The Suzuki Swift Sport is a simply brilliant little car. It has been a favourite of motoring journalists and actual buyers since its launch in 2005. Although the latest incarnation of the Swift was a very conservative, gentle revamping of the previous model, the latest-generation Sport bought even more driver involvement.
Although its price has crept steadily up over the years, the Sport remains a ‘Bang for you Buck’ bargain. Which is probably where the new three-door model comes in – available as a manual-only proposition, the three-door cuts a healthy $1500 off the sticker price of the five-door manual, making it an even more convincing $25,990.
We loved it before. We love it even more now.
Outside
Likes: Three door looks racier than its five-door sibling. Headlights and lower fog lamps nicely aggressive. Wide, muscular stance. White car with black privacy glass and big alloys looks fantastic!
Dislikes: Looks a bit like a cartoon caricature of a five-door Swift.
Inside
Likes: Fantastic sports seats are comfortable and wonderfully supportive. Perfectly-sized chunky steering wheel. Fantastic pedal placement.
Dislikes: Lots of plastic. Dated design. Weak stereo.
Under the bonnet
Likes: The 100kW/160Nm 1.6-litre, four-cylinder engine is a wonderful, rev-happy little firecracker that belies its modest numbers. Not particularly fast, but perfectly suited to what it is supposed to do. Six-speed manual is a delight to use and is perfectly matched to the keen engine. Remarkably frugal too, despite the utter thrashing it got everywhere we went in it!
Dislikes: The engine makes a rather dull noise. But that’s about it.
On the road
Likes: Beautifully balanced chassis. Throw it into a corner and it whips happily through, eagerly asking for more like an excited puppy. Chuck it in in a wildly optimistic fashion and it will eventually understeer, but that takes seriously silly provocation and is still incredibly predictable and controllable. Great ride too.
Dislikes: Not a lot. The Swift Sport is fun, predictable and fun. That’s right; fun is there twice.
Verdict
Is there more fun to be had on four wheels for under $30K? Probably not. The Swift Sport is just so damn eager and beautifully balanced that nothing else in its segment (or several segments above, for that matter) even comes close to the sheer driving joy it is capable of providing.
While its modest power output may well make you hesitant to call it a hot hatch, its sheer irrepressible enthusiasm makes it closer to the original definition of hot hatch than the current breed of bigger turbo nutcases that have inherited the moniker.
It’s arguably more fun than the likes of a Ford Focus ST or Renault Megane RS 265 too, simply because you can have massive fun in it at virtually any speed, such is its delicate poise and balance. Hell, flicking it around a carpark at 20km/h feels great.
That said, going mental in it on a twisty back road is massively rewarding and still not an instant loss of license exercise, as it would be in the faster cars.
Inside the three-door loses the slight practicality of the five-door (not that the five-door has a hell of a lot more legroom, it is just easier to get to) but gains a whole lot in the looks department.
Remarkably Suzuki have nailed the perfect balance between ride and handling, with the Swift Sport boasting a civilised, even comfortable ride to compliment its fantastic handling.
Massively accomplished, the Swift Sport is most certainly the most fun on four wheels for under $30K.
Price: $25,990
Engine: 1.6-litre inline four-cylinder petrol
Power/torque: 100kW/160Nm
Transmission: Six-speed manual
0-100km/h: n/a
Fuel consumption: 6.4L/100km
CO2 emissions: 147g/km
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