Ten Point Test

Auto Trader Ten Point Test rating: 79%

Launched in 2005, the latest Suzuki Swift hatchback arrived as an all-new car with big improvements over its dated predecessor.

It boasted good-looks, much-improved interior quality and great handling. The Swift Sport upped the ante with its tuned suspension and peppy 1.6-litre engine, leading to it enjoying its own cult following.

We’ve just sampled the very latest 1.3-litre SZ-L special edition, one of 500 cars released in September 2009 with extra goodies as standard.

1. Looks 8/10

The Suzuki Swift is a familiar sight now, but it still cuts a dash thanks to its wheel-at-each-corner stance, Mini-like upright front windscreen and strong roofline. The Swift Sport is particularly handsome thanks to deeper bumpers and 17-inch alloy wheels. The limited edition SZ-L we tested gets 15-inch alloy wheels and aluminium exterior trim highlights.

2. Looks inside 8/10

Superminis tend to lack the interior design flair of more expensive cars, but the Swift has a relatively stylish cabin. Its buttons and controls are well-placed and cleanly presented and everything feels sturdy. The Sport gets red and black trimmed front seats which are comfortable, but could do with a little more lateral support.

3. Practicality 6/10

The Swift might be a small car but its surprisingly tall roof and square shape give it competitive interior space. The 213 litre boot is smaller than a Fiesta’s (295 litres), but bigger than a Mini’s (160 litres). The rear seats split 60:40 and fold down to liberate more space.

4. Ride and Handling 9/10

The Suzuki Swift is very pleasant to drive thanks to its well-weighted power steering and excellent suspension setup. It has nimble handling, and there’s plenty of grip from the tyres. The Sport rubs shoulders with the best warm hatches and holds its own – it’s great fun on British roads. We found the gearshift on our SZ-L test car a bit notchy, but it was a brand new car.

5. Performance 7/10

There are three petrol engines and one diesel in the Swift range. The entry level 1.3-litre petrol has 91bhp and hits 60mph in 11 seconds, while the 1.5-litre has 101bhp and takes ten seconds. The 1.3-litre is quick enough in the city, and it’s only the motorway which shows up its lack of performance. The 1.5 is a great all-rounder and makes for plenty of fun.

For a big smile you need the Sport, with its 1.6-litre and 125bhp motor, which is sweet-revving and lets you hit 60mph in just under nine seconds.

The 1.3-litre DDiS diesel isn’t a big seller, but its excellent economy will appeal to drivers covering big miles.

6. Running Costs 8/10

The Swift has very good residual values, holding more of its value after three years than most of its competitors. It’s also cheap to run thanks to low insurance ratings, low fuel consumption and some of the best-value servicing rates in the country.

The 1.3-litre petrol models return 48.7mpg (140g/km of CO2); the 1.5-litre petrol Swifts give 46.3mpg (143-145g/km); the 1.6-litre Sport can be coaxed to 39.8mpg (171g/km) and the 1.3-litre diesel manages a whopping 62.8mpg (119g/km).

7. Reliability 9/10

Suzuki has an excellent reputation for reliability, and the Swift shouldn’t harm this. The car is well-built and feels tough on the inside and out.

8. Safety 7/10

The Swift scored four stars in EuroNCAP crash tests, leaving it trailing the latest crop of superminis – including the Ford Fiesta and Volkswagen Polo – in the safety stakes. There’s plenty of safety kit though, with front, side and curtain airbags standard across the range. Only the Sport gets ESP as standard.

9. Equipment 8/10

The Swift is a well-equipped car, with electric front windows and remote central locking as standard on the 1.3-litre GL and air-conditioning, keyless entry, keyless start-up and alloy wheels standard on the 1.5-litre GLX.

Swift Sports get a body kit, twin-exhaust, 17-inch alloy wheels, climate control, ESP, traction control and an MP3 compatible stereo.

The 500 special edition SZ-L cars on sale with a 59-plate have 15-inch alloy wheels, air conditioning, pearlescent or metallic paint, interior mats, heated and electrically retracting door mirrors and exterior chrome trim highlights.

10. X-Factor 9/10

The Suzuki Swift is a good-value, well-equipped, reliable and fun supermini which is equally appealing to the young and old – what’s not to like?

Key facts

Model tested: Suzuki Swift 1.3 SZ-L 5-dr
On the road price: £10,250
Price range: £8,750 – £11,990
Date tested: September 2009
Road tester: Andy Goodwin