2011 Suzuki Swift First Drive
An Engaging Hatchback That Could Make It in America
By Nick Hall, | Published Dec 29, 2011
The United States has never been into small things much, especially when it comes to cars. While buyers in Europe and Asia gravitate toward compact, city-friendly vehicles, American tastes have always skewed in the other direction.
Recently, however, the Fiat 500, Mini Cooper and Ford Fiesta have shown that there is an appetite in America for small hatchbacks done well. With that in mind, Suzuki is seriously considering entering the U.S. market with a unique compact entry of its own. It is called the Suzuki Swift Sport and it's a small hatchback that has made quite a name for itself overseas thanks to sharp styling, nimble handling and a reasonable price.
The Swift is Suzuki's volume seller around the world, and a far cry from the Grand Vitaras and Kizashis it already sells in the U.S. But the previous Suzuki Swift Sport was widely regarded as one of the best bang-for-your-buck cars around, so there are high hopes that it might be time for a U.S. debut.
How Much Sport Do You Get?
The 2011 Suzuki Swift Sport comes with a modest 136-horsepower 1.6-liter engine hooked to a six-speed manual transmission. Thankfully, the inline four-cylinder engine is only asked to push around 2,304 pounds worth of car. Suzuki says it's good for a 0-60-mph time of around 8.7 seconds, so it's not bad for the class.
The low power means you plant the throttle on every bend. It's not a machine you have to respect, as you can just throw it into a corner and deal with it at the apex. The engine is thrashy, loud and unrefined at high revs, which is a shame, at it makes peak power at 6,900 rpm. All 118 pound-feet of torque is available at 4,400 rpm, so there's some punch at lower engine speeds.
The snappy throttle response makes it feel more urgent than it really is and even the gearshift has been given a sporting feel. It adds up to a comically rich driving experience that makes you love the car more than you should.
Feels as Small as It Looks
With its front-drive setup and direct steering, it's easy to really throw the Swift around on the twisting Catalan ocean roads in Spain. There's a slight numbness to the steering right on center, but if you trust the car to hold on, it rewards you with admirable grip.
Compared to the standard Swift, the 2011 Suzuki Swift Sport gets a retuned suspension with new bushings, stiffer springs and revised damper settings. There's also a retuned power steering setup along with 17-inch wheels and tires.
It works best with the stability control turned off, as it prevents the overbearing computers from scrubbing off too much speed and sending the car wide through hairpin bends. Without the electronic intervention, the tail tucks in much more readily and the car occasionally even cocks a rear wheel into the air and threatens, just for a split second, to oversteer. Don't be fooled by the power output: it's a little go-kart.
Even under duress the Brembo brakes refuse to fade, another legacy of the low curb weight. And its compact dimensions mean it's easily placed on the road. The Swift Sport measures 153.1 inches long and 66.7 inches wide, which makes it slightly longer than a Mini Cooper and about the same width.
It Definitely Looks Sporty
Designwise, the 2011 Suzuki Swift Sport is anathema to the retro-styled offerings from Fiat and Mini, with its squarer lines, a relatively high profile and a muscular waistline. The front is as vicious as a cute small car can be, with a mass of straight lines and a near cheese-grater front grille that sets off the aggressive body kit.
There's a hint of testosterone compared to the more androgynous-looking base version of the Swift. There's no getting around the fact that the rivals look more expensive, but the Suzuki's straight-edged, modern look is at least retro chic in the small-hatch world.
Inside there's a raft of relatively cheap-feeling plastics that at least fit together well. The figure-hugging bucket seats blend with the red stitching and chrome-lined dials to emphasize the sporting nature. Glamorous it is not, but then there's an unpretentious honesty to the Swift Sport that fits its budget price tag.
Can It Make It Here?
That unpretentious honesty has been the key to the 2011 Suzuki Swift Sport's success in Europe. Well, that and a price tag significantly lower than the comparable Mini Cooper.
Whether it would be a success in the U.S. is still very much a question mark. It would have to contend with the Fiat 500 and Mini Cooper on the styling front while at the same time offering good value in the face of strong domestic hatchbacks like the Chevrolet Sonic and Ford Fiesta.
It's not an impossible task and we hope Suzuki at least takes a shot. The Swift is a neat combination of unique styling and a fun-to-drive feel that most inexpensive hatchbacks rarely have. It might not be the success it was in Europe, but even if it's just a toe in the water, it's a step in the right direction for Suzuki.
You are currently viewing our boards as a guest which gives you limited access to view most discussions and access our other features. By joining our free community you will have access to post topics, communicate privately with other members (PM), respond to polls, upload content and access many other special features. Registration is fast, simple and absolutely free so please, join our community today!
The banners on the left side and below do not show for registered users!
) the only suzukis that interested me were only the two-wheeled variety.
