Sunny Side Up

What we like:

Styling

Fun to drive

Eager engine

Sufficient space

What we dislike:

Lack of detent in gearshift lever

Infotainment system too bright at night

Cheap lower portion of steering wheel

Car can feel cheap compared to competition

Under the hood, the Swift gets an all new ‘Boosterjet’ 1.0 litre turbocharged 3-cylinder engine, mated to a 6-speed automatic. Power is rated at 109bhp and maximum torque of 160Nm, thanks to its light pressure turbocharging, spans from 1,700rpm to 4,000rpm. A notable improvement over the milder 1.4 litre unit it replaces.

Acceleration to 100km/h has also improved by 1.1 seconds, with the small hatch hitting the mark on at ten, while fuel economy figures are a very good combined 17.5km/l.

Propping the four corners of the car are a set of McPherson Struts up in-front and a simpler Torsion Beam setup in the rear.

Its light steering is a plus for those who would like something which is easy to manoeuvre, and the Swift’s 4.8M turn radius will mean lesser 3-point turns in tighter areas. For those who are more keen on a spirited drive, the Swift comes with paddle shifters behind the wheel, though you will need to consciously reach for them with each gear change. We did not however like cheap plastic lower bit of the steering wheel, and we do believe that it will not stand well to long-term wear. The other little bugbear, which is the lack of detent between ‘Drive’ and ‘Manual’ selection of the shift lever, which would mean that you might find yourself driving the car around on ‘First’ for a bit.

We also quickly learn that there is quite a bit of noise which enters the cabin. Perhaps the car could use a quick visit to a third-party sound isolation specialist for some proper noise deadening.

Handling is actually very good, though there is a little bit of suspension travel, since the car is built for comfort. Lift off around a tighter bend, and you will feel the rear wanting to step out a little. Overall, the Swift does offer an entertaining drive, and does communicate quite well to you when you are coming close to its handling limits.

The Swift does drive well in the city, with enough pep to keep up with and even stay ahead of traffic. On the highway, the engine, together with its 6 ratios allows the car to easily stay on-par with even the bigger boys, without any sign of struggle.

We love the honesty that goes into the Swift. It comes across as a cheerful small hatch, an ideal first car for many. Competing cars like the Honda Jazz, and both the very well-built SEAT Ibiza and its newly-launched sister car, the more expensive Volkswagen Polo are just some of the choices that buyers have.

The Swift is in a very different market than what it faced years ago, where there was simply less competition; and with prices of COEs coming down, perhaps even price would be of a lesser importance when deciding within this segment.

Credits: