accessory, including a child.It comes with a 2.0-litre engine, four-wheel drive and fully independent suspension, as well as six airbags, anti-skid brakes and even breakaway pedals for impact protection. There is a switch to lock the Suzuki in four-wheel drive, but it is basically an on-demand system. The price is sharp at $24,390 for the five-speed manual or $26,390 for the four-speed automatic.The SX4 arrives as Suzuki really gets going in Australia thanks to the Swift, which was CARSguide Car of the Year in 2005, and the Grand Vitara. All three show a new approach to design and engineering.Suzuki has put some fun stuff into the new wagon, including a keyless entry system. It also comes with alloy wheels, airconditioning, electric windows and mirrors, a tilt-adjustable steering column, audio controls on the steering wheel and a digital readout for temperature and fuel consumption.It is already doing well in Australia and causing problems for Suzuki. As with the Swift Sport, Suzuki can't keep up with demand."The car is putting a lot of pressure on us. We have just had the allocation lifted from Japan and they are expecting big things from us," Suzuki Australia sales and marketing chief Tony Devers says.He believes the SX4 is putting Suzuki on a lot of shopping lists. It will also expand the brand's following, particularly with younger people moving into their first new car, he says."We are getting a lot of people moving out of Subaru Foresters and Imprezas. They want something a bit smaller, but still with the all-wheel-drive capability."Subaru is the obvious rival, but really it's anything in the small-car area. And we have the SX4 sedan coming later in the year," Devers says.

If somehow the Swift will always evoke images of teen gits in baseball caps, the SX4 suggests a soft-drink commercial.It's a prop you'd expect to see parked on a beach surrounded by cavorting nubiles and their well-toned boyfriends. A "things go better with ..." sort of thing.Even if you've reached the stage in life where compulsory military service for the young people seems to have some merit — or at least a vigorous state-sponsored suppression of their music — there's much to like about the SX4.Sitting between the Swift and Grande Vitara, the SX4 is a sort of mini-wagon. With an adequate 2-litre petrol four, 20cm ground clearance and lockable 4WD, a McDonald's drive-through should hold no fear.Yet, compact in dimension and neutral in behaviour, the SX4 is a more convincing attempt at a small car/soft-roader crossover than some far more expensive models for which this claim is made.And unlike some of them, the all-wheel-drive system is at least worthy of the name. Via a centre console button you can lock the SX4 in FWD for the best urban petrol consumption, or four-wheel drive for maximum traction in the wet.Or leave it in automatic for the onboard sensor to determine how much torque is required by which axle. It's a piece of extra insurance for the inexperienced driver. As, too, is the five-speed manual with which our car was equipped. Even if Junior becomes a cog out auto lover in later life, I would like him to learn to drive first.If the little Suzi is hardly the most refined ride even for this sort of dough, and fraught with wind noise into the bargain, it would do for him. As will the beneath basic interior that would surely stand up to sand, fast-food detritus and dubious stains.Safety is the area in which Suzuki's progress has been most satisfactory in recent years. It needed to be.The SX4 features dual front airbags, ABS with Brake Assist and Electronic Brake Force, though it lacks a stability control system. We bleat about the interventionist nature of certain electronic nannies, but this car's for him, not me, and stability control ain't even an option.That said, while the SX4 is yet to be officially crash tested, the comparable Swift scored a more than satisfactory four stars in NCAP testing.If that's one star down on certain vehicles that are banned to P-platers by the Road Toll Authority, the SX4 is a hell of a lot safer than dozens of those they are legally permitted to drive.So, which way did you vote yesterday? The winner would do well to remember that Junior and his mates will be casting theirs in 2011. Until then, the SX4 deserves endorsement.

It has been tough for the BMW group, which created the new Mini and has just gone again with the new-new Mini, and impossible for Volkswagen with its born-again Beetle.If a company gets the rebirth right it will have a surefire winner, such as the latest Ford Mustang in the United States, but . . .Now it's Suzuki's turn with the rebirth of its Swift GTi.It's a return to the hot hatch business and a chance to plug a gap below pacesetters including the Ford Focus XR5, Renault Megane Sport and Mazda3 MPS.The Swift is smaller in size and engine capacity, but Suzuki Australia believes it will sell to an eager audience that already knows the new-age Swift and remembers its 1980s and 1990s incarnations.Except it is not called a GTi now because Volkswagen objected to the use of the label it has applied to its go-faster Golf since the 1970s.So the GTi is now the Swift Sport, with good looks, a price from $23,990 and the twin exhaust pipes and giant wheels that mark any hot hatch in the noughties.It is more than a dress-up job thanks to a larger engine, significant suspension work and changes to steering and brakes.It has far more refinement than any earlier Swift GTi, but there are some questions.Shoppers have the right to ask about a five-speed gearbox in a generation of six-speeders, an engine that is still only 1.6 litres and the absence of a spare tyre.They also need to hear about changes that run much deeper than a blat-blat exhaust and big wheels.Changes run to significant work on the body, interior, chassis, suspension and brakes.The steering is sharper, the brakes more fade-resistant and the body upgrade includes a deep front spoiler and a yellow body colour that is beyond bright.The engine grows from 1.3 litres in the regular Swift — CARSguide Car of the Year in 2005 — to a "big-bore" 1.6. Power jumps from 75kW to 92kW and torque is improved from 133Nm to 148Nm at 4800 revs.Suzuki has fitted a close-ratio five-speed gearbox, put more beef into the driveshafts, and the engine breathes through a large-capacity muffler.The result is a 0-100km/h sprint of 8.9 seconds and a top of 200km/h.The suspension has Monroe sports dampers, a retuned rear set-up stabiliser bar, and 195x50 tyres on 16-inch rims.But the spare is gone, replaced by an emergency reinflation pack, to make space in the boot floor for the giant muffler.The car has excellent Isofix child-seat anchorage that is now the standard in Europe but cannot be used here because of silly local regulations.Suzuki Australia expects the Swift Sport to be a sellout, based on reaction to news of a GTi comeback and the showroom success of the regular Swift.ON THE ROADTHE Swift Sport is a sharp, enjoyable drive. I first tried a preview car in Japan last year at a Suzuki test track, but it was hard to know if it was really a GTi or just a powered-up Swift on a track that was super-smooth and had few testing turns.Now, after a run through the regular test program, I know the Swift Sport is very good and very good value.Is it a true GTi? Honestly, no. It is sprightly and sporty, but I have been spoiled by the new-age Focus, Megane and Mazda3, and by memories of the previous Swift GTi with its raunchy engine, edgy cornering and funky looks.But the Swift Sport is way ahead of baby-class rivals including the Hyundai Getz and Toyota Yaris, which have only dress-up sports models, and undercuts European imports that have nice badges but big pricetags.But would I recommend the Swift Sport? Truly, yes.It is more refined than the earlier GTi and is a terrific drive, particularly on twisty roads where you can work the responsive chassis, feel the tyres working through the tactile steering and short-shift the gearbox between ratios.The engine is strong without being anything special and even revving it to the redline — much lower than I remember from the GTi — does not give much satisfaction.It is solid once you have 3000 revs on board and the close-spaced ratios help to keep it boiling, but it's not what I would expect from a company with the experience of building so many amazing big-bore motorcycles.I was also disappointed by the transmission. Drivers of the test car commented that it needed to be a six-speeder, not a five, and that it was overly noisy and working too hard at a 110km/h highway cruise.Still, fuel economy was good at 8.7 litres for 100km, though the Sport likes premium unleaded.Inside the cabin, the sports front buckets give excellent support, the steering wheel is meaty and feels classy, the sound system is good and the airconditioning works well.So, is the Swift Sport a worthy successor to the GTi? Yes and no.It is not as quick, responsive or urgent as the GTi, but that is probably a good thing in today's world.It is more refined, more comfortable and excellent value, putting it closer to a Ford Fiesta Zetec with its 1.6-litre engine than a Hyundai Getz.It really has no direct competitors and that means Suzuki Australia's prediction of a Swift sellout will probably be spot on.THE BOTTOM LINEGOOD looking, fun and sharp to drive, but missing the sizzle expected in a GTi.77/100

The far-reaching web of the bright yellow Ferrari 360 Spider was cast in the form of a looming shadow down the straight at Oran Park.Five laps into the reverse-grid component of this CAMS licence qualifier, the little Swift Sport had clawed its way to the lead from ninth on the grid before being thwarted on the straight by a Porsche Cayman S.The next straight was upon us — but as the golden Ferrari filled my rear-view mirror, the black-and-white flag heralded the race's end.Short reverse-grid handicap though it was, the supercar had been undone by a $23,990 hatchback. It ain't called Swift for nothing.Suzuki may have abandoned the famous GTi nameplate, but a decade since the last hot Swift, it has lost none of its famous fun factor.The standard 1.5 litre Swift engine has been pumped up to 1.6, its new-found 92kW peaking at the 6800rpm limit.On song, the engine is as harmonic as a soprano on speed, and the ensuing adrenalin rush is sparked more by an aural inducement than an actual surge of power.This sweet engine produces 18kW more than the standard donor engine and 15Nm more torque, with 148Nm on tap.Power has been found with the installation of a new block, inlet and exhaust camshafts, crankshaft, pistons and rings, conrods, intake and exhaust manifolds. Add to these an electronic throttle body and a bigger muffler.The engine is matched to a smooth, close-ratio, short-throw five-speed manual. The gear whine in first sounds alarmingly like a police siren.Despite peak torque occurring at 4800rpm, 800rpm higher than in a standard Swift, the Sport responds eagerly from remarkably low revs.The gearing is an absolute joy, with even fourth pulling strongly up steep inclines.On the highway, however, the Sport could use a sixth gear; at 100km/h, it's singing away at 3300rpm.Cruise control is optional, and 98RON fuel is required.To the Sport's credit, a day driving laps around Oran Park, combined with highway stints to and from the track, produced a fuel consumption of just 9.8 litres per 100km. Normal city driving saw figures in the low sevens.But this has always been the beauty of the smaller hot hatch. The Sport weighs in at just 1100kg — only 40kg more than its Swift S sibling, despite some top-shelf specs (although it has a can of goop instead of a spare tyre.) The Sport is quick to stop, too, with the standard rear drums replaced by discs.Rubber is excellent: the Dunlop SP Sport Maxx tyres are wrapped around gorgeous 16-inch alloys that provide feel without rattling the teeth.The Sport's suspension is stiffened with new Monroe shocks, and suspension and tyres provide great feedback without compromising ride quality in the slightest.The vaguely loose feel of the slightly roly-poly standard car is all but gone. Even the seats have better side support.Extra chassis stiffness is provided by a rear floor crossmember and additional right- and left-side floor members.The body is shaped for speed, with a gaping front air dam, revised front and rear bumpers and spoiler, and colours like Courage Yellow, which is brighter than Las Vegas.Against both the exotica and the cars in its category, the Sport sure stands out.With six airbags and ABS as standard, along with sports and spec appeal, it will give the Citroen C2 VTS/VTR, Ford Fiesta Zetec and Mini Cooper a run for their money.The premium for the Swift Sport is a $6000 stretch over the similarly specced Swift S. But the go-fast goodies in a little car that can brag about beating a Ferrari are well and truly priceless. With thanks to Ian Luff Motivation Australia, Oran Park.