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Less power than before - but better. Rob Maetzig drives the new version of Suzuki's highly popular Swift.
| SUZUKI SWIFT GL POWER PLANT: 1372cc in-line four cylinder petrol engine, 70 kW at 6000 rpm, 130 Nm at 4000 rpm. RUNNING GEAR: Front-wheel drive. Five-speed manual transmission. MacPherson strut front suspension, torsion beam at the rear. ABS brakes, electronic stability control. HOW BIG: Length 3850mm, width 1695mm, height 1510mm, wheelbase 2430mm. HOW MUCH: $19,990. WHAT'S GOOD: Roomy little car, particularly at the front. Good looks, fine ride and handling, economy. WHAT'S NOT: Not much cargo space when all seats are in use. OUR VERDICT: This new Suzuki Swift has the goods to easily continue the car's popularity in New Zealand. |
It's that sort of car, you see. Cute as a puppy, easy to drive, and economical in terms of both price and fuel consumption, the latest-shape model has charmed thousands of Kiwi motorists - particularly women - since it was launched here in 2005.
The passenger car sales figures underline all of this. Last year, the world's most popular car, the Toyota Corolla, was top dog in New Zealand with 4890 sales, but the Swift ran second, albeit with 2724 sales.
This year things are closing up
While Corolla remains on top with 1623 sales year-to-date to the end of April - and a lot of this has been to do with rental sales - the Swift is close behind with 1171 sales.
And last month, the Swift was the most popular passenger car in New Zealand. According to latest registration statistics from the Motor Industry Association, 248 people purchased the happy little hatchback - which consigned the Corolla to second place with 149 sales.
So will this mean the Swift will end 2011 as the most popular passenger vehicle in New Zealand?
It wouldn't surprise me if it happens. And a major reason for this will be that there's a brand- new model now on the market that is even better than before.
Actually, it wouldn't surprise me if most motorists - even current Swift owners - didn't know there is the new model. That's because, despite the fact Suzuki New Zealand assures us that all the body panelling is new, the new car looks unmistakeably like the old.
And that's no bad thing either, because even after five years the previous-model Swift still ranked as one of the best-looking hatchbacks around, particularly when painted a bright colour.
But the new Swift is bigger. Its 3850mm length is 90mm more than before, wheelbase is up 40mm, and the hatch is also slightly wider and taller. But significantly, despite this growing size, the weight of the Swift has been reduced by up to 35kg.
A cynic would say this is just as well, because what has also been downsized with this new model is engine capacity. Whereas the previous model had a 1490cc four- cylinder petrol unit under its stubby little bonnet, the new version is powered by a 1372cc engine.
Consequently, the power and torque has also been reduced - instead of the old 75 kilowatts and 133 Newton metres, the new model offers 70 kW and 130 Nm - but Suzuki says the new engine is considerably more efficient, and thanks to a longer stroke-to-bore ratio it also has more useable torque.
So, with all that as background, we put the new Swift to a full test.
We got our hands on a base- model $19,990 GL manual, and over Easter we used it for a journey to Hawkes Bay to enjoy the delights of that part of the North Island.
The GL is an interesting little car. In one respect, it is bare-bones in that it doesn't have such items as a tachometer and does have 15-inch steel wheels; but it also carries such luxuries as remote central locking, air conditioning, fuel-consumption gauge, and a full suite of safety and security items - including ABS brakes with brake- force distribution and brake assist, stability control, and five airbags.
And despite its diminutive size, it is also roomy.
There's only 210 litres of space in the rear cargo area when all seats are in use, which means it's only big enough to contain smallish travel bags; but there's reasonable leg room and very good head and shoulder room for those aboard.
I wouldn't go so far as to say I was surprised at the amount of room available up front in the driver and passenger seats, but I was impressed. The Swift may be a small car, but I found it quite suitable to drive long distances in comfort.
And real economy can be achieved, too.
The official average fuel consumption for a manual Swift is published at 5.5 litres per 100 kilometres, but I easily achieved 5.3 L/100 km simply by driving normally. I'm sure this could have been improved further if I had really tried.
Even the official figure of 5.5 L/100km is 14.7 per cent more economical than was the case with the previous Swift, which is a real attraction at a time when fuel prices are reaching record levels and expected to rise even further.
And performance? It's about what I would have expected from a 1.4-litre car designed with an emphasis on fuel economy. It lacks a little down low which means the driver must make use of the manual transmission's gears, but that's not an issue because the gearbox is light and easy to use anyway.
At the higher speeds and in fifth gear, the Swift felt happy to simply lope along. The lack of a rev counter meant I had absolutely no idea what the engine revolutions were at 100 kmh, but I suspect they were around the 2000 rpm mark, which would have been ideal for good fuel economy.
One very good feature of this Swift is its ride and handling prowess.
I always remember the previous model as being very good anyway, thanks to its mix of a wide track and short wheelbase, but this new version is even better. The front suspension frame has been made stiffer, while at the rear, changes to the angle of the torsion beam bushing have provided 50 per cent more lateral rigidity.
The car also boasts a new variable-gear-ratio steering system, which provides a quick ratio when the steering rack is near the centre so things can be most responsive at the start of a turn. The ratio is at its slowest near the steering wheel's turning limits to reduce steering effort. It works well.
Actually, everything works well with this new Suzuki Swift, to the extent it thoroughly deserves its April status as the most popular car in New Zealand.
It might be only a little hatch, but its available space and refinement are big. It may be lacking slightly in out-and-out performance, but it offers secure ride and handling - all, in the case of our road test vehicle, for under 20 grand. That's appealing.
- Taranaki Daily News
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