The Suzuki Swift & Dzire Thread

Do the Suzuki Swift Sport's gadgets make it worth £18k?
TG's SSS is under the equipment microscope. Is it still a bargain?

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As you know, Top Gear’s got a Suzuki Swift Sport to live with for a few months. Here’s one of the interesting questions it raises: would you rather have a cheap, simple car, or a more expensive, equipment-laden car?

No, seriously. Not a trick. Not a rhetorical question. Is having loads of toys on board really all it’s cracked up to be, in a fundamentally plain, easy-please-me warm hatch?

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The sheer philanthropic quantity of equipment the Swift Sport chucks in your direction for £18k looks ace in the brochure, but I’m not convinced.

Exhibit A: the radar-adaptive cruise control. It’s a primitive system, startled by cars moving into my lane ahead, braking hard then surging uncomfortably when the idea is to, well, cruise. As a result, I barely use it.

The throttle pedal is already lighter than stepping on a helium-filled marshmallow, so it’s not as if ankle-ache is a worry on a long journey.

I’d bin it off, as I have the anti lane-departure assistant, which is over-keen to grab the steering wheel and makes motorway trekking – and slicing a B-road – tiresome. That’s been switched off since week one. The autonomous emergency braking would’ve been too, if it didn’t default back ‘on’ with the ignition.

Everyone who’s borrowed the SSS has commented how over-zealous its shrieking alerts are. BEEP-BEEP-BEEP. It’s like driving along next to Gordon Ramsay operating a microwave.

City commuting is made more frenetic and frustrating by these beeping amateurishly calibrated ‘assists’. That’s the last thing you need when you live in London.

I’d tolerate the lot, and their shrill BEEPS, if they bagged the Sport a paltry insurance group.

But because that lightweight, high-tensile steel body-shell is deemed expensive to repair, the SSS is group 35 – seven groups higher than a Fiesta ST. Which has another 60bhp.

Every year, come insurance renewal time, that’s really going to bite.

So, back to that price. £18k is a hefty number, but the more relevant finance deals are around £230 a month.

Ten minutes of Googling found me a Fiesta ST or even a Mini Cooper S for within a fiver of that – with more poke, a tighter chassis, and infotainment screens that wouldn’t stress-test the patience of that bomb disposal chap from the Bodyguard finale.

Basically, since Suzuki doesn’t have the budget to make its driver assists and gadgets as polished as Audi’s, or even Ford’s, I wish it had fewer bits of electro-garnish.

And then, it could maybe cost £4k less. Just like the old, bargain-basement, simple Swift Sport. Or am I just old-fashioned?

https://www.topgear.com/car-news/do-suzuki-swift-sports-gadgets-make-it-worth-ps18k
 
Ivan Leon said:
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Just like the old, bargain-basement, simple Swift Sport. Or am I just old-fashioned?
Click to expand...

This guy talks sense.
The old Swift Sport will be a sought after car in the years to come for that very reason. It is an honest no frills but plenty of thrills fun car that has heart, good handling and an engine that loves to work.
Similarly, the new Swift 1.2GL (an the previous model) has the similar characteristics. No heated seats, rear camera or park assist, rain sensors, over the top infotainment or a shyteload of air bags. It is a car that can be driven and chucked around that puts a smile on the driver's face.
 
I really want to trade in my 1.4 and get a 1.6 sport. Even if it is an older model but resale is probably kak on my car.
 
5 lightest vehicles CAR magazine tested in 2018

You might expect the lightest vehicles we tested in 2018 to be performance vehicles best suited to track work, but we found the five lightest of the 77 vehicles we featured over the year were all budget-beating hatchbacks and sedans…

5. Ford Figo 1,5 Trend: 1 033 kg

The facelifted Ford Figo does a decent job of dealing with road imperfections, while its new 1,5-litre three-cylinder engine has the potential to deliver impressive fuel consumption. And that’s thanks in part to the vehicle’s low overall weight…

4. Nissan Micra Active 1,2 Vista: 960 kg

With that cheeky body kit and honest 1,2-litre engine, the Micra (based on the previous-generation model) is more entertaining than you may think, thanks largely to its low mass figure…

3. Honda Amaze 1,2 Comfort: 926 kg

Honda’s replacement for the Brio Amaze is aimed primarily at fleet buyers and Uber drivers, but also offers a respectable list of standard features. We also found that its small capacity engine and sub-1 000 kg mass afforded it an impressive fuel consumption figure.

2. Suzuki Baleno 1,4 GL: 916 kg

The Baleno is a prime example of small-car packaging done right, balancing impressive boot space with decent interior room. It also happens to be far lighter than most other cars of a similar size. And, of course, it isn’t the only Suzuki on this list…

1. Suzuki Swift 1,2 GL: 872 kg

Suzuki’s become pretty adept at keeping the weight down, hasn’t it? And even though the new Swift isn’t lightning quick in a straight line, there’s no denying there’s fun to be had behind its steering wheel. Needless to say, we’re really looking forward to the Swift Sport…

https://www.carmag.co.za/news/5-lightest-vehicles-car-magazine-tested-in-2018/
 
10 most fuel-efficient vehicles CAR magazine tested in 2018

At CAR, we take each vehicle we test on a standard fuel route of 100 km (comprising of urban and motorway sections) to gather data on its “real-world” fuel consumption. Listed below are the 10 most fuel-efficient cars (measured in litres per 100 km) we tested in 2018…

10. Honda Jazz 1,5 Sport CVT: 5,90 L/100 km (claimed: 5,60 L/100 km)

Sporting a rear wing, red accents and black rim, Honda’s little hatch looks angry. The Jazz Sport’s 1,5-litre four-pot produces 97 kW and 115 N.m of torque which, when mated to a continuous variable transmission (CVT), managed a respectable 5,90 L/100 km on our combined fuel route.

8=. Nissan Qashqai 1,5 dCi: 5,80 L/100 km (claimed: 4,20 L/100 km)

Despite being the heaviest vehicle on this list, weighing some 1464 kg according to our scales, this Japanese SUV is not only a spacious family carrier but also an efficient one…

8=. Volkswagen Polo 1,0 TSI Comfortline: 5,80 L/100 km (claimed: 4,40 L/100 km)

This iteration of Volkswagen’s ever-popular Polo is powered by a 1,0-litre petrol powerplant, producing 70 kW and 175 N.m of torque. Theoretically speaking, this “Beats Edition” could cover some 690 km before refuelling is required, all while churning out your favourite tunes.

7. Renault Duster 1,5 dCi 4×2 Prestige : 5,70 L/100 km (claimed: 4,80 L/100 km)

Renault’s new Duster improves on its forebear in virtually every way, but retains much of its rugged looks and off-road capability. The 80 kW/250 N.m four-cylinder turbodiesel sipped at just 5,70 litres on our 100 km fuel route.

5=. Hyundai i20 Active: 5,60 L/100 km (claimed: 6,70 L/100 km)

This Active version of Hyundai’s i20 rides a full 20 mm higher from the ground (at 170 mm) than the standard derivative. What’s more impressive, though, is its fuel consumption on our standard route. Indeed, the i20 Active came in far under its claimed figure.

5=. Suzuki Dzire: 5,60 L/100 km (claimed: 4,90 L/100 km)

Suzuki’s small sedan employs the same naturally aspirated, 1,2-litre four-cylinder petrol engine as the Swift, producing 61 kW and 113 N.m. But it’s a little heavier than its hatchback sibling.

2=. Ford Figo 1,5 Trend: 5,50 L/100 km (claimed: 5,70 L/100 km)

Although not quite as well specced as the Volkswagen Polo Vivo and Suzuki Baleno it came up against in our comparative test, the Figo’s peppy 1,5-litre engine is more powerful. It’s pretty darn efficient, too.

2=. Suzuki Baleno 1,4 GLX: 5,50 L/100 km (claimed: 5,10 L/100 km)

Yes, another Suzuki. This version of the Japanese brand’s Baleno hatch weighs but 916 kg, making it fairly easy for the free-breathing 1,4-litre petrol engine to achieve a 5,50 L/100 km figure on our fuel route.

2=. Honda Amaze 1,2 Comfort: 5,50 L/100 km (claimed: 5,60 L/100 km)

The solidly built Amaze employs a 66 kW/110 N.m naturally aspirated, four-cylinder petrol engine. Not only is this little sedan light on the scales (weighing 926 kg, according to our measurements) it’s light on fuel, too…

1. Suzuki Swift 1,2 GL: 5,10 L/100 km (Claimed: 4,90 L/100 km)

The latest version of Suzuki’s lovable hatchback takes first place in 2018, with its four-cylinder petrol powerplant using only 5,10 L/100 km on our combined fuel route…

https://www.carmag.co.za/news/10-most-fuel-efficient-vehicles-car-magazine-tested-in-2018/
 
The Honda Jazz fuel economy is bullshit unless there was a dramatic change from the 2016 model.
 
Maruti Suzuki Wagon R offers a large variety of AMT powered cars in its portfolio. These include the entry level Alto K10 and Wagon R to the Celerio and the Ignis hatchbacks. In fact, about 40 per cent of all Celerio buyers and about 20 per cent of Ignis buyers opt for the AMT gearbox. The last generation Maruti Suzuki Swift Dzire had the AMT gearbox but only with the diesel engine option. The new Maruti Suzuki Dzire gets the AMT gearbox with both the petrol and diesel engines.
 
REVIEW: 4 reasons why the Suzuki Swift is an awesome hatch

This summer holiday was a joy, but it’s over now and it’s time for us to put pen to paper, get back on the horse and pretend to be happy to see our co-workers.

It’s also time for me to hand back the keys to the Suzuki Swift 1.2 GLA I had for this vacation. Suzuki makes great cars, this much we know but what’s the Swift like to live with?

Here are four reasons I’d want to continue living with this bright red little number, and one little niggle that annoyed.

1. Fuel economy

Yes, the fuel price just came down, but it’ll be long forgotten when it goes up two-fold again later this year.

The little Suzuki somehow manages to routinely dip below the claimed figure of 4.8-litres/100 and although the fuel tank only holds 37-litres, fuel stops are few and far between.

With no fuel card this past holiday I was left to reach into my own pockets and it felt good knowing that even when I floored the Swift, fuel consumption was still within very respectable limits.

2. It handles well, but is still comfortable

These days most cars drive and handle well, and to me, that’s a problem. I enjoy cars that are comfortable and I’m not always in the mood to set lap records on the 'Koeberg' interchange on Cape Town's N1.

The little Swift allows me to have a little bit of both. Some fun under hard braking thanks to the 875kg kerb weight, a relatively good turn in, some expected mid-corner understeer if you want to keep the speed up and a smile on the exit.

After that, it’s all comfort as I cruise down our well-maintained Cape Town highways.

3. Bluetooth on the go!

I want to end on a positive so I'm going to throw the negative in right now. The Bluetooth system on the Swift is good once it’s going, but clunky on the way in.

It doesn’t work at all unless stationary (an understandable safety feature) and put a weird damper on our summer spirits when friends and/or family piled into the car.

Seatbelts fastened, everyone laughing excitedly and 200 meters down the road I have to stop the car dead so that my niece could connect her phone to the infotainment system. A small annoyance but one I was made to promise to talk about in my review.

4. Cheeky and Cheerful

And finally, The Suzuki Swift can be yours for as little as R159 000. And unlike the sold-out Jimny, there is no waiting list for Swift and after popping into a local dealer for a chat, there are many deals to be had on the little pocket rocket.

As budget options goes, it's one of the more attractive cars available, it's relatively well specced, and manages to combine fun and frugality in one cheeky little package.

The engine revs all the way to the red line and is reminiscent of smaller runabouts of old. It's a car that's easy to love and live with, even if you're stuck listening only.

https://www.wheels24.co.za/NewModel...the-suzuki-swift-is-an-awesome-hatch-20190214
 
Local car scene: Why the Suzuki Swift is yet to make a splash

The car culture in South Africa is quite extensive these days as we have many organised events.

The local motoring scene is booming and there are events that are filling up my calendar almost every fortnight. If it’s not a motor show, it’s a meet/hook-up, or breakfast run, and I can comfortably say the car community is filled with brilliant vehicles and clubs driving excitement for motorists from all walks of life.

Regardless of the show, I'm bound to find awesome-looking Volkswagen Polo's and Golfs/Jettas, a range of BMWs, Subarus and our beloved 1990s heroes such as Nissan 200STis/GXis, Honda Vtecs, and the Toyota RXI’s/RSI’s. Frankly, there are too many to mention.

One car that is yet to make heads spin in the car club culture is the new Suzuki Swift. There are a handful of good-looking, modified Swifts in South Africa, but not to the extent of the previously-mentioned models.

'Suzuki Projects'

In 2018, Suzuki South Africa added air suspension to its new Swift as part of its "Suzuki Projects". This conversion adds an OEM body kit, aftermarket rims and branded livery, that screams "look at me", to its funky hatch.

This special converted car made its way to both the 2018 World Rally Cross championships in Cape Town and the Festival of Motoring, held at Kyalami International in Johannesburg.

Given how alive the local car scene is, this special car was a prime example of how radically different a Swift can be. And to be honest, it really does make sense to stand out from the VW Polo, Golf, and Honda models we find at every car show.

I must point out the limitations though. The Swift, being quite new to the South African market (just over ten years), suffers from the availability of aftermarket parts in SA.

The only accessories you can find without too much trouble are from Suzuki agents.

These include body kits, side skirts, wheel and rim garnish, etc. A little something to let your Swift stand out from the rest. Anything else will have to be imported from online shops in Japan, UK or Australia.

However, I believe the new Swift, in its stock form, already looks good and with a suspension drop with coil-overs or if bags (air suspension) is your thing, and some good-looking rims is sometimes all it takes - as proven by Suzuki SA Projects.

Swift Sport coming

With the good sales the Swift is currently enjoying in SA, the likelihood that we'll see many modified (aesthetically, at least) Swifts on our roads is promising. I am also quite excited to see how the new Swift Sport (to be introduced in mid-2019) will be received by our local automotive community.

With its 1.4-litre turbocharged engine, producing 103kW and 230Nm, adding a downpipe and a custom exhaust (to start off with) just makes sense to any petrolhead. We all love the sound of forced induction engines, yes.

Back to the Swift we can currently purchase…

A few weeks back, SwiftSpeed Cape Town (A car club of Swift owners) had its first breakfast run in 2019 and two new Swifts joined in. There is momentum and car enthusiast are taking a liking to the new Swift - whether they're Suzuki lovers or new to the brand - its clear that there is an uprising.

With its huge wheel archers, sleek lines and curves, that wide-stance body, it does not take a lot to make the Suzuki Swift look even better.

I believe the growth of the Swift in the car community is heavily driven by being different.

With its #AllTheRightFeels tag, the Swift definitely would inspire the right feels when you see a lowered Swift with 17" alloys and a distinctive body colour cruising along Sea point promenade on a sunny Sunday afternoon.

https://www.wheels24.co.za/WildOnWh...suzuki-swift-is-yet-to-make-a-splash-20190226
 
Tested: Suzuki's Swift is stylish, roomy and frugal

Last month we said goodbye to our Suzuki Ignis 1.2 GLX long-term test car. We’ll spare you all those ‘sad farewell’ cliches, but for the record we did at least come outside to wave to Ignatius as it drove off into the sunset, and we do hope that it’s happy wherever it is now and that its new owner is taking good care of it.

Ok, so we did become a little attached to it over the six-month test period, but there was some consolation in that Suzuki did swop it for a Swift 1.2 GL, which we’ll be getting to know better over the coming months.

The swop over actually got us thinking and debating a bit - which is the better car?

There are some spec discrepancies that could sway your decision if you’re looking for a higher-spec package or hoping to skimp and save.

The Ignis, for instance, is not available in the rather basic GA spec level and the Swift currently doesn’t offer a high-spec GLX grade (although that, we’re told, is coming soon), but in mid-spec 1.2 GL guise, the two are actually similarly priced, the Swift retailing at R177 900 and the Ignis at R176 900, and the specs are more or less comparable too, although the Swift has a slight edge with standard Bluetooth and audio controls on the steering wheel.

But when it comes down to it, my colleagues prefer the Ignis due to its funky styling inside and out and the fact that it’s available with more spec in GLX guise, and while I see their point, I am starting to lean towards the Swift as my preferred choice. I’ve always had a soft spot for sportier hatchbacks and the Swift is just prettier and more hunkered down and yes, it really needs a good set of mags to fill those wheel arches but that’s an easy fix on the aftermarket.

Although we’re still waiting for our Swift’s engine to loosen up, performance should be comparable to the Ignis, as both are powered by the same 1.2-litre normally aspirated petrol engine with outputs of 61kW and 113Nm, and both weigh next to nothing, the Swift tipping the scales at 875kg and the Ignis at 850kg.

They’re also built on the same new-generation platform, called Heartect in Suzuki speak, so packaging is brilliant and there is ample interior space and stretch-out rear legroom in both cases, with a little extra headroom in the tallboy Ignis.

The Swift has the more useable boot however. Although the claimed luggage volumes are similar (Swift - 268 litres and Ignis - 260) the Swift has a larger floor area, which is better suited to suitcases and other bulkier items.

When it comes to the look and feel of the cabin, however, the Ignis strides ahead with its funky styling and contrasting colours, while the materials also have a more premium feel. The Swift is for the most part a dark grey affair, but there are some sporty touches, most notably those deep-set instrument cowls in the driver’s direct view.

In my opinion, the Swift is also a bit more fun to drive.

In both cases I miss the taut feel of the hydraulic steering of yesteryear, but among the electric power steering systems in the modern hatchbacks, I feel the Swift’s is the lesser of two evils. It has a bit more feel and self-centres to a greater degree (the Ignis hardly self-centres at all, which can make it a bit laborious when whizzing through traffic).

The advantage of electric power steering, however, besides the increased efficiency, is a lighter feel in parking lots and that’s what most buyers will ultimately appreciate. I’m just a bit old school I guess.

The Swift ticks many rational boxes too. Not only is it practical, as touched upon earlier, but it rides comfortably, is easy to drive and extremely economical - our car currently averaging just above 6l/100km, much of that in heavy traffic.

Any niggles though? Although the Swift has two airbags and ABS braking, the car’s Global NCAP crash-test performance was a mixed bag, with an adult rating of two stars being awarded.

Also, there are one or two minor ergonomic bugbears if we have to nitpick. The car does not auto-lock on pull-off nor does it unlock when you pull the inside handle, meaning you have to hit the lock button twice on every journey; and the steering has no reach adjustment, although that hasn’t prevented us from getting comfy behind the wheel.

All considered though, the Swift impresses as a package. It’s affordable, stylish, practical and economical - four big wins in this day and age.

https://www.iol.co.za/motoring/road-tests/tested-suzukis-swift-is-stylish-roomy-and-frugal-19424877

Swift 1.JPGSwift 2.JPGSwift 3.JPGSwift 4.JPG
 
I have a heavy foot and travel from Pta-Jhb every work day. In the mornings 04:50 I sit at 140kph on the highway and in the afternoon 15:30 - heavy traffic all the way down Main Rd to the N4.

I easily get 17.5l/km

I'm actually very impressed with the Swift GL and on the odd occasion I have had to hit the brakes hard in the PM and the car sits and you have control until the quick dead stop.

So my plan to buy a cheapy for work and back travel which sips fuel is working with all the comforts I need. The Bluetooth handsfree and A/C are both very good.
 
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