Car Details: Suzuki

2018-2019 Suzuki Swift

Following on from its launch in the Japanese domestic market in late 2016, Suzuki Motor Corporation unveiled the new Suzuki Swift for Europe at the 2017 Geneva Motor Show as its all new global compact supermini. The new Suzuki Swift represents an automotive advancement aimed at uplifting the driver through succession, evolution and innovation.

It carries forward the Swift DNA while adopting completely new styling and a performance-enhancing extremely light body with advanced safety technologies. The result is exterior European flair complemented by a sporty and functional interior, nimble and agile driving, and enhanced peace of mind.

In addition to its stylish exterior design in a compact size of just 3,840mm long, the new Swift features excellent visibility, a spacious cabin and ample luggage space. The development goal was to create an all new hatchback styling that is undoubtedly Suzuki.

This new platform or underbody of new Swift is now 30kg lighter which has contributed to the car registering a kerb weight of just 890kg (SZ3 model) which is over 100kg lighter overall.

The bodyshell (Body in White) is also of lightweight construction and includes the use of Ultra High tensile steel (980Mpa) across 17 per cent of its structure and High tensile steel (789 MPa) across four per cent of its structure.

The new Suzuki Swift is 10mm shorter than the outgoing model, while its wheelbase is 20mm longer, creating more interior room including 20 per cent more luggage capacity at 265L, or 54 litres more than the current Swift. It is 15mm lower and 40mm wider, further accentuating its low and wide stance. The European Swift is 40mm wider and has a wider track than the Japanese Domestic model.

After the debut of the 1.0-litre three cylinder Boosterjet in Baleno and S-Cross during 2016, this engine technology is now extended to the new Suzuki Swift. Offering the same level of power and torque of a much larger capacity normally aspirated engine (1.7-1.8-litre), it delivers an effortless drive and genuine driving pleasure.

This unit has an output of 111PS and is also Direct Injection turbocharged (DITC). The engine has very compact dimensions and offers 170Nm of torque available from 2,000rpm through to 3,500rpm. The optional six speed automatic transmission model offers 160Nm of torque which is available slightly earlier from just 1,700rpm through to 4,000rpm.

The audio system for both SZ-T and SZ5 models has a Smartphone Linkage Display Audio (SLDA) with a large seven inch touch panel display that enables intuitive operation. On the SZ5 grade a three dimensional navigation map makes landmarks easy to distinguish and the system also allows the driver to use certain smartphone applications with MirrorLink, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connection.

Apple CarPlay is the smarter and safer way to use iPhone in the Suzuki Swift. Apart from making calls it also facilitates receiving directions for optimised traffic conditions, listening to music, accessing email, text messages and more.