2011 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.

The FZ Swift released in 2011 was an evolutionary model explained Suzuki executives when trying to justify the little apparent visual change from the EZ model that preceded it. So successful had the EZ been that they simply wanted to build on it rather than reinvent the wheel with an entirely new model was their very

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

It's only when you put the new Suzuki Swift side by side with the old one that the differences become apparent.For that reason, we were surprised Suzuki did not have the previous model on hand at the Aussie launch of the all new Swift this week in Victoria. We reckon a casual observer would have difficulty telling the two cars apart and this is probably no accident. Launched in 2004, the Swift has been a phenomenal success for the Japanese company and no one wanted to derail that train.VALUEThere's three models — GA, GL and top of the line GLX, with prices starting from $16,990 plus on roads. Standard equipment includes seven airbags which no doubt contribute to Swift's maximum five-star safety rating. Electronic stability control and anti-lock brakes with electronic brake forced distribution and brake assist are also standard.DESIGNIn this respect, execs explained the company took a leaf out of BMW's book, opting for a minor, evolutionary changes in appearance, rather than a dramatic one. Looking at the figures, the new Swift is actually significantly bigger — 90mm longer to be exact — and stands 10mm taller too.Distance between the axles has grown by 50mm which means more room inside. Bigger usually means heavier too and the new Swift tips the scales at 1025kg, about 45kg heavier despite a weight saving regime.TECHNOLOGYBut, while the Swift has grown in physical dimensions, its engine has shrunk — from 1.5 to 1.4 litres. The good news is that it produces almost the same amount of power and torque as the unit it replaces, but uses less fuel in the process — a fact that will endear the car to many new drivers.The 1.4-litre engine delivers 70kW of power and 130Nm of torque, compared to 74kW and 133Nm previously. A longer engine stroke and electronic throttle control contribute to better throttle response. The engine is paired with a five-speed manual or four-speed automatic.DRIVINGWe drove the mid-spec' GL with the five-speed auto and top of the line GLX with a five-speed manual. Enthusiasts will no doubt be drawn to the manual, but the auto while nothing flash makes a pretty good fist of it. GA and GL models have drum brakes on the rear, while the GLX adds four-wheel discs.And the GLX gets reach as well as tilt adjustment for the steering wheel. Getting behind the wheel of the car for the first time, we were impressed with its big car feel. It's all hard plastics inside, but they are disguised well with changes in texture and colour.A chunky leather clad steering wheel in the cars we drove sits nicely in the hands. Rear legroom is still tight. Cleverly, the height of the boot lip has been raised which means the bumper will absorb most if not all of the impact in a rear ender making the car cheaper to repair.A space saver spare wheel is standard, hidden beneath a second false floor in the smallish boot. We gave the new Swift a good workout and can see why it is so popular. The busy four cylinder engine lends a sporty note and it feels quieter in the cabin at highway speeds.Confident handling is supplemented by a stability system that will keep the car pointing in the right direction, even at over enthusiastic speeds. Suzuki is claiming a 13 per cent improvement in fuel consumption, down from 6.3 to 5.5 litres/100km for the manual, and from 6.6 to 6.2 litres/100km for the auto.We got 6.5 from the manual and 7.8 from the auto in the course of the launch program. As good as it is, the Swift's tidy chassis deserves and could easily take more power, much more than offered by the current Sport edition (new one under development).

It might look the same, but the new Suzuki Swift is in fact quite different. Not only does it feel different, it is actually different inside, with a classy new interior and instrument layout.Launched in 2005, Swift has been such a success for Suzuki, it is not surprising the company was reluctant to jeopardise this juggernaut, which is probably the main reason it looks so similar. Put the two cars side by side, however, and the differences become obvious immediately.The thing is new car buyers normally want others to recognise the fact they are driving a new car. And, if you happen to be the owner of the previous model, you might not be as inclined to update - not if you need to tell people its new. That'd be a shame, because you'd be missing out.Suzuki has invested quite a lot of time and effort into making the car better. Extensive use of higher-strength steel has made the body lighter and stiffer, which combined with a lower centre of gravity has smoothed out the ride without making the car feel insecure.Looks can be deceiving, because the new Swift is actually 90mm longer, 10mm taller and 45 kilos heavier than before, and the distance between the axles has grown by 50mm which translates to more interior space. The distance between opposing wheels has also increased, which together with larger diameter wheels and lower profile tyres contributes to better handling.The rear bumper also sits higher, which means it will absorb most of the impact in the event of a rear-ender, reducing the cost of repairs (and hopefully insurance). Instead of a 1.5 the new Swift is now powered by a smaller 1.4-litre four cylinder petrol engine.Initially, this might sound disappointing, but with an output of 70kW and 130Nm the smaller engine actually produces almost as much power as before but uses less fuel. Suffice to say that the performance is not disappointing.We were impressed with the changes that Suzuki had made when we drove the car at launch a couple of months back and we were just as impressed the second time around this week. Our test vehicle this time was the entry level GA model fitted with a five-speed manual transmission priced from $15,990 - the same price it was five years ago. Suzuki's engineers have paid particular attention to reducing noise and vibration and it shows.Getting into the car for the first time it feels more substantial and more refined, with a comforting clunk when the door is closed. It has a big car feel that belies it size, with a ride that is smooth and quiet and the manual shift is easy to use. The car accelerates confidently and is not phased by sudden changes in the road surface.A new variable steering ratio setup makes the car respond more quickly to driver input, while a relatively slow ratio near the turning limits reduces the effort required for bigger turns. A new black-and-silver theme has been adopted for the interior giving the car a sportier, more sophisticated feel.The central, smoked glass display is the same as in the pricier Kizashi. All important fuel consumption is down from 6.3 to 5.5 litres/100km which means you'll be filling it up less often. Add to this electronic traction and stability control, seven airbags and a maximum, five-star safety rating and it makes the new Swift a tempting proposition.GA and GL models have drum brakes on the rear, while the GLX adds four-wheel discs. And the GLX gets reach as well as tilt adjustment for the steering wheel.

It's only when you put the new Swift side by side with the old one that the differences become apparent. For that reason, we were surprised Suzuki did not have the previous model on hand at the Aussie launch of the all new Swift this week in Victoria. We reckon a casual observer would have difficulty telling the two cars apart and this is probably no accident. Launched in 2004, the Swift has been a phenomenal success for the Japanese company and no one wanted to derail that train. In this respect, execs explained the company took a leaf out of BMW's book, opting for a minor, evolutionary changes in appearance, rather than a dramatic one. Looking at the figures, the new Swift is actually significantly bigger - 90mm longer to be exact - and stands 10mm taller too. The distance between the axles has also grown by 50mm which means more room inside. Bigger usually means heavier too and the new Swift tips the scales at 1025kg, about 45kg heavier despite a weight saving regime. But, while the Swift has grown in physical dimensions, it's engine has shrunk - from 1.5 to 1.4 litres. The good news is that it produces almost the same amount of power and torque as the unit it replaces, but uses less fuel in the process - a fact that will endear the car to many new drivers. There's three models - GA, GL and top of the line GLX, with prices starting from $16,990 plus on roads. Standard equipment includes seven airbags which no doubt contribute to Swift's maximum five-star safety rating. Electronic stability control and anti-lock brakes with electronic brake forced distribution and brake assist are also standard. The 1.4-litre engine delivers 70kW of power and 130Nm of torque, compared to 74kW and 133Nm previously. A longer engine stroke and electronic throttle control contribute to better throttle response. The engine is paired with a five-speed manual or four-speed automatic. We drove the mid-spec' GL with the five-speed auto and top of the line GLX with a five-speed manual. Enthusiasts will no doubt be drawn to the manual, but the auto while nothing flash makes a pretty good fist of it. GA and GL models have drum brakes on the rear, while the GLX adds four-wheel discs. And the GLX gets reach as well as tilt adjustment for the steering wheel. Getting behind the wheel of the car for the first time, we were impressed with its big car feel. It's all hard plastics inside, but they are disguised well with changes in texture and colour. A chunky leather clad steering wheel in the cars we drove sits nicely in the hands. Rear legroom is still tight. Cleverly, the height of the boot lip has been raised which means the bumper will absorb most if not all of the impact in a rear ender making the car cheaper to repair. A space saver spare wheel is standard, hidden beneath a second false floor in the smallish boot. We gave the new Swift a good workout and can see why it is so popular. The busy four cylinder engine lends a sporty note and it feels quieter in the cabin at highway speeds. Confident handling is supplemented by a stability system that will keep the car pointing in the right direction, even at over enthusiastic speeds. Suzuki is claiming a 13 per cent improvement in fuel consumption, down from 6.3 to 5.5 litres/100km for the manual, and from 6.6 to 6.2 litres/100km for the auto.We got 6.5 from the manual and 7.8 from the auto in the course of the launch program. As good as it is, the Swift's tidy chassis deserves and could easily take more power, much more than offered by the current Sport edition (new one under development).

WE turn the spotlight on automotive's newest and brightest stars, as we ask the questions to which you want answers. Ultimately, however, there is only one question that really needs answering - would you buy one?What is it?The GLX is Suzuki's top of the range Swift which has just been updated although it looks very much like the previous model.How much?GLX is $18,990, $3000 more than the entry GA and $2000 more than the mid-range GL model. The optional four-speed auto adds $1700 to the price.What are the competitors?Plenty of competitors in this segment, but the Swift knocks them all for six in terms of style. It's actually 90mm longer and 10mm higher than the old one, with another 50mm between the axles which means more room inside.What's under the bonnet?Same 1.4-litre four-cylinder engine as the other models. Delivers 70kW of power and 130Nm of torque, compared to the old 1.5's 74kW/133Nm.How does it go?Surprisingly well. Even the auto is zippy. The engine has a sporty note under hard acceleration and it remains sure-footed in corners, with stability control to sort things out if necessary.Is it economical?Better than before. Suzuki is claiming a 13 per cent improvement in fuel consumption, down from 6.3 to 5.5 litres/100km for the manual, and from 6.6 to 6.2 litres/100km for the auto.Is it 'Green?'Gets four stars from the Government's Green Vehicle Guide (Prius gets five). The auto produces 147g/km of CO2, a little more than the manual.Is it safe?Gets a full five stars thank you very much. Seven airbags standard, along with traction and stability control plus anti-lock brakes with brake assist and electronic brake force distribution.Is it comfortable?Gets our vote. One of the first things we noticed about this car was its big car feel belying its size. Interior has a much classier feel, with better finishes. Sits on 16 inch alloys, with 185/55 rubber.What's it like to drive?Feels very smooth and sure footed, with good sound insulation. A longer engine stroke and electronic throttle control contribute to better throttle response.Is it value for money?As well as more gear the GLX adds some mechanical upgrades like foggies, rear disc brakes, and the addition of reach adjustment for the steering wheel. There's also Bluetooth, climate air and a keyless entry/start system.Would we buy one?You bet. Love the looks, like the way it rides and handles but the higher price for the GLX puts it within cooee of plenty of excellent competitors. Rear legroom is still tight and the spare is a spacesaver.SUZUKI SWIFT GLX AUTORATINGVERDICTSwift ... bigger and more economical than before.

Suzuki Swift GLX and VW Polo 77TSI Comfortline go head-to-head in this comparative review.

The new Suzuki Swift has grown up. It is exactly what you expect of a major newcomer in 2011, with the same strengths as the outgoing car and enough improvements to justify a change.The styling is a letdown - more like a facelift than a true model change - but the offset is provided by a starting sticker that's the same as the basic Swift from 2005. That means pricing from $15,990 for the manual-only Swift GA, although even that car now comes with seven airbags and ESP stability control.The Swift continues as a boxy five-door hatch that's easy to drive and park, and a serious rival to a range of baby-class cars including the benchmark Volkswagen Polo, Toyota's Yaris and the ageing Honda Jazz.VALUEThe bottom line is the bottom line for bargain-basement buyers, and Suzuki has done well - helped by the strength of the Australian dollar - to hold the starting price down to $15,990. Most customers are going for the slightly upscale GL from $16,690, mostly because it is available with Suzuki's four-speed auto but also because it gets a slightly better dashboard with a revcounter and USB sound input, as well as extra paint on the basic plastic parts.The Swift now comes with a 1.4-litre engine but there is promise of more go in an upcoming Swift Sport. Suzuki Australia claims a significant influence from the mid-sized Kizashi, particularly in the dashboard design and cabin quality, while trumpeting the success of the previous model - which set a Suzuki record for hitting two-million sales.There are three models - GA, GL and GLX - with the top-line car going to $18,990 or $20,690 as an auto.TECHNOLOGYThere is nothing revolutionary in the fourth-generation Swift. The 1.4-litre engine is new and brings 70 kiloWatts and 130 Newton-metres with average economy of 5.5 litres/100km and CO2 emissions of 132 grams/kilometre, but the auto is still only a four-speeder.The car has a slightly longer wheelbase, to improve ride and add some millimetres in the cabin. Suzuki claims everything from improved braking to sharper electric steering, as well as better ride comfort from tweaked - but still rear torsion-beam - suspension."The development team's motto for the new Swift was simple - More Swift," says Tony Devers, general manager of Suzuki Australia."DESIGNYou could be forgiven for thinking that someone put the previous Swift into a 3D photocopier and set the result to 105 per cent. So it's a very, very familiar family look.The previous Swift was a revelation when it arrived, and scooped the 2005 Carsguide Car of the Year award, but not the shape is predictable and nothing special. Even so, the dashboard is more modern and user-friendly and the overall space inside is more comfortable and enjoyable.SAFETYSuzuki claims class leading safety thanks to seven airbags in the cabin and the usual ABS brakes-ESP stability control. The seventh bag is for the driver's knees. The great news is that all the protection comes on the basic car, not through an extra-cost safety package or exclusively on the flagship model. The previous Swift was a five-star car and Suzuki is expecting the same score for the new model.DRIVINGThe new Swift is like so many cars these days - bigger, smoother, nicer, better. But it is missing the surprise-and-delight of the previous model. The cabin is a bit better, and there is a touch of Kizashi in the design and controls, but it's not ... special.Suzuki has done some really great cars in recent years, most notably the previous Swift and the Kizashi, but this one is only good. If that sounds like criticism, it is.But not because of any faults in the car. It's just that Suzuki can, and should, do better and will need more to compete with its rivals in coming years. The Volkswagen Polo costs a fair bit more but is the new benchmark in the class, and the Swift must also be shopped against the impressive Ford Fiesta and even the ageing Toyota Yaris.It's hard to make direct comparisons, with so many body styles and different engines among the opposition, but the Swift is right in the five-door heartland with its 1.4-litre engine. It is a good drive, and has good space for the class, with good value.It rides better than before and is fairly sharp in its steering response, but the engine is let down in the four-speed auto. So the new Swift is a nice car and a nice drive.  The pricetag is very good. But we expected more.