First Impressions: 2019 Suzuki Swift Sport

Who would’ve ever thought that carpentry, loom machines and Japan would have something in common? Relax, we’re not talking about those weird-looking wooden clog sandals, thankfully. But we’re referring to something that can get you from one point to another with ease and most importantly without making you dig into your pockets too deep. Today we’re shifting our focus to something more reliable, light and rigid. A pocket-sized supermini vehicle known to many as the urban warrior which goes by the name of Suzuki Swift Sport.

Now in it’s fourth generation, the vibrant Stig-Mobil comes exclusively with 17” polished alloy wheels and larger front brakes. It has a wider and longer body than previous models and sits lower on the ground for more responsive and agile driving experience and is claimed to be 10% more aerodynamically efficient.

There is also something about this vehicle that makes it look more aggressive and ready to fight, that is also thanks to the honeycomb front grille which warns other drivers that it does indeed sting like a bee, without even uttering a word the evidence can be seen by the carbon fibre front bumper and side skirts. Let’s not forget the leather sports steering with a glossy piano black finish and red stitching detail which can also be found on the car seats and door handles.

To add salt to an open wound, Suzuki decided to throw in nice-looking aluminium pedals just for the special effects and figure-hugging sports seats and just because this car is such a show-off it comes in a four door option to give all your friends a lift and give them a first-hand experience of all this sassiness.

There is a total weight reduction of 90 kg from the previous model which now brings it down to 970 kg making it even easier and pleasurable to drive. The model comes fitted with a new engine with Booster-jet technology making the car a bit quicker and more fuel-efficient. The brand was starting to feel a bit left behind and forced the guys in the engine workshop to work overtime and ensure that the new Suzuki Swift Sport carries 3kW of power more than the previous model which now tweaks it at 103kW and produces a torque output.

Expect to jet off on a straight line from 0 – 100 in 8,1 seconds with a claimed top speed of 210 Km/h. This is not at all shabby if I may say so myself, did I also mention that it offers paddle shifts for more power control and pleasurable drive.

Suzuki has even made even more modern changes to the model by equipping it with not only a keyless entry start/stop technology across the range and its multifunctional steering also features a height/ reach adjustment. How could we ever forget the Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, which certainly is a plus from my side, indeed I can’t deny the fact that this a certainly a light hot hatch with a touch of modern-day sophistication.

In this market segment the focus is primarily on assembling a nimble and practical vehicle, however like many other offerings in this class the Swift has a rather small boot capacity for bigger travel suitcases but can fit a few duffel bags. Despite the sporty and refined finishes which are aesthetically pleasing, the dual exhaust sound is rather quiet and doesn’t do the car much justice and of course, there are some cheap plastic finishes, which can feel a bit out of place.

What I’m particularly fond of about this nimble warrior is its dashboard cluster and speedometer which displays the G-meter, boost produced by the turbo, torque, acceleration and braking information. Something a lot of rivals in this segment don’t offer. Additional thumbs up go to the amount of leg and headroom for rear passengers which isn’t bad and is still relatively comfortable in the back, not forgetting SRS airbags for both front and rear passengers. Metallic paint comes standard in a range of vibrant colours to choose from with the champion yellow option taking the pole position according to me.

The 2019 Suzuki Swift Sport comes in two six (6) forward transmission variants; The manual and self-shifting automatic transmissions and pricing starts from R315 900 and R335 900 respectively. Though some might see it as one of the more expensive vehicles in its class pushing it closer to the ford fiesta ST, which I can confidently say that the Swift is a better option in this instance as it still offers a reasonable value for money.

Written by Lerato Sepotokele

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#Suzuki #Suzuki Swift

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Papi Mabele

Papi Mabele has a marketing background, he is a digital marketing expert with extensive experience in launching and building global brands in the emerging markets. Papi is also an avid tech writer, enthusiast and all round tech junkie. As a freelance writer and analyst he has been numerously published in Popular Mechanics (SA), GQ South Africa, Premier Magazine, Driven Magazine, Bloem News, Courant, The Weekly, Enthooze Magazine and PiE magazine amongst others.

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