Behind the wheel Suzuki Swift Sport

IN SOME circles the new Suzuki Swift Sport has been the most eagerly awaited model to come out this year. Its appeal has been largely down to Suzuki being able to produce a hot hatch that delivered moderate performance with all the furnishings of a car in the sports segment for around just £14,000. That was the starting price of the old Sport but prices have gone up since then and you’ll need to find £17,999 for the latest 2018 edition.

At this price it’s now among models that are equally well established but I dare say it’s a blow for bargain seekers who enjoy mugging the car sales executive. I first came face to face with this new model last week and one thing for sure is that it has a fabulously dynamic road presence.

Swifts tend to be painted in dazzling colours and this one in yellow simply buzzed with vibrancy. Its bodywork has a strong shoulder line that runs along its sides, blending with its rear end to signal muscle. Big exhausts and two pseudo black air intakes that house fog lights combine with roof spoiler and eye-catching alloy wheels. The car sits slightly lower and is wider.

The passenger cabin is a treat for the driver with the practicality of a supporting black bucket seat and the cosmetically appealing red accents that enrich the otherwise anodyne piano black insets. Of a more whimsical nature between the red-edged dashboard dials is a panel where information more aligned with the supercar is graphically displayed. It will show fuel consumption, average speed over five-minute increments, lateral acceleration, the turbocharger’s

With a refined cabin and easy drive the new Suzuki Swift Sport will appeal to younger drivers