2012 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

The Suzuki Swift hatch holds a special place in the hearts of Australian drivers, especially those who remember the peppy little GTi version last seen in 1999.With the blink-and-you'll-miss-it-new-model Swift update in 2010, fans were disappointed that the GTi still wasn't back on the list. For now, the Swift Sport is about as close to a GTi as Suzuki is likely to get. So is it convincing enough to coax buyers into its brick-like body?VALUEPriced from $23,990, the Swift Sport is $4000 more than the Swift GLX and a stout $6000 more than the faux-sporty RE.2. That extra cash buys you an upgrade from the 1.4 litre to the 1.6 litre VVT engine, a host of interior and exterior upgrades and a series of very effective chassis tweaks. The interior scores a six-speaker CD audio system with remote controls on the steering wheel, USB and Bluetooth phone and music streaming. You also get cruise control, headlight washers and keyless entry and start. The HID headlights are excellent, which was a pleasant surprise. An unpleasant surprise was the obnoxious beeping when the car is locked or unlocked.Hyundai's Veloster is the closest competitor philosophically and financially. The lack of proper rear access and the challenging looks play against the Hyundai, but it’s better-equipped and runs the Swift respectably close for road ability. The Veloster starts at an identical $23,990 and also has a double-clutch transmission option.Ford's Fiesta Zetec is down on power and torque and goes without the sportier chassis tune the Swift has, but is $3000 cheaper. The Fiesta's lower price you with some spare change to spend on the lengthy options list which includes the Powershift DCT double-clutch transmission. Both these cars best the Swift Sport's bizarre optional $2000 CVT auto with seven fake steps built in for the benefit of paddle-shifter fans.TECHNOLOGYThe 1.6-litre VVT develops 100kW of power and 160Nm of torque with the aid of variable valve timing. The six-speed manual manages 6.5l/100km on the combined cycle but is a little better on a steady freeway run. We saw 6.1l/100km in a mix of city stop-start driving, back road blasting and some freeway work. The chassis is a livelier package than the non-Sport Swifts, courtesy of re-tuned dampers and stiffer springs front and rear.DESIGNThe Swift's cheery face has been with us for two years, but in reality it's very similar to the car that preceded it -- which debuted eight years ago at Paris motor show. The current Swift grew in every direction but kept the same visual formula. It's a pleasingly chunky, upright shape and with the bigger wheels looks like a brightly-coloured Pixar-styled bug ready to leap into action, far more so than its under-wheeled brethren.On the Sport, you'll find deeper front and rear bumpers, side skirts, 17-in alloys, foglamps and a wing over the tailgate. The detailing on the Sport's ostensibly aero-related improvements give the car a more sporting, aggressive character -- you'll not mistake it for a lesser-equipped sibling. Inside is a big improvement over the lower models, with sports front seats and leather steering wheel. The slightly ill-fitting, scratchy plastics remain -- as does that haunting suspicion that something will start squeaking because the materials are so hard.As with the rest of the Swift range, the high roof is perfect for really tall people or those who like to wear their hair metro-gel high. The boxy, upright styling delivers a lot of cabin space, which is maximised by high-set rear seats. Shoulder room front and rear is hardly galactic and you may knock elbows while shifting gears. The boot looks ludicrously small when you first pop the tailgate. There's a false floor, but that extra space doesn't go a long way to making it a serious proposition.SAFETYThe Swift is packed with safety gear - ABS, front, side and curtain airbags as well as a knee bag for the driver. Stability and traction control are standard, as is brake force distribution and emergency brake assistance, helping the Suzuki to its 5-star ANCAP rating.DRIVINGIt takes a while to warm to the Swift. The manual gearbox is notchy and noisy, almost to the point of obstructive. A light touch is needed for a clean shift but the clunk-clunk-clunk is a little tiring. The clutch is light and the bite point could be anywhere, you can't really feel it. The electric steering is devoid of life, but quick and well-weighted.Despite the promise of the twin exhausts poking through the rear bumper, the noise isn't hugely inspiring and you begin to wonder what the fuss is about. Once you're moving, the car's dynamic ability quickly becomes apparent. Even though the ride is comfortable, the front end is super sharp, no doubt helped by a set of grippy 195/45 Bridgestone RE050s wrapped around 17-inch alloys.Nothing beats physics like a light kerb weight, something other manufacturers have taken a while to grasp. The Swift's 1060kg is 50kg lighter than the old model and lighter than most of its competition, making it agile and eager to change direction. We might, however, forgive a little more weight if it went to noise and vibration suppression - tyre roar is intrusive at high speed on anything but the smoothest surface and the pedals buzz more than we'd like.The 100kW power figure is adequate, but the 160Nm of torque is firmly at the bottom end of acceptable, forcing you to work the gearbox on even modest inclines. The torque arrives at 4400rpm, meaning you need to keep the needle pointing north by north-east to get the best out of the engine. It revs cleanly and happily, but you'll not want to stray too close to the redline as the engine runs out of puff and starts to thrash a bit.While getting up to speed can be a bit of a chore and won't trouble your neck muscles, keeping that pace is a genuine hoot. The Swift can be flung at corners at quite high speeds and it will hang on gamely before gentle understeer sets in, easily sorted with a lift of the throttle. The grip is surprising and while the chassis is moving around underneath you, it's never unnerving and always letting you know what's going on between each tyre and the road.The whole time the car stays remarkably flat and resists being knocked off-line by mid-corner bumps. The strong brakes never seem to give up, despite them looking tiny behind the big wheels. Again, the steering doesn't talk to you, but the chassis itself gives you plenty to go on with. Once you're past the apex of a corner, it almost begs you to get back on the throttle – and it promises to be a riot on the track.It feels a lot like the true spiritual successor to the original Mini, a fun car for drivers on a budget. Suzuki themselves were on a budget and choosing to put their effort into the chassis rather than chasing steering feel or a snick-snick gearbox to please the purists was the right choice.VERDICTYou could complain that the Swift is no GTi and that it needs more power, but that's missing the point. The comparatively low power and torque figures means the chassis will never be overwhelmed and it puts the driver in charge of the car, gets you involved and thinking ahead about gearshifts and braking. You'll hardly ever see the traction control light blinking at you.It shares little of the high-tech features its main competition enjoys and will have a harder job if Renault ever makes good on its unspoken threats and finally releases the Renaultsport Twingo. While lagging a bit on power and gear, the Swift is bags of fun once you're moving and the softness in its character means it is never hyperactive around town, its most likely habitat.It won't replace the Swift GTi in our hearts, but the combination of five doors, excellent handling and mechanical simplicity means the Swift Sport stands on its own as a budget sportster you can live with.Suzuki Swift SportPrice: from $23,990Warranty: 3 years/100,000kmSafety rating: 5-star ANCAPEngine: 1.6-litre 4-cyl petrol 100kW/160NmTransmission: 6-speed manual, FWDBody: 3.9m (L); 1.7m (w); 1.5m (h)Weight: 1060kgThirst: 6.5L/100km; 98 RON; 153g/km CO2

It's neither the fastest nor the best but the Swift Sport offers a lot of bang for your buck.The five-door hatch is a cracker and plants a huge smile on the dial. The test car was bright yellow with tinted glass. It looked the part and harks back to the days of the original hot hatches, such as the first Golf GTI.It's not the quickest, but its light 1060kg kerb weight and well-sorted chassis gives it the ability to leap into and out of corners like an excitable Jack Russell puppy. One of the big joys of cars like this is that you can revel in their abilities in the most modest environments.A deserted roundabout here, a quick corner there, roads like the Captain Cook Highway and the myriad roundabouts between Cairns and Palm Cove, the bendy bits to Port Douglas and the twisties on the Rex and Gillies ranges. It's easy to park and the potential for fun is there every time you turn the ignition on, or in this case, push the stop-start button on the dash.VALUEThe Sport is $26,990 drive away and naturally comes with a body kit, including a rear roof spoiler, sport seats and stainless steel pedals, exclusive multi-spoked 17-inch alloy wheels, bi-xenon headlamps and Electronic Stability Program (ESP) with traction control. There are seven airbags including driver's knee airbag, five-star crash safety rating, fully automatic climate control airconditioning, CD radio with MP3 capability, including Bluetooth and an USB port, and cruise control.The sport seats have red stitching and a three-spoke multifunction leather steering wheel comes with steering wheel controls for cruise control and the radio. Swift includes the convenience of keyless entry and start, Bluetooth hands-free communications, six-speaker AM/FM/CD system with USB and a digital climate control airconditioning system.DESIGNThe front sports a large grille, fog lamps and bi-xenon headlights. Black-painted A-and B-pillars and the alloy wheels give the Sport a distinctive appearance. There's an integrated roof spoiler, side skirts, dual exhaust tailpipes and a metallic diffuser. Deeply contoured and supportive front seats with seat cushions and backrests hold the driver better through corners.Red contrasting stitching on the seats, steering wheel and shift knob create a sporty feel. The Sport is 3.89m long, 120mm longer than its predecessor and 40mm longer than the normal Swiftmodel. Apart from some cheap-looking hard plastics, the interior is a nice place, although there's lots of sombre black broken up with some matt silver trim.The Sport is a looker, with a body kit that complements its stubby proportions and wheels that nicely fill the arches. Space is tight. Headroom is excellent, but rear legroom is not and there's not much space in the boot. The canary yellow paint offset by the dark tinted windows looked a treat on the car we drove.TECHNOLOGYThe 1.6-litre M16A engine is an evolution from the previous model. The performance increase is achieved primarily through improved cylinder efficiency and an increased valve lift. The variable valve timing for the intake camshaft and a variable intake manifold also ensure improved airflow. The improved cylinder filling is achieved with smoother intake ports, revised variable valve opening times and a larger valve lift on the intake side, as well as a variable intake system.At medium engine speeds, a valve closes in the intake. If the motor is working at a higher or lower part of the rev range, the valve remains open and the path to the inlet valves is shortened considerably. This function improves the available torque across the rev range. The net effect of these changes have increased peak output by 8kW to 100kW, while torque has increased from 148Nm to 160Nm.The considerable weight saving, in tandem with advanced engine technologies, has reduced fuel consumption from 7.3 litres/100km to just 6.5, representing an 11 per cent improvement. There's a new CVT auto which will appeal to those who don't like changing gears although I prefer the six-speed manual. The colour palette adds to the appeal with bright colours including yellow, red, blue, white, silver andblack.DRIVINGThe Swift Sport is a lot of fun around the city and on tight winding roads. The electric steering is direct with sharp turn-in from the lovely leather-wrapped wheel. The gearbox is a bit notchy and I found it hard to find a comfortable driving position because of the uprightness of the cabin.The car is well put together with almost no squeaks or rattles. The racing bucket seats are supportive and comfortable and visibility is great front and rear, courtesy of slim A-pillars and powerful headlights at night. The corners of the car at the front can't be seen though and care needs to be taken in tight parking spots.The speedometer with its 30km/h increments is a pain, with its cluttered face making it hard to accurately gauge speed because 80km/h or 100km/h are not marked by numbers. It rides well, handles well and road noise is reasonable except on coarse bitumen. The light weight adds to the agility of this little rocket.The small 1.6-litre 100kW naturally-aspirated unit is no firebrand, but is adequately zippy when kept on the boil. Nothing happens until you reach 4000rpm and then it whips into a frenzy and shrieks past 7000rpm. It enjoys being punted hard through roundabouts and on tight winding roads like the Gillies and the Rex ranges.The Sport just loved the undulating sections of the Springmount Rd and could be driven with great zest and fun. The little car can also cruise quietly and comfortably on the open road. However, there appeared to be a problem with the trip computer on the test car. I started off with the reading at 15.4 litres/100km and it dropped noticeably into the low 10s after a lively stint up the Gillies Range.As I settled into a 100km/h cruise from Mareeba to Mt Molloy the reading kept climbing into the 11s and 12s and when I returned the car it had recorded an average of 13.7L/100km. I did not believe the results as the official overall figure is 6.5 litres/100km and this is double. The technicians at Suzuki were to place the car on a diagnostic machine to see why the trip computer was returning abnormally high readings.VERDICTI love this little pocket rocket. It ticks all the boxes as a fun and fizzy drive in the city, on the open road and on winding hilly and country roads. It's a happy looking car and a happy car to drive. Ladies will love its compactness and the bright colour range. The boys will relish its sportiness and its agile handling. The chassis can certainly handle more poke. Small car motoring does not mean merely an A to B conveyance as the Swift Sport proves.Suzuki Swift SportPrice: from $26,990Warranty: 3 years/100,000kmSafety rating: five star ANCAPEngine: 1.6-litre 4-cyl petrol 100kW/160NmTransmission: 6-speed manual; FWDBody: 3.9m (L); 1.7m (w); 1.5m (h)Weight: 1060kgThirst: 6.5L/100km; 98 RON; 153g/km CO2

They don't follow through with this philosophy as much with their cars but in the new Swift Sport you can see the link.It spins out to 7500rpm for starters, has a close ratio short shift manual gearbox and now, features more weight saving technology such as the "hollow" lightweight alloy wheels.As it stands, the new Swift Sport, at 1060kg is quite svelte compared to five door competitors. And it shows in the drive feel and agile handling delivered by this cheeky looking customer.PRICE AND EQUIPMENTAt $23,990, Suzuki Swift Sport is a fair old hike up on the $15,990 get-go for garden variety Swift GA but the cars are like chalk and cheese.It has a range of "go-fast" bits attached to the body - front, side and rear skirts, rear spoiler and diffuser with integrated dual wide-spaced exhaust tips, striking multi-spoke 17-inch alloys and big, bixenon headlights but no LED daytime running lights.There are seats for four and small but functional (expandable) boot space. Inside is totally in keeping with the car's intent. It looks modern, funky and functional even if there are minimal soft touch surfaces. The instruments are conventional as is the switchgear. But the sporty seats look the business and it has a sweet shifting close ratio six speed transmission along with metal faces pedals.It gets Bluetooth phone and audio streaming, keyless entry and button start along with a chunky multi-function wheel. Suzuki has done enough inside to impart the right sporty flavour to the Sport. Safety is five star thanks in part to seven air bags and stability control.ENGINEThe Swift Sport is something of a performance car with 100kW/160Nm from its 1.6-litre, four-cylinder, petrol engine, a revised version of the previous unit. It doesn't score direct injection but does have variable valve timing and variable intake systems to boost efficiency. We saw the claimed 6.1-litres/100km but the Suzuki Swift Sport prefers premium fuel.It would be great to have a turbo 132kW donk but realistically, Swift Sport doesn't need it. There is always the insurance issue to bear in mind with a turbo car and besides, you can drive the wheels off the little Zook and have nearly as much fun at lower (legal) speeds.THE DRIVEThis is limited a tad by skinny tyres that lose grip too early in the fast cornering process making Sport skittish especially if the road is a bit rough. But most other dynamic aspects of the car are good with quick(ish) electric steering, strong brakes, relatively flat ride and a solid chassis featuring judicious use of high strength steel. On our favourite drive road we were looking for more from the Zook but after a reality check realised the thing was actually going at a cracking pace.VERDICTHard to beat for the money. Great little city car, impressive out on the highway too. Cheeky but cute appeal in spades.Suzuki Swift Sport Price: from $23,990Warranty: 3 years/100,000kmResale: 58 per centService interval: 15,000km/12 monthsSafety rating: five starSpare: aerosol repair kitEngine: 1.6-litre 4-cyl petrol 100kW/160NmTransmission: 6-speed manual; FWDBody: 3.9m (L); 1.7m (w); 1.5m (h)Weight: 1060kgThirst: 6.5L/100km; 98 RON; 153g/km Co2 

There are pretenders in life and cars are no different - some have the looks but no talent to back it up. The Swift Sport is not one of these charlatans and just because the Sport dwells below $30,000 doesn't mean there's no fun to be had.Suzuki's updated Swift Sport follows a well-worn hot-hatch formula that in some ways the brand was key in creating  - little car, slightly bigger engine - to provide plenty of frugal fun.VALUEThe Swift is not quite Suzuki's bargain basement model (there's the Alto below it) but it has always carried a sharp pricetag and for what you get the Sport is no different. It's great value, sporting a subtle bodykit and sports interior trim to differentiate it from the cooking models.The features list also includes Bluetooth phone link as well as music streaming, a USB input for the six-speaker sound system, a leather-wrapped reach'n'rake adjustable sports steering wheel with audio and cruise controls, sports pedals, a trip computer, bi-xenon headlights, single-zone climate control, fog lights and 17in allow wheels, but no spare tyre, rain-sensing wipers or automatic headlights.TECHNOLOGYNeither car is at the cutting edge of the automotive technology envelope, but the powerplant is not an old boat anchor either. The little 100kW/160Nm 1.6-litre four-cylinder - a development of the superseded engine - has variable intake valve timing and lift, as well as a variable intake manifold set-up.The Sport's powerplant also boasts smoother intake ports, revised variable valve opening times and a larger valve lift on the intake side, as well as a variable intake system. It is teamed with a six-speed manual (as fitted to the test car) or a continuously-variable transmission with a seven-speed sport mode.The claimed fuel use - it needs 95RON PULP - is 6.5l/100km for the manual or 6.1 for the CVT, but according to the trip computer we matched the CVT's figure in the six-speed manual during our time in the car.DESIGNThe exterior is evolutionary - there's no chance of it being mistaken for anything other than a Swift - and that's not a bad thing. This little car has an honest charm about it, with a sporting theme supplied by the neat but low-key bodykit.The overall length is up 120mm to 3890mm, with 50mm of that addition in wheelbase growth, and wider front and rear tracks, but with 30kg lopped from the kerb weight. At 1510mm it's quite tall for a baby hatch, which explains why it's easier at 191cm for me to get comfy behind the wheel, although getting in and out is a little tighter than first expected.Cabin space is enough for two adults and two kids to get from A to B without complaint, although the boot isn't huge. It does have a split-level hidden section, which is handy in some ways but it's easy to forget you've stashed something there. In its least-voluminous guise, the boot claims just 210 litres of space, rising to 900 litres if you drop the rear seat backrests and load it up.SAFETYIt might be little but the Swift Sport does have a solid feel to it, as well as packing a safety features list that boasts traction and stability control. There's also anti-lock brakes and seven airbags (dual front, side, curtain and a driver's knee) - enough for it to wear a five-star ANCAP crash testing rating.DRIVINGAn honest little performer, this hot hatch is a diligent worker and an eager corner-carver. The drivetrain has some flexbility to run in a higher gear but pile on some engine revs and it's willing and useable. The six-speed manual is a nice gearbox, made easier to use by a reasonable driving position, even for taller drivers.The design is conservative but not harsh on the eyes and it's a good kid-carter, provided none of the occupants is too long of leg. The bootspace means you have to be a bit selective on how much you can pile into the back, but rip the false floor out and leave it at home, otherwise you're bound to forget something. It's firm on the road but the suspension boffins at Suzuki have managed to dial in enough compliance to keep fillings in teeth - it is certainly a less brittle ride than you might expect from a dedicated Sport model. Divest yourself of offspring and life-partner and the Sport is an amusing machine on the right back road.It turns in with much more enthusiasm than its shopping-trolley origins would suggest, feeling light, agile and entertaining. The Bluetooth phone pairing and audio streaming set-up is overly complex and doesn't always hook up automatically once paired - if you pair up the Bluetooth phone link on an iPhone 4, for example, the music player function on the phone is left out in the cold and vice versa.VERDICTTechnology issues aside, the Swift Sport is a great little car - if you are in the market for a small car and still like to drive, this is the value for money choice.Suzuki Swift SportPrice: from $23,990Warranty: 3 years/100,000kmResale:  48 per cent (Source: Glass's Guide)Service interval: 15,000km/12 monthsSafety rating: five starSpare: mobility kitEngine: 1.6-litre 16-valve four-cylinder, 100kW/160NmTransmission: 6-speed manual; FWDBody: 3.9m (L); 1.7m (w); 1.5m (h)Weight: 1060kgThirst: 6.51/100km, on test 6.1, 95RON, tank 42 litres; 153g/km CO2

Char-grilled hatchbacks are more fun than a stick and almost as cheap. However, some people get personal joy in wringing the neck of small engines in little hatchbacks. Fortunately, since the 1970s kickstart of the Peugeot 205 GTI and Volkswagen Golf GTI, there's still a string of car makers willing to pump out a line of cars once called hot hatches, now more like toasted on the grill. Suzuki - like Daihatsu, Nissan and Toyota - has played the game before.Only one of these is still on the field. Now, after a 12-month hiatus which saw off its six-year Swift Sport model, Suzuki is back with a new engine, a new look and a competitive mid-$20K price.VALUE Okay - so any lines blurred between a Polo GTI and a Swift Sport should be clarified immediately. The Swift Sport is a punchier version of the endearing Swift shopping trolley.It gets a bigger engine, bodykit, neat alloy whe els and lots of features inside. At $23,990 as a manual, its purity as a small hatch insists that it refuse any options. The auto - a CVT unit - is $2000 more.Value rates well with standard keyless entry and start, Bluetooth, cruise control, USB port for the six-speaker audio, bi-xenon headlights and sports seats with red stitching.DESIGN The Sport picks up the new body which looks like the old body shape, making its presence known with a yawning grille, bi-xenon headlights, side skirts, deep front spoiler and integrated roof spoiler. It sits 120mm longer than the old Sport but its rounded body still looks like the winner of a baking competition. But it defies its stumpy exterior with a roomy cabin for four adults.Seats are black cloth with red trim and are really comfortable and suppportive while the hard-plastic, satin-finish dash implies low-rent but actually looks good. The boot is tiny but the near-flat, fold-down rear seats create a versatile hauler.TECHNOLOGYThe previous S port exited Australia in January 2011 as a 92kW/148Nm 1.6-litre hatchback with one gearbox - a five-speed manual - within its distinctive snail-like shell. Now there's a new engine based on the standard Swift's 1.4-litre mill but with 100kW/160Nm - that's a weight to power ratio of 10.6 kg/kW, making it outgun the old Swift GTi.Suzuki made the car bigger but shaved 30kg from the final weight, upping its zip factor while trimming fuel thirst back to 6.5 L/100km from 7.3 L/100km.  Sport gets tripl e-synchromesh on frist and second gear cogs, firmer suspension, bigger 17-inch alloys and a tighter steering feel as part of its mechanical armament. SAFETY For a small car the Swift Sport packs an impressive safety kit. There's a five-star crash rating, electronic stability control, seven airbags and all the electronic brake aids. The bi-xenon headlights make night driving some much easier but the lack of a spare wheel - there's some aerosol goo and a compressor in the emty wheel well - limits  the Swift's range.DRIVING This can be an angry, hot and sweaty little car in the right hands. It has so much pluck that it will almost burst its little heart trying to please the driver. Yes, the Sport can be work - sometimes hard work - but the reward is letting it get under your skin and to drive it like it was an extension of your body.Big surprises are the willingness of the engine to run cleanly and eagerly to 7000rpm, the extra kick from the engine at 5500rpm, the almost hydraulic feel  of the electric steering system and the ride comfort despite the low-profile 17-inch rubbers.The keyless start button, the encompassing driver's seat, the small-diameter leather-bound steering wheel and the superbly bright headlights provide the theatre. Gee, it almost feels like an early Golf GTI. Almost.VERDICT A sparkling hatch for enthusiastic motorists divided between commuting and weekend fangs while being acutely aware of the need to retain their licence.Suzuki Swift Sport Price: $23,990Warranty: 3 years/100,000kmResale: 58 per centService interval: 15,000km/12 monthsSafety rating: Five starSpare: aerosol repair kitEngine: 1.6-litre 4-cyl petrol 100kW/160NmTransmission: 6-speed manual; FWDBody: 3.9m (L); 1.7m (w); 1.5m (h)Weight: 1060kgThirst: 6.5 1/100km; 98 RON; 153g/km Co2 

Suzuki was one of very few, if not the only carmaker to turn a profit during the GFC. It has infact been in the black every year since startup in 1950.Obviously, that's because Suzuki makes the "right" cars, the right way, at the right price. Call them conservative if you like but it seems to be the over-riding factor in Suzuki's success.Their least conservative car is the $23,990 Swift Sports - a latter-day Swift GTi for want of a better description. It's a cool, baseball cap of a car with pert looks, a dash of attitude and performance and handling that brings a smile to your dial without actually pinning back your ears.And there's a CVT auto this time around. Suzuki's formula for its hot little five-door hatch is "pare back weight, tweak the engine and suspension, fit subtle body add-ons and boost fuel economy."Sport runs a pretty straightforward 1.6-litre, twin cam, four banger up from the 1.4 in base Swift. It's good for 100kW/160Nm output and fuel consumption as low as 6.1-litres/100km.It misses out on direct injection but scores a simple variable intake system and variable valve timing and lift to optimise efficiency. The two transmissions are a six-speed manual and CVT auto with paddle shift.Sport has a strut front and simple torsion beam rear suspension system - calibrated to give a good compromise between sharp handling and response and comfort. It won't rattle your teeth on rough roads and though small in diameter, the disc brakes are up for the job. The electric steering has been calibrated to give sharper response than base Swift. Suzuki has fitted light alloy wheels to reduce unsprung weight and optimise suspension action. It weighs 1060kg.It has a five star crash rating thanks to seven air bags, stability control and the selective use of high strength steel throughout the body/chassis.Though still "sensible", the Swift Sport has a mild body aero kit with a rear roof spoiler and under bumper diffuser complete with dual wide spaced exhaust tips. Side skirts and a deeper front apron complete the picture. No LED daytime running lights though. Inside is pretty much generic Japanese with over-used hard plastics, functional controls and a decent leather-clad sports wheel with cloth sports seats.The Sport has generous spex including bixenon headlights, Bluetooth phone and audio, keyless entry and start, cruise control and climate control aircon to name just a few goodies. The audio is OK and the sports seats with red piping have side bolsters to hold you tight. The wheels are 17-inch with low profile sports rubber.This is an enjoyable car to drive in the cut and thrust of city driving, on the freeway or on a winding road. They've nailed the driveability factor brilliantly. There's a sweet shifting manual gear change with close intermediate ratios, plenty of zip higher up in the engine rev range and a supple, controlled ride with good brakes and sharpish steering.The exhaust note is too quiet and the tyres are too skinny. It goes better than the previous Swift Sport and has more goodies. But Kia's sporty three door Rio SLS has more power and torque and costs a lot less. Gives nothing away on looks either.Great little car, fun to drive, cheap to run and own, undoubtedly reliable, safe and well equipped.