2017 Suzuki Swift vs 2018

What's the difference?

The Suzuki Swift was a mainstay of the first-new-car market, offering bulletproof reliability, good dynamics and, above all else, accessible pricing.

But then it went from mainstay to just staying. And staying. And staying. In fact, it barely changed between 2005 and 2011, and then changed only a little bit for what Suzuki called its “second generation”.

So, this 2017 all-new model is a pretty big deal. A new platform, new engines and new technology headline the dramatically overhauled Swift line-up, as Suzuki tries to stoke the fires of interest in one of its most enduring and important models.

The Suzuki Swift Sport is back for 2018, with the pint-sized speedster seemingly making the transition to fully-fledged hot hatch in third-generation guise.

It's small, light and now turbocharged, and comes with a more sophisticated and spacious interior than ever before. But is it good enough to sway buyers from the go-to nameplates in the segment like the Ford Fiesta ST, Renault Clio RS and Volkswagen Polo GTI?

Well, it seems to have done so already – Suzuki Australia reckons a staggering 1500 examples of the Swift Sport are already accounted for through pre-orders.

So, if you're one of those customers, or if you're undecided, or if you're just plain curious, read on to find out what I reckon about the Suzuki Swift Sport 2018 model.