Suzuki’s Swift hybrid scores on value
Suzuki’s Swift hybrid might be mild on the electricity, but it’s spicy on pricing, writes Damien O’Carroll.
With the launch of the new Swift hybrid, Suzuki now has the cheapest new hybrid vehicle on sale in New Zealand. Will it be better than the upcoming Toyota Yaris hybrid though?
Make me an instant expert: what do I need to know?
Suzuki has built a hybrid version of its insanely popular Swift supermini for some time now, and a number have made it to our shores as used imports.
Suzuki New Zealand has never offered it as a new model here, however, for one simple reason – it was only available with either an automated manual transmission or a traditional manual transmission, and we just don’t buy those . . .
But all that has changed now with the release of the European Swift hybrid that comes complete with a self-shifter in the form of the same continuously variable transmission found in the GL and GLX petrol models.
Suzuki will offer the hybrid in two trim levels – the GLX and Limited, with the GLX hybrid replacing the standard GLX in the Swift lineup.
The GLX kicks off the hybrid range (no GL hybrid is being offered) at $26,500, or $1510 more than the petrol GLX it replaces, meaning it will handily undercut the forthcoming hybrid Yaris by $1490. Suzuki New Zealand is happy to sacrifice margin to achieve the bragging rights of having the country’s ‘‘most affordable hybrid’’.
With a claimed combined fuel consumption of 4.1L/100km however, the Swift Hybrid isn’t as frugal as Toyota says the hybrid version of the Yaris will be, with its smaller, 3-cylinder powertrain sipping fuel at a rate of 3.3L/100km.
However, Suzuki counters that with the claim that the Swift hybrid is better equipped for the money, particularly when you get to the $28,500 LTD model that undercuts the top-spec Yaris ZR hybrid by a hefty $4490.
The GLX comes standard with 16-inch alloy wheels, heated electrically adjustable side mirrors, LED projector headlights and DRLs, a 7-inch touch-screen infotainment system, a reversing camera, adaptive cruise control and radar brake support.
The LTD scores all of that and adds a 4.2-inch colour LCD dash display, blind spot monitoring, Suzuki’s more advanced dual sensor brake support driver-assist system, lane departure warning and prevention, rear cross traffic alert and high beam assist.
Suzuki Swift Hybrid Price range:
Powertrains:
Body style: On sale:
Suzuki expects the hybrid to make up a full 30 per cent of Swift sales in New Zealand.
Where did you drive it?
As it’s a city car, Suzuki had us driving around Auckland. Just intermittently in either heavy rain and high winds or calm fine spells, because that is how Auckland does things in winter.
Suzuki’s hybrid system is very much at the mild end of the hybrid spice spectrum and is largely imperceptible in its operation – there is no electric-only propulsion involved here and it won’t even $28,500. $26,500 to
1.2-litre petrol four-cylinder with 61kW/ 107Nm and electric motor with 10Ah lithium-ion battery, 4.1L/100km, continuously variable transmission, FWD.
5-door hatch. Now. shut the petrol motor off and sail at cruising speeds either.
The hybrid Swift is powered by Suzuki’s new 61kW/107Nm 1.2-litre DualJet petrol engine which is unique to the hybrid. While it is down on power compared with the Swift GL’s 66kW/120Nm unrelated 1.2-litre engine, the hybrid system adds a further 50Nm of torque at lower speeds, easily making up for the petrol engine’s torque deficit.
Much like the Subaru XV hybrid, the Swift’s electric motor fills in the torque nicely low down, making it pleasantly responsive off the mark.
Unfortunately, the engine’s lack of overall grunt is exposed higher up in the revs, with the CVT forcing it to work overtime and sound particularly strained under sustained acceleration.
That said, a Swift GLX isn’t ever a full-throttle car like the Swift Sport anyway, so it isn’t much of a problem.
More appreciated by likely buyers will be Suzuki’s claim of a 15 per cent improvement in fuel economy over the petrol-only versions, something that seemed to pan out during our admittedlyshort drive. There is a catch though – being a European-spec model, the Swift hybrid will only run on 95 octane petrol, meaning a higher cost to fill the tank, but you will still get more kilometres for your dollar ultimately.
What’s the pick of the range?
While the lower entry price of the GLX might be tempting, the real value in the Swift hybrid range lies in the LTD.
While both are identical to drive, the LTD’s extra assists and safety tech for a relatively meagre $2000 makes it the clear pick of the range. That said, it does bring the hybrid to just $1000 less than the brilliant Swift RS with its fantastic three-cylinder turbo engine and six-speed automatic.
Why would I buy it?
Because you want the most affordable new hybrid in New Zealand. Or, more likely, because you really want a Swift and the hybrid badge just holds a little extra appeal. Suzuki expects the hybrid to make up a full 30 per cent of Swift sales in New Zealand.
Why wouldn’t I buy it?
It is an extraordinarily mild hybrid system and while its gains are noticeable, they aren’t in any way game-changing.
It remains a pleasant-enough supermini, but the looming Toyota Yaris hybrid may well be more appealing with its more hi-tech and frugal nature, despite the Swift’s value-for-money advantage.