Setting quite a Swift pace

With the sixth generation version of their Swift supermini, Suzuki have stayed true to the design principles that have long served them in the small car sector – low running costs, high quality and a spacious cabin being the highlights.

The car is now lighter and more spacious, plus there’s the option of mild hybrid technology.

The cost savings of buying a car from a budgetbrandover morefamiliar options are often hard to ignore, especially when it comes to superminis.

So, what if you could pay budget brand prices, yet get mainstream quality? That’s exactly the proposition the Suzuki Swift has always aimed to serve up.

Previous Swift models have certainly been convincing in this way, more than a million of them having been sold in Europe since 2005.

As for the roadgoing experience, well you can expect the same kind of entertaining drive the Swift has always specialised in delivering.

And engine-wise? Well these days, there are no diesel options, Suzuki limiting Swift buying choices to two main petrol engines.

There’s an 90bhp 1.2-litre fourcylinder Dualjet unit mated to a fivespeed gearbox, or a 1.0-litre threecylinder turbocharged ‘boosterjet’ powerplant which offers 111bhp and can be ordered with auto transmission.

The ‘boosterjet’ powerplant can be had with the option of mild hybrid assistance.

The Sz3-trimmed variant comes with six airbags, air conditioning, leather steering wheel, DAB radio with Bluetooth and four speakers, rear privacy glass, LED daytime running lights, 15-inch wheels, body-coloured door mirrors and front electric windows.

The plusher SZ-T model adds a rear view camera, a Smartphone link display audio system, 16-inch alloy wheels and front fog lamps.

At the top of the range, the SZ5 features auto air conditioning, 16-inch polished alloy wheels, satellite navigation, keyless entry and start and rear electric windows. The Suzuki Swift can now be had with an optional mild hybrid engine.