Suzuki Swift Hatchback

We say Brilliant supermini that's sleek, stylish and fun to drive and there’s also lots of standard kit.Performance There are three engines available in the

We say Brilliant supermini that's sleek, stylish and fun to drive and there’s also lots of standard kit.Performance There are three engines available in the form of a 1.2-litre and 1.6-litre petrol, as well as 1.33-litre DDiS diesel. The 134bhp 1.6-litre diesel is the fastest in the range sprinting to 60mph from standstill in 8.4 seconds and reaching a top speed of 121mph.Emissions Emissions are ok across the range but they’re excellent with the 1.33-litre diesel engine at 109g/km. The diesel is also the most fuel efficient model too and it returns 67mpg on a combined cycle.Driving The Suzuki comes into its own on the road and is great fun to drive. It’s sharp around corners and comes with precise, well weighted steering. It’s also compact and has a small turning circle which makes it ideal for city driving.Feel Petrols are a little noisy when strained but the diesel cruises well, helped along by a brilliant suspension set-up that takes bumps in its stride without ever feeling too soft or washy.Space There’s plenty of passenger space for those travelling in the front and rear as long as you keep it to four. With three in the back the unlucky passenger in the middle will begin to feel cramped and claustrophobic after a while. That’s disappointing because the boot space is poor at just 211-litres but the rear seats do fold.Equipment No air conditioning on entry level, but there is central locking, CD player and electric windows. Higher trim adds air conditioning and alloys. Auto box an option on 1.5-litre models but generally equipment levels are mean.Price Running costs are good on the Swift as is the list price which starts at around £10,500 and rises to less than £14,000.Quality Most Suzukis are reliable and there’s no reason to expect the Swift to be any different in terms of engines. Inside, the Swift marks a massive improvement in cabin quality with dodgy plastics ditched for soft-touch plastics. It’s a safe interior but not one to complain about.Safety Four bags and ABS as standard. Deadlocks as standard.Pros The Swift supermini represents excellent value for money. It’s brilliant to drive and comes with a decent engine range in terms of its mix of performance and low emissions. The cabin is also surprisingly good for a Suzuki.Cons The equipment list on the Swift is poor at the lower end of the price range.Alternatives Toyota Yaris, Nissan Micra.

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