2019 Suzuki Swift vs 2018

What's the difference?

It’s a novel idea. You start with a simple mass-market hatchback base, then you throw a bigger turbocharged engine (literally from an SUV) in, give it some upgrades so it’s not totally unwieldy and call it a day.

It seems like an obvious and easy move to appeal to enthusiasts, yet the rest of the Japanese automakers, still reeling from the country’s long and painful economic stagnation, instead provide play-it-safe semi-luxury halo variants for their small hatch ranges.

Suzuki’s going hard on fun-factor as a point of difference though, and the brand delivers with cars like the wacky new Jimny 4x4 and the car reviewed here, the long-running Suzuki Swift Sport.

It’s the last Japanese hot-hatch in this segment, but is it as much fun as it looks? I spent a week in one to find out.

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.