There’s an all-new Suzuki Swift on the way, but you’d be hard-pressed to spot the difference. But looks aside, will the larger and more efficient new car live up to its predecessor?

Richard Dredge put Suzuki’s new supermini through its paces at an exclusive preview in Austria.

Fun to drive, affordable and neatly styled, the previous generation Swift was a huge success. It notched up no fewer than 63 different car of the year awards around the globe and accounts for a third of the manufacturers UK sales, so it’s easy to understand why Suzuki isn’t keen to change the car’s styling too radically.

And keeping the looks is no bad move, as the new Suzuki Swift still looks neat, but there is a danger the new model could look dated in another five years. A nine centimetre increase in length is welcome though, with most of it going between the front and rear axles, to increase interior space.

The cabin is still tight – after all, the Swift is still less than four metres long – and with a couple of tall people in the front there isn’t much room in the back. The boot isn’t especially spacious, although the split rear seats can be folded to increase load capacity.

The cabin design is much improved, with a modern dash incorporating higher quality switchgear and better quality plastics. Equipment levels should be decent too, although prices and specifications are yet to be confirmed.

What Suzuki can confirm is that all versions will be fitted with seven airbags and ESP as standard. Stop & start technology will be made available as an option on the petrol version with manual ‘box.

Full gallery: Suzuki Swift

Just one engine will be available when the Swift arrives in the UK this September – a new 1.2-litre petrol engine, with a choice of manual or automatic gearboxes. A new efficient 1.3-litre turbodiesel will join the line-up in January 2011, with a manual gearbox only.

With its 93bhp and 85lb/ft of pulling power, the small and light petrol-powered Swift shouldn’t struggle, but the automatic gearbox we drove isn’t very slick and was a little laborious outside urban areas. Things aren’t helped by the lack of a semi-automatic option – meaning you can’t over-ride the gearbox and select your own gears – but the manual transmission should fare better.

The diesel version feels more energetic, with its more muscular 140lb/ft and 74bhp.  Official performance figures have yet to be announced – our exclusive preview is two months before the official first drive – but suffice to say that the diesel can keep up with traffic more happily than the automatic petrol car.

Where the diesel falls down is with refinement and even when cruising, the diesel Swift is noisier than you’d expect. Wind and road noise are reasonably subdued, but the engine is disappointingly vocal.

Low running costs won’t disappoint. Suzuki claims the new Swift is capable of averaging 56.5mpg in petrol form and a very enticing 67.2mpg with diesel power. Road tax should be cheap too, with CO2 emissions of 116g/km and 109g/km respectively.

While the petrol car’s performance and the diesel model’s lack of refinement are a little disappointing, the rest of the dynamics are pretty good. The new steering system is well weighted and direct, and while the Swift’s handling isn’t class leading, it’s perfectly adequate. The ride is also good for such a small car.

Suzuki fans will continue to love the new Swift with its more spacious interior, higher quality cabin and improved dynamics.

Reliability, value and equipment levels are also likely to be major selling points so, while this new Swift doesn’t stand out like its predecessor, it’s still an easy car to recommend.

Key facts:

Models tested: Suzuki Swift 1.2 petrol auto, 1.3 diesel manual
On the road price: TBC
Date tested: June 2010
Road tester: Richard Dredge