2006 Suzuki Swift Reviews

Ewan Kennedy reviews the 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016 Suzuki Swift as a used buy.

Suzuki Swift was a big seller in Australia in the 1980s and '90s. Many were rebadged as Holdens and carried Barina badges. For some strange reason imports were stopped in 2000.Thankfully an all-new Swift was imported downunder beginning in February 2005 and is the subject of this week's used-car report.The chunky lines of the body pleased many and the new Swift was a hit from day one. Note that there are no Holden versions of these later models.The Suzuki Swift is a tough little machine that's well know for reliability and long life and has long been popular on the Australian used-car scene.They hold there value well and dealers complain they often can't get their hands on enough of them.Swift has a better sorted suspension and steering than most cars in its class and is appreciated by keen drivers.Good throttle response from the engines is another fun factor. Swift has good interior space for a car in this class.Obviously there isn't space for large adults, but the little Suzuki lets you juggle the seats to get the best from the interior space. The front seats have a good spread of fore-and-aft adjustment and the driver's seat can be raised and lowered.Boot space is good for a car of this size, though small in absolute terms. There's the usual option of folding down the seat back in various configurations to make it a better luggage carrier.A major model change in June 2011 retained the same cheeky look as the 2005 model, but is a little larger, with more space in the back seat.Power comes from a twin-cam, multi-valve engine, with a capacity of 1.5 litres in most of the original Swifts. The engine size on these standard cars was reduced to 1.4 litres in the 2011 Swift, but the new design of engine provides similar performance, uses less petrol and creates fewer emissions than the old 1.5.Unlike many so-called 'sports' models, the Suzuki Swift Sport has better engine and suspension performance than the standard Swifts. It has a larger engine, at 1.6 litres, to back up its firmer suspension, sporty body kit and enhanced interior. The Sport isn't what you would term a hot hatch but it gives you plenty of driving pleasure at a very modest price.Many Swifts in Australia have a five-speed manual gearbox, there's also the option of a four-speed automatic transmission. The auto doesn't take too much away from the performance of this relatively light car. The Swift Sport came only as a manual, a five-speed, until it was discontinued in 2011.There were no imports of the Swift Sport from June 2011 until February 2012 when the new series was introduced with a six-speed manual transmission and the option of a CVT, the latter has seven preset ratios so drivers can make their own choices.Though this is a small car there's quite good under-bonnet space so you can do your own basic servicing without knocking off too much skin.Buy a workshop manual before opening that bonnet, though. Leave anything that could affect safety to the professional mechanics.There are a reasonable number of Suzuki dealers in Australia, though they tend to be concentrated in the metropolitan and major country cities.We have heard of no real problems with spare parts supply and the prices aren't too bad for a fully imported car.Insurance costs are towards the lower end of the scale and we don't know of any companies that charge significantly more for the Sport versions.Be wary of a Swift that has been modified in the body and mechanicals as these may indicate it has had a hammering by a look-at-me driver. Big, noisy exhausts are a prime candidate for caution.Look for body damage and/or signs of it having been repaired.Check that the engine starts within a second of you turning the key, even if it's completely cold in the morning.If the engine hesitates on acceleration or during hard cornering there may be some water in the fuel rails causing a misfire.Fuel filler hoses and clamps were the subject of recalls in March and May 2012. Give a Suzuki dealer a call with the Swift's VIN and they can advise if it has been modified.Manual gear changes should be light, easy and quiet. If not there may be gearbox troubles, or it may be the clutch needs adjusting.Make sure the sound system work correctly. If there's no life from it there's a good chance it has been stolen in the past and the PIN security system has shut it down.

Suzuki Swift was a big seller in Australia in the 1980s and '90s, but was inexplicably discontinued in 2000. Realising they had made a mistake, the importers introduced an all-new Swift in February 2005. The older Swifts, which incidentally were also imported by Holden and badged as Barinas are also worth a

Graham Smith reviews the 2005, 2006 and 2007 Suzuki Swift as a used buy.

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.

Item by item the Swift doesn't produce much that is a standout; it's all pretty good but generally on a par with others in the segment. Stylistically it is in the "cute box" mould. A strong front-styling gives it presence and a squareish body allows for comfortable interior space.For a $15,990 car, the standard fittings are impressive. There are dual front airbags, ABS brakes, a six-speaker in-dash CD stereo with steering-wheel-mounted controls, airconditioning, height-adjustable seatbelts and driver's seat, electric mirrors and windows, power steering and remote central locking.The test car was fitted with the "S pack" which, for $2000, adds side and curtain airbags, alloys and foglights. But it is not just the list of what is in the car that impresses but the thought that has gone into the little extras. A tray under the passenger seat is perfect to keep knick-knacks out of sight. The inclusion of a pressure pad release for the rear hatch is a touch of class missing from many far more expensive models.The feeling of batting above its position in life continues in the interior of the Swift. A feeling of being in more prestigious surroundings persists with well-designed, quality-feel controls and comfortable, supportive seating.Pleasant surprises keep coming with the Swift's road behaviour. Impressively solid and grounded, the Swift suffers only from a slightly choppy ride at low speeds but when up and rolling the ride is stable and comfortable.The manual box is light and precise but the clutch is too light and the uptake too high up in the travel.A substantial feel to the steering wheel is in keeping with the quality feedback the front-driver provides. Turn-in is precise without being sharp but the chassis offers impressive stability under load.Don't be put off by the fact the Swift has drum rear brakes. Coupled to an effective ABS system the disc front/drum rear set-up works strongly and offers good pedal feel. Raw figures, 74kW@6000rpm and 134Nm@4000rpm, don't do the Swift's performance justice.The manual option definitely works best with the 1.5-litre engine, which spins up willingly and when held at the higher end of the rev range (anything over 3200rpm keeps the pot stirred) can be a lot of fun.In automatic trim, the Swift can struggle to get off the line, particularly with four passengers on board, but finds its legs when it's up and moving. Fuel economy is good rather than frugal. The manual on test averaged in at 9.3 litres per 100km, mainly around town. Suzuki claims 9.0 litres per 100km about town and 5.9 litres per 100km on the open road.Can't wait for the GTi.