SA Road Tests

Welcome

This is the home of automobile road tests in South Africa. I drive South African cars, SUVs and LCVs under real-world South African conditions. Most, but not all, the vehicles driven are world cars as well, so what you read here possibly applies to the models you get where you live.

My most recent drive is on the home page. Archived reviews and opinion pieces are in the active menu down the left side. Hover your cursor over a heading or manufacturer's name and follow the drop-down.


Cult classic: 2018 Suzuki Swift 1.2 GL hatch

Working magic

Product pics by Suzuki@Motorpress

Posted: 12 July 2018

The numbers
Price: R175 900
Engine: 1197 cc, DOHC 16-valve, four cylinder with VVT
Power: 61 kW at 6000 rpm
Torque: 113 Nm at 4200 rpm
Zero to 100 km/h: 12.0 seconds
Maximum speed: 170 km/h
Real life fuel consumption: About 5.4 l/100 km
Tank: 37 litres
Luggage: 268 – 579 litres
Warranty: 5 years / 200 000 km with 3 years’ roadside assistance
Service plan: 2 years / 30 000 km

Suzuki Swift owners might be described not as a cult, perhaps, because that sounds spooky, but certainly as a devoted fan base.

Solid, practical and dependable, its build quality has always been good. It also handles well, is decently perky and economical to run and possesses a certain “something” that sets it apart.

More than six million have found homes over the years, South Africans adopted 19 000 of them and they accounted for about 250 local monthly sales during 2017.                                                              

The third generation arrived here last month and, true to form, Suzuki Auto SA kept things simple. There is just one engine, two trim levels and a choice of five-speed manual or five-speed automated manual (AMT) transmissions to make up three offerings.

Entry-level GA provides the basics; two airbags, ABS brakes with EBD and EBA, two ISOFix mountings with top tethers to accept the latest baby chairs, air conditioning, powered windows but manual mirrors, remote central locking, LED tail lamps, a folding one-piece rear seatback, electro-magnetic tailgate opener, onboard computer and “radio preparation.” That means no music centre but speakers and aerial are in place.

Choose GL specification for powered mirrors with indicator repeaters; fog lamps in front; entertainment system with repeater buttons on the tilt-adjustable steering wheel, Bluetooth, USB and auxiliary; separated head restraints; various trim items; smarter instruments; 60:40-split seatback; a storage pocket behind the left front chair; classier upholstery fabric and a cover for the luggage space. GL with AMT scores you an outside temperature indicator and a proper rest for the left foot, although there is easily accessible space for it in manual versions too.

You will notice that we said nothing about height adjustment for the driver’s seat because it’s fixed. Our 6’1” tester had a full fist-width of space between head and hood lining, so he was perfectly comfortable, although you might want to try it for yourself. The minimalist theme continues with no alloys, leather, cameras, ESP or parking alarms.

That’s all very well but what has changed?  Third-gen Swift is built on a new platform called HEARTECT. It uses new high-strength materials and has fewer joints than conventional monocoque designs. The resulting smoother shape and greater rigidity helps to dissipate crash energy better to preserve cabin integrity. Suzuki also worked on front and rear suspensions, added a new cross member and variable ratio steering and made it altogether sharper and easier to drive.

Its wheelbase was extended by 20 mm for greater comfort while front and rear track measurements were widened by 40- and 35 mm respectively. The new car’s body is 10 mm shorter but 40 mm wider. Rear passengers gain 23 mm of headroom, those in front enjoy 10 mm more shoulder space and luggage volume increased by 58 litres. It weighs 95 kg less than before.

The familiar K12B motor produces 61 kW and 113 Nm to push manual versions to a maximum of 170 km/h with a sprint time of 12.0 seconds. That is suitably workmanlike, if not exciting, but it’s about more than simply numbers. It’s the “heart” that counts, with internal science working magic of its own.

Details are shrouded, but this little engine has an almost indecently wide torque band that kicks in and keeps pulling from around 1500 rpm all the way up to its peak at 4200. The payoff is that the unexpected grunt helps to keep revs down and economy up. Engine speed at 120 km/h in top gear is around 3100 rpm; quite usual for a naturally breathing motor this size.

A happy point is that you never need to stretch for the gear lever. It’s always there, about midway between knee and hip, even when snicking it smoothly into first, third or fifth. Then there’s the hand brake. It’s centrally placed and has a firm, progressive action. And the steering is great; turning the car easily in 9.6 metres while the suspension is moderately firm but soaks up bumps well.

Practicalities: The hatch opens down to 75 cm, the well is 24 centimetres deep and the space is neatly rectangular. There’s a single bag hook but no lights or power points, the seat catches can be reached from behind and the sections fold with a step. The spare is a spacesaver to permit more cargo volume.

Back seat headroom is fine for tall passengers, knee space is good and feet fit comfortably because the chairs don’t adjust downwards. Small awkwardnesses include just one seatback pocket, no armrest, very small bottle bins and no central courtesy light. Those in front fare better with newly designed and more supportive seats, a lot more storage space and easy, no-nonsense controls.

For its price Suzuki Swift is a thoroughly practical and enjoyable little car – its fans know something.

Test unit from Suzuki Auto SA press fleet


What We Do

This is a one-man show, which means that every car reviewed is given my personal evaluation and receives my own seat of the pants judgement - no second hand input here.

Every test car goes through real world driving; on city streets littered with potholes, speed bumps and rumble strips, on freeways and if its profile demands, dirt roads as well.

I do my best to include relevant information like real life fuel economy or a close mathematical calculation, boot size or luggage space, whether the space is both usable and accessible, whether life-sized people can use the back seat (where that applies), basic specs of the vehicle and performance figures if they are published. In the case of clearly identified launch reports, fuel figures are of necessity the laboratory numbers provided with the release material.

If ever I place an article that doesn't cover most things, it's probably because I have dealt with a very similar vehicle already, so you will be able to find what you want in another report under the same manufacturer's heading in the menu on the left.

Hope you like what you see, because there are no commercial interests at work here. There are no advertisers and no “editorial policy” rules. I add bylines to acknowledge sponsored launch functions and the manufacturers or dealerships that provide the test vehicles.  And, as quite a few readers have found, I answer every serious enquiry from my home email address, with my phone numbers attached, so you can see I do actually exist.

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