The Star: June 28, 2018

Motoring
7
Price – Suzuki Swift Sport, $28,500
Dimensions – Length, 3890mm; width, 1735mm; height, 1495mm
Configuration – Four-cylinder, front-wheel-drive, 1373cc, 103kW, 230Nm, six-speed manual
Performance – 0-100km/h, 8.1sec
Fuel usage – 6.1l/100km
By Ross Kiddie
Emulating the concept of the original
Suzuki Swift wasn’t going to be easy,
however, the newcomer has been well
received and judging by the sales figures it
is going gangbusters.
Harder still for Suzuki was creating a
new Swift Sport, that car has long been
a bang-for-your-buck model which has
appealed to all generations of buyers
who just want that little bit of extra
performance.
I really like the Swift Sport, it’s a fun car,
and while it doesn’t have lightning speed
it offers exhilaration in moderate doses.
Such is its appeal to me, I even talked a
work colleague into a Sport just prior to
his retirement, and he loves it.
With the arrival of the new Swift, the
Sport comes completely redesigned. I’m
pleased to report that Suzuki is making
good use of its turbocharger development
process, the 1.4-litre turbocharged fourcylinder
unit from the Vitara is the new
engine for Swift Sport, although its engine
management protocols are structured
more for performance.
The engine is also down 213cc from the
previous generation unit, but that matters
little for not only is the new Swift Sport
more economical, it has higher power
outputs than its 1.6-litre predecessor.
Suzuki rates the engine with 103kW
and 230Nm, that’s up 3kW and 70Nm
from before, a 44 per cent increase. What’s
more, the power outputs are far
more usable than before,
peak power is realised
at just 5500rpm,
while maximum
torque stretches
from 2500rpm to
SUzUKI
has done it
3500rpm. That
means you don’t
have to work the
engine hard to glean
performance, its best
delivery is through
the mid-range and that
is what you want from
the modern engine.
As before, there’s a choice of
manual or automatic transmission. There’s
been a lot of debate lately about the value
of manual transmissions in our country.
I’m of the belief they are essential, and I
was so pleased that the evaluation car was
a manual – after all, European buyers still
flock to the manual gearbox, so there must
be some merit in that.
In manual form the gearbox has ratios
which extract well engine performance,
it will keep the engine honest yet it will
also dawdle at city speeds without taxing
the driver, but it also encourages throttle
action. Against the clock the new Swift
will scamper from a standstill to 100km/h
in around 8sec and will make a highway
overtake in 5sec.
While its performance is desirable, the
Swift Sport’s main claim to fame is in its
handling. Suzuki has created a whole
new platform for the new model, and the
Sport has a refined mixture of ride
quality for comfort along with
the firmness needed to
promote sports car-type
handling.
There is absorption
within the springs and
dampers, the ride is
compliant, and it will
tackle uneven surfaces
with a surprising
amount of suspension
travel, yet it also clings
to the road with a low
centre of gravity and even
balance.
I took the test car on my usual
highway loop through to Hororata with a
slight excursion up to part of the amazing
road leading into Lake Coleridge Village.
A busy day meant I didn’t have time to
tackle the entire distance, but even to the
point of Terrace Downs where I turned
around to come home, I gleaned enough
of an indication of the Swift Sport’s
wonderful handling capability. It’s a pointand-turn
performance car with directional
accuracy not often seen in a car of this
price.
The Swift Sport is listed at an amazing
$28,500 (automatic add $500), which to
me indicates a special package. There is
lot of kit in the car and Suzuki should
be congratulated for providing the Sport
driver with a lot of features for comfort
and convenience, as well as safety.
The Swift Sport will also offer realistic
fuel usage returns. It must be taken into
account that most modern turbochargers
are also responsible for leaning out
fuel use, and when there are only small
cylinders to fill with fuel, usage is always
going to be miserly.
Sure, if you constantly work the
accelerator up and down, the Swift Sport
won’t be quite so thrifty. I was quite
aggressive during my time with the test
car yet it still listed a 7.8-litre per 100km
(37mpg) combined cycle average. Suzuki
claims 6.1l/100km (46mpg) is achievable,
and I guess if you take into account that
at 100km/h a 5l/100km (56mpg) figure is
showing, then Suzuki’s claim could well be
achievable.
It would be fair to say I particularly
enjoyed my time in the new Sport. It
certainly reinforced my desire for manual
transmissions and I just felt so at ease with
its driveability in general. It’s not a car for
the serious performance enthusiast, but
it is an all-rounder which will provide
honesty every time you open the throttle.
BOOSTERJET TURBO ENGINE • 17-INCH PERFORMANCE ALLOYS
MONROE SHOCK ABSORBERS • APPLE CARPLAY & ANDROID AUTO
SAT NAV & REVERSING CAMERA • 5 STAR SAFETY
Get all this plus the benefits of our exclusive cost-free motoring programme,
developed over half a century between the Suzuki factory and Hollands,
to bring you the world’s best warranty.
HOL0004
From $28,500 +orc
SPECIAL SUBSIDISED FINANCE AVAILABLE - SEE US FOR DETAILS
HOLLANDS SUZUKI CARS
CHRISTCHURCH: 2–4 Shakespeare Rd Ph: 03 366 5261. Open 7 days. TIMARU: North Street Ph: 03 684 4408.