For the launch of the all-new and now fourth-generation of Suzuki’s Iconic Swift, the “Swift Squad”, in the form of the South African media, made our way down to beautiful Stellenbosch and its mountainous surroundings. Thanks to some spirited driving and navigation challenges, we had an action-packed day, and as for the rest, we got to bond with the Suzuki family over the all-new generation of Suzuki Swift.
The Swift as we know it has been around for the last 20 years in South Africa and has helped many new drivers and young families get onto the road. Suzuki has built a solid reputation in SA and so too can be said about the Suzuki Swift. Recent sales figures have proven this with the Swift being nominated as the most popular car in the country with over 86,000 sales since its arrival and this year for the first time Suzuki has punched through the 6,000 unit a month barrier with 1,179 units being covered by the Swift.
So, it goes without saying, that Suzuki is creaming it when it comes to sales, but you must be asking yourself; why bring in a new Swift when the outgoing model is your best seller? Well, it’s simple, Suzuki wants to get ahead of the wave and right now their goal with the new car is to offer more luxury to the entry-level B-segment market, better build quality, more tech, better fuel economy, competitive pricing and through their marketing channels Suzuki want the Swift to take on a cult-like following like their notorious Suzuki Jimny.
If you haven’t already noticed the trending hashtags from Suzuki on just about every social media platform known to man, here’s a reminder; #FEELINGICONIC, #SWIFTSQUAD and #SWIFTING. #FEELINGICONIC has to do with the design language of the new Swift, combining all the best character traits from the last three generations of Swift. Then we see #SWIFTSQUAD and #SWIFTING representing Suzuki’s lifestyle-focused experience behind owning a new Swift. Keep an eye on these hashtags if you want to carry on teasing yourself as Suzuki strives to make the Swift the most exciting car in its segment.
Fancy marketing aside, what has changed with the latest gen and does it deserve all the hype?
Well, just look at the new design for starters. The new styling shouts out fun, cute, and modern, although the predecessor wasn’t ageing all that fast it just didn’t stand out from the plethora of b-segment hatches if you had to ask me. The latest model stands out in its GLX trim with diamond cut 15-inch rims, blacked-out A/B-pillars, hidden rear door handles, new LED L-shaped signature lamps, 3D LED tail light clusters, wide arches, clamshell bonnet and a sculpted tailgate with an integrated hatch spoiler. Oh, and the three-layer Luster Blue paint job is just an absolute stunner to me and my favourite colour out of the lot—the orange pearl metallic and premium silver are also very classy colour options.
Depending on what model Swift you decide on buying out of the 5 model line-up, this will change trim level and pricing. You’ve got a base GL model available only in manual, two GL+ models offering buyers a choice of manual or new CVT and lastly, you’ve got the two top-of-the-range GLX models available in manual and CVT with paddle shift. You can open the door to your Suzuki Swift for as low as R219,900 with the GL model and R284,900 for the top-of-the-range GLX CVT.
Across the models, we see a revamped interior with digital climate control, front and rear electric windows, electrically adjustable and folding side mirrors height-adjustable driver seat, six airbags, ABS brakes with EBD, Brake Assist Function, Electronic Stability Programme, rear ISOFIX anchors and all manual models come with hill hold assist. Mat Watson from carwow would give the Swift a thumbs up for bottle and snack holders as there are many.
So, how do you choose between these 5 models and 3 trim levels? The GL gets you all the hardware as the rest but helps the budget out with 14-inch steel wheels with plastic covers, no fancy infotainment displays with Apple Car play and no reverse cameras. The GL+ gets you 15-inch alloy wheels, a CVT option, a seven-inch touchscreen infotainment system wired to four speakers, a rear-view camera and a multifunction steering wheel. The GLX model gets you the attractive LED head and tail lights, 15-inch diamond-cut alloy wheels, a 9-inch touchscreen, a pair of front tweeters, keyless entry with push-button start, cruise control, automatic climate control and a leather multifunction steering wheel (with paddle shifters on CVT variants).
Even with all the latest improvements and changes to the new models, Suzuki keeps their weight under a ton at 946 kg and bang for the buck value when it comes to specs vs pricing, lower than their competitors.
The heart of the new Swift is where we see a big change for this year, with the absence of one cylinder being a major talking point. Across the whole range, we see Suzuki’s new Z12E 1.2-litre three-cylinder petrol engine pushing out 60 kW at 5,700 rpm and 112 Nm of torque at 4,300 rpm. Suzuki’s idea with the Z12E motor was to create a more compact motor than before and offer more performance throughout the rev range.
How they’ve done this is by introducing multipoint fuel injection and four valves per cylinder. How it translated through the pedal is more engaging and the midrange feels like it has been improved. I do miss the smoother rev-happy 4-cylinder, but the 3-cylinder gives the Swift a more bubbly character as you work your way through the 5-speed gearbox.
The Z12E is more than just a fun motor, it’s actually pretty efficient too. Suzuki claims a return combined fuel consumption figure as low as 4.4L/100 km or 22.72 km/L—an 11% improvement over its predecessor. In the mountainous Cape, we were getting roughly 5.0L/100 km in a manual, but with a more steady foot and a flatter landscape, I think drivers will get very close to the claimed figures.
Interesting fact: Depending on where you are driving in South Africa (inland or coastal) the new Swift offers running costs as low as 98c per kilometre. This is almost equivalent to riding a motorcycle, but with weather protection, three extra seats and a boot.
After spending the day chasing beautiful landscapes, twisty roads, good food and even a fun gymkhana challenge, we settled down at the lovely De Eetkamer restaurant in the heart of Stellenbosch to collect our thoughts while watching talented Justin from Nomad’s Gallery work his rattle can magic on a Swift.
Overall the new Swift isn’t just good for a car built in India, or good for its price tag, but rather just good in general. It offers buyers exactly what you see on the eccentric marketing videos and in turn, it helps entry-level buyers feel like they’ve bought a premium product. It feels stable on the road like the predecessor and the interior, especially in the GLX model, just calls for a road trip. The best part about Suzuki is that they’ve got a Swift to fit all budgets and all lifestyles, so make your pick, you can’t go wrong.
As for us at the office, we are keen on revisiting the Swift life in Gauteng and possibly testing its long legs on a road trip. So, stay tuned…
For more information on Suzuki products visit – www.suzukiauto.co.za
