Britain’s biggest and best car buyer’s guide Reprinted from AWARDS 2012

Suzuki Swift Sport

Suzuki Swift Sportvs renault Clio Gordini

reprinted from 2 & 15 november 2011

‘Updated model gets added pace and precision but

retains entertaining old-school handling’ AAAAC

‘Tight body control and accurate

steering make the Swift great fun’

‘No other hot hatch comes close at

this price’Suzuki Swift

OUR CARS ’Everything in the car works the way that it should.

No tricks, no fuss. Just how a good warm hatch should be’

awards 2012 whatcar.com

Hot hatchWhat are we looking for?‘Building a good hot hatch isn’t easy; it requires far more than simply putting a big engine into a small hatchback. the best hot hatches have to be as thrilling in the corners as they are in a straight line, and that takes real engineering.

‘However, while driving thrills are undoubtedly at the top of our wish list, our winner can’t merely be a one-trick pony. it also needs enough class, comfort and kit to make life easy when you’re not in the mood to play.’

Ivan AistropContent editorIvan.Aistrop@whatcar.com

TEST CENTRE

TWIN TESTcar of ThE yEar renault clio Gordini vs Suzuki Swift Sport

The contendersSuzuki Swift SportList price £13,499suzuki’s new firecracker brings some much-needed affordability to the hot hatch market. It’s anything but no-frills, though.

Renault Clio GordiniList price £14,000renault has built some of the finest hot hatchbacks in history. Can it pull off the same trick for such a low price?

Whatever happened to cheap thrills? these days even a hot vauxhall Corsa will set you back £19k.

Suzuki hasn’t forgotten about buyers on a smaller budget, though; the new Swift Sport’s old-school formula of a small, revvy petrol engine and a featherweight chassis keeps it cheap, yet it’s remarkably well equipped.

the renault Clio is one of our favourite hot hatches in range-topping renaultsport 200

Cup form, but we’ve pitted the Swift against the cheaper 1.6 Gordini 128 version. It’s been tuned by the same team, but trades outright pace for a lower price and cheaper insurance premiums.

What are they like to drive?these cars prove you don’t need lots of power to have fun. the Swift’s 134bhp isn’t much in a modern hot hatch world dominated by 200bhp+ monsters, while the Clio musters only 128bhp. neither gives its best until nearly 7000rpm, either, but wringing the necks of these cars is half the fun. that’s particularly true in the Swift, because its engine loves to be thrashed. the close-ratio six-speed gearbox makes it easy to keep the engine on song, and the Suzuki’s low weight makes up for its so-so 134bhp. no wonder, then, that it felt much the friskier in our tests, hitting 60mph in less than eight seconds.

the renault is 100kg heavier so is a lot slower, although it’s still nippy enough to

keep you entertained. It’s a shame the engine sounds so plain when revved; the Suzuki’s plays a much sportier tune.

outright pace is only half of the story, though, because hot hatches need to be fun through the corners. thankfully, the Swift is a riot, with an agile chassis, plenty of grip and sharp, accurate steering. the best bit is that it gets you involved at legal speeds.

the Clio grips just as hard and actually leans slightly less, but it doesn’t engage you in the same way because there’s less feedback through the steering. the fact that the Clio is significantly slower also means you need a long run at any corner to even get close to the limits of grip.

despite their sporty pretentions, both cars have surprisingly supple suspension set-ups, which soak up bumps and potholes well. that keeps the tyres in contact with the road when you’re pushing hard on less-than-perfect roads, and makes the cars easier to live with when you’re done having fun.

whatcar.com awards 2012

NEW

BEST DASH

Simple to use Controls are logical and well labelled, apart from the Bluetooth system

Plain design Only red stitching and sports seats distinguish the sport from lesser swifts

Clumsy layout Buttons are small and poorly labelled; stereo isn’t user-friendly

Bright colours Gordini colours brighten up the Clio’s otherwise dull and grey cabin

Suzuki’s bargain Swift Sport has a zingy engine, sharp reflexes and a good helping of old-school charm. Is it enough to beat the Renault Clio Gordini?

a questioN of sport

‘Tight body control and accurate

steering make the Swift great fun’

PricingList price £13,499Performance0-60mph 7.9secTop speed 118mphRunning costsAverage fuel economy 44.1mpgCO2 emissions 147g/kmTax liability 19%Insurance group 19

renault’S StranGlehold on the hot hatch category (the firm has swept the board for two years running) has finally been broken. It has taken something pretty special to do it, and that something is Suzuki’s new Swift Sport.

the face-lifted version of last year’s winner, the renault twingo renaultsport, isn’t on sale yet, but don’t go thinking that the Swift won by default. It’s a brilliant junior hot hatch.

the 1.6-litre petrol engine has 134bhp which, according to our test figures, is enough to fling the Swift from 0-60mph

in a sparkly 7.9 seconds. the strong grip, tight body control and accurate steering make the Swift great fun, too, and with decent refinement and a surprisingly supple ride, it’s at home on all kinds of roads.

the best thing, though, is that you get all of this for just £13,499, along with luxury kit such as climate and cruise controls, Bluetooth, xenon lights and keyless start. throw in the reasonable insurance premiums and affordable fuel costs, and you have a hot hatch that’s perfect for young drivers.

Best buy less than £15,000

Suzuki Swift Sport

BEST TO DRIVE

Clio grips hard and resists roll, but steering is short of feel

The Swift’s agile handling makes it a joy on any country road

For Great fun; easily quick enough; loads of kit; low running costsVerdict No other hot hatch comes close at this price

For Grips well; more practical than swift; cheap insuranceVerdict a decent car, but fails to excite like a hot hatch should

our verdictonly one of these cars will truly put a smile on your face, and it’s the Suzuki. the new Swift Sport is quick, agile and good fun to drive, not to mention remarkably well equipped, so it easily wins this match-up. the Clio, by contrast, is somewhat disappointing. It feels like a nippy supermini rather than a hot hatch, and that’s something its racing stripes and dolled-up interior can’t mask.

Renault Clio 1.6 VVT Gordini 128

Suzuki Swift 1.6 sport

Clio can seat five, and has the bigger boot with the seats up or down

BEST BOOT

BEST REAR CABIN

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What are they like inside?apart from chunky alloys and twin exhausts, the Swift doesn’t exactly scream ‘hot hatch’ from afar, and it’s a similar story when you get inside. there’s some red stitching on the seats and the steering wheel, but little else marks the Sport out from the humdrum models. at least that means everything is solid and the controls are logically laid out.

the Clio’s cabin shares plenty with cheaper versions in the range, too, but renault has made more of an effort. the famous Gordini blue is splashed over the steering wheel, the gearknob and the sides of the seats, while the white instrument dials also add to the sporty ambience. however, some of the buttons on the Clio’s dash are small and poorly labelled, and the stereo isn’t at all user-friendly.

Both cars have figure-hugging front seats, but the Clio’s sit lower, giving it the sportier driving position. the Suzuki presents you with a great view of the road ahead, though, and there’s lots of adjustment to the steering wheel to help you get comfortable.

the Clio is the bigger car. You won’t notice that from the driver’s seat, because the Suzuki has more front headroom, but you will when you open the boot; the renault’s loadbay is much longer, with the seats up or down.

Both cars will comfortably accommodate a couple of mates in the back, with similar rear head- and legroom. the renault can seat five in emergencies, though, because it has an extra rear seatbelt.

Will they break the bank? the Suzuki is the cheaper car to start with, but some big discounts are available on the Clio. there will almost certainly be room for negotiation on the price of the Swift, but it wasn’t on sale at the time of writing.

even without a discount, though, the Suzuki will cost you less to own over three years. It’s cheaper to fuel and tax, and will also be worth more when you sell, which more than makes up for its higher insurance premiums.

the Suzuki also comes with heaps more standard equipment, including Bluetooth, xenon headlights and even metallic paint. Both cars get alloy wheels, climate and cruise controls, and electric windows and mirrors.

these cars will be bought mainly by young drivers, so it’s worrying that renault charges £315 extra for stability control – a crucial safety system that helps prevent you skidding off the road. Suzuki fits the system as standard, and also trumps the renault with a driver’s knee airbag.

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Test figures

Figures in bold are best in test dimensions in cm

Measurements

Economy

Safety

Average 44.1mpgTank 42 litresEmissions 147g/km, 19% taxRange 407 miles

Space 211-512 litres Size 1586cc, 4cyl

Peak power 134bhp@6900rpmPeak torque 118lb ft@4400rpm

Engine and performance

Buying Website www.suzuki.co.uk Car pictured suzuki swift 1.6 sport

Suzuki swift sportList price £13,499

30–50mph in 3rd/4th/5th/6th

50–70mph in 3rd/4th/5th/6th

44.6sec 7.1sec 5 10.2sec 6 13.3sec3

6 14.4sec44.9sec 6.8sec 5 10.5sec3

acceleration 30–70mph through the gears

7.7sec

Braking 30–0mph/70–0mph

10.0m 50.4m

Weather conditions dry

Euro NCaP crash rating xyxxxxxxyxyxyxy

0-60mph Top speed

sec mph7.9 118

94% 82% 62% 71%

awards 2012 whatcar.com

hoT haTchES

2 NOVEMBER 2011 WWW.AUTOCAR.CO.Uk

Suzuki Swift Sport

QUICK FACTSPrice £14,500On sale January 2012

25.10.11, Barcelona proof that an old-school take on hot hatch fun can still have appeal

first verdictUpdated model gets added pace and precision but retains entertaining old-school handling

AAAAC

The new Suzuki Swift Sport is a pleasingly old-fashioned sort of hot hatchback. On sale in the uk next January, the warmed-up Swift has been made quicker, stronger, more powerful and more efficient – improvements necessary just to keep up in such a competitive segment as europe’s for superminis.

But when you get into the detail of exactly how this little bundle of joy has been revised – and what it represents alongside other exciting contemporary superminis you might be considering – you can’t help making slightly dewy-eyed comparisons with a few of the affordable front-drivers that so many of us lusted after 20-something years ago.

For instance, when was the last time you read about a performance car updated not with automatic engine start-stop or an e-Diff, but a high-lift camshaft, suspension bracing and synchromesh on both first and second gears? And when did any major car manufacturer dare to release a full-sized, front-driven, top-of-the-range

performance supermini with less than 140bhp? My money would be on Suzuki, circa 2005, with the previous Swift Sport.

The new one seeks to improve on the zesty recipe of the last by degrees. A variable length intake plenum, as well as the aforementioned changes to the inlet timing and lift, has boosted peak power on the car’s 1.6-litre normally aspirated engine to 134bhp from 121bhp, and torque to 118lb ft – not massive hikes by any measure. More important is the update from five forward speeds to six in the car’s manual gearbox.

Those changes may knock only a couple of tenths off the car’s 0-62mph pace, but they make it feel that bit quicker through the gears. The kerb weight is 1045kg, which puts power to weight at 128bhp per tonne. Funnily enough, that’s almost exactly what the original Peugeot 205 GTi had.

The little Suzuki really isn’t so dissimilar to that wonderful old Peugeot dynamically. higher spring rates and firmer bushing for its torsion beam rear suspension have traded a little of the playfulness of the old car’s handling for precision. A more rigid front subframe and

steering system have helped here, too. whereas the last Swift Sport would pivot beneath its driver at the slightest invitation, darting at corners and dancing through them with pointy abandon on a lifted throttle, the new one has a more rounded dynamic temperament. it turns in with a little less zeal, but has more progressive steering response than the last car, and a very pleasing sense of accuracy and feel through the steering wheel’s rim.

There’s balance to the car’s chassis – and, more easily accessed than in most compact front-drivers, it’s enough to paint a wide

smile on your face on the right road. But there’s measure and maturity now, too. The car is quieter on the motorway and has more grip and body control when you really ask for it, but not so much of either as to rob the Swift of any rolling comfort or suppleness, or of the accessible thrills that so many modern front-drivers fail to deliver.

One or two might wish for a bit more poke. in quieter moments, Suzuki’s engineers admit that they considered a turbocharger in the early stages, but decided that a car with a surfeit of chassis composure

over sheer grunt – of handling capacity over performance, in other words – would be more fun.

And on the evidence of the cracking little driver’s car they’ve created, it’s hard to disagree. A Clio Cup it ain’t, but you’d certainly pick one over a Renault Twingo Cup or Abarth 500.matt saunders

so Good■ Responsive chassis ■ Improved performance

and refinement■ Communicative steering

SUzUki SWifT SPORT 1.6 VVTPrice £13,499Top speed 121mph0-62mph 8.7secEconomy 44.1mpgCO2 147g/kmKerb weight 1045kgEngine 4 cyls, 1586cc, petrolInstallation Front, transverse, FWDPower 134bhp at 7000rpmTorque 118lb ft at 4400rpmGearbox 6-spd manualFuel tank 42 litresBoot 211-512 litresWheels 17in, alloyTyres 195/45 R17

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the most telling update is to the torsion beam rear suspension. With spring rates firmed up in greater proportion to the front axle, the Swift has been fitted with firmer bushings to better control camber and toe angles at the rear wheels in hard cornering and, says Suzuki, make the car respond 20 per cent more

quickly to the steering.despite the higher rates, the car rides quietly

and with plenty of absorption — and variable rate bushings are the reason. At the rear of the twist beam, the bushings are softer, for good ride compliance; at its front, they’re firmer for better lateral control.

NeW tecH beam me up

Rear suspension tweaks quicken steering response

TESTER’S NOTEThe Suzuki falls into group 19 insurance. That’s cheaper than a Skoda Fabia vRS.matt saunders

15 FEBRUARY 2012 WWW.AUTOCAR.CO.Uk WWW.AUTOCAR.CO.Uk 15 FEBRUARY 2012

Many of today’s performance hatches have become so obsessed with horsepower

and back-breaking Nürburgring-honed chassis, and so packed with performance-sapping and weight-gaining equipment, that the basics are being overlooked.

Truth be told, most of us are just as happy with something that’s perfectly civilised — and without compromise — for 90 per cent of the time, as long as it’s nimble and lightweight enough to offer a decent turn of pace and the ability to attack a corner when we escape Britain’s crowded town centres and motorways.

The answer? Step forward the new Suzuki Swift Sport, my drive for the next few months. It looks great, has a lovely, high-revving normally

’Everything in the car works the way that it should. No tricks, no fuss. Just how a good warm hatch should be’

ChassisThe development budget

has been spent on supple yet sporting ride quality.

LooksIt has an understated warm

hatch look: nice alloys, subtle body kit and sporty cabin trim.

TiNy booTNo one will be taking the Swift

on a weekend camping trip. The narrow boot limits practicality.

REaR sEaTsThere’s really only room for one adult in the back, and even then

legroom is in short supply.

ECoNomySuzuki claims 44mpg, and we’re

already averaging 43.1mpg after the first 1500 miles.

Suzuki Swift SportFirst report Suzuki’s new sporty supermini promises even more affordable fun than its predecessor. We’re set to find out if it delivers

Latest Sport gearbox gets an extra cog

Decent driving position and

plenty of kit inside

Economy and CO2 emissions are both improved

Shiny 17in alloys might take some looking after

The previous-generation Swift Sport was too patchy for my liking, but first impressions of this new one are that it’s more well

rounded and usable — not to mention as chuckable and fun to drive as ever. This promises to be a popular car. Allan Muir S

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Suzuki Swift SportPrice £13,499 As tested £13,499Options None Economy 43.1mpgFaults None Expenses None

aspirated petrol engine and weighs just 1045kg. It’s also completely gimmick-free and is just as happy around town as it is charging along a B-road or on a long motorway cruise. So we’ll be getting on very well indeed, thanks very much.

Ordering a Swift Sport is a simple process. It’s a case of handing over £13,499 and choosing your colour — this being your only option. We went for the handsome Ablaze Red Pearl metallic out of the five hues on offer.

The new Sport doesn’t really need an options list anyway, because it comes with an extensive array of kit that wouldn’t look out of place on a BMW 3-series. Included is everything from a meaty (but not overdone) body kit and 17in alloys on the outside to an interior loaded with things starting with ‘electric’

or ‘automatic’, such as windows, mirrors, push-button start and air conditioning. It’s not bad value at all, and the extra kit doesn’t have a significant effect on the kerb weight.

Look at the latest iteration of the Swift Sport next to its predecessor and it’s a case of playing spot the difference, despite the fact that it has a longer wheelbase and is usefully roomier inside. The car still has plenty of bulging curves, but the most important changes have taken place under the skin. The press pack describes development as focusing on “even better handling” and “driving performance”. There’s also talk of better economy and an “uncompromising focus on quality”, both of which are very welcome too. But not one mention of the Nürburgring. Phew.

At the heart of the latest Sport is a revised version of the old model’s 1.6-litre petrol engine. Power has risen by 13bhp to 134bhp, while torque is up by 9lb ft to 118lb ft. Significantly, peak torque kicks in 400rpm lower than before at 4400rpm.

These gains add up to small but

welcome changes on the performance side; 0-62mph can be cracked in 8.7sec before going on to reach 121mph. The old car recorded figures of 8.9sec and 124bhp respectively in the same tests. So it’s usefully quicker off the line, and I’m not sure too many Sport owners will miss the extra 3mph at the top end.

While the looks and the engine may be familiar, there are a few useful additions. The new six-speed manual gearbox turns the car into a much more viable motorway proposition than its five-speed manual predecessor. The extra ratio has also done wonders for the economy and CO2 emissions, which now stand at 44.1mpg and 147g/km respectively. These figures were formerly 39.8mpg and 165g/km.

Early thoughts? From the lovely feel of the brakes and responsive steering to the slick gearchange and supple chassis, via the comfortable sports seats, it’s a car that gives the impression of being gloriously over-engineered and more than the sum of its parts.

One of the criticisms levelled at the new car is its relative lack of power and torque next to its rivals. In my eyes,

this isn’t necessarily a bad thing. The Swift Sport has what you might describe as ample power, giving you just enough poke off the line to not feel like a slouch, and a strong top end through the gears to aid its overtaking ability.

Undoubtedly the chassis can handle a lot more shove, but this would detract from the Sport’s appeal. I’d rather the chassis had such a surplus, rather than veering into the Mini Cooper’s torque steer and wheelspin territory. And in a segment now dominated by small-capacity turbocharged petrol engines, a high-revving normally aspirated unit harks back to the old school.

‘Old school’ is also how I’d sum up life so far in the Swift Sport, and that’s meant entirely as a compliment. Everything in the car works the way it should. No tricks, no fuss. Just how a good warm hatch should be. mark.tisshaw@autocar.co.uk

for more information on the Suzuki Swift visit www.suzuki4.co.uk