Suzuki’s Baleno is useless – in Australia a minimum of – so the much more acquainted Swift is left to choose up the slack.
The Swift has all the time been the extra Europe-focused of the 2 fashions, and that’s mirrored in its styling.
With its turbocharged three-pot, the 2023 Suzuki Swift GLX Turbo arguably feels essentially the most European of the lot. However the present Swift has now been on sale in Australia for six years, receiving solely a minor replace in 2020.
Regardless that the likes of Ford and Honda have exited the declining gentle automotive section, there’s nonetheless some brisker competitors round – okay, not a lot, however it exists.
The elephant within the room is the MG 3, which now has a share of over a 3rd of the sunshine automotive section.
It has seemingly grow to be the default selection for consumers simply wanting an inexpensive runabout and who don’t desire a crossover, however does the Swift GLX Turbo justify its important premium over a budget Chinese language hatch?
How a lot does the Suzuki Swift GLX Turbo price?
The GLX Turbo is priced at $31,290 drive-away, making it the second costliest Swift after the Sport. Metallic and premium paint finishes price an additional $595.
For context, the Swift vary opens at $24,990 drive-away.
With the Kia Rio GT-Line gone and the Skoda Fabia now a extra premium providing, there’s not numerous direct competitors for the Swift GLX Turbo.
The range-topping Mazda 2 G15 GT doesn’t supply a extra highly effective engine than its extra inexpensive counterparts, however it retails for under $26,610 earlier than on-roads. Different equally priced rivals embody the Volkswagen Polo Life auto ($28,750) and Toyota Yaris SX Hybrid ($30,030).
What’s the Suzuki Swift GLX Turbo like on the within?
The Swift’s dashboard is easy and simple and whereas it’s displaying its age some, it’s logically laid out.
The infotainment touchscreen sits beneath a pair of vents and above three easy knobs for the local weather management. A 12V and a USB-A outlet sit beneath these, whereas on the base of a centre stack there’s a shelf the place you possibly can put your telephone.
The cupholders forward of the shifter are awkwardly situated, with tall bottles blocking key switchgear. They’re additionally sq. – tremendous in case you drink Farmer’s Union iced espresso, however much less accomodating for the typical drink bottle.
There’s no centre console bin and armrest, with a small, open cubby as a substitute sitting the place these would normally be. This isn’t uncommon for this section, however it will be good to see this penultimate Swift to incorporate these options.
Different storage is respectable: bottle holders in every of the doorways swallow a 1L bottle, whereas the glove compartment has room for extra than simply the proprietor’s guide.
Whereas the Swift’s inside is predominately black, there are some makes an attempt so as to add distinction – a metal-look trim strip throughout the sprint, and an fascinating, reasonably Mercedes-like star sample to the fabric upholstery.
We miss the colorful upholstery selections of the Nineteen Nineties, however we welcome something to interrupt up the monotony of black fabric upholstery towards black plastic trim.
All of stated plastic trim is tough to the contact – hardly uncommon for this section – however it seems hard-wearing. Some fabric accents on the doorways assist break issues up.
Our tester had an 9.0-inch touchscreen, a vestige of Suzuki’s temporary foray throughout the peak of the chip scarcity into importing automobiles sans infotainment screens and having aftermarket models fitted regionally.
Suzuki Australia has subsequently moved again to becoming 7.0-inch touchscreens on the manufacturing unit which embody embedded satellite tv for pc navigation.
Regardless of the smaller measurement, we wouldn’t name a return to the 7.0-inch display screen a retrograde step given the additional performance and extra polished look.
The reversing digital camera on our tester wasn’t significantly high-resolution, however thankfully visibility is kind of good within the Swift so that you gained’t really feel too deprived.
The Bluetooth audio can be a bit tinny, with individuals complaining in regards to the sound high quality in calls.
The analogue devices are clear and legible and bracket a small display screen which incorporates a digital speedometer – one thing lacking from Suzukis just like the Ignis.
At 180cm tall, I can comfortably sit behind my seating place with my knees solely simply brushing the seat backs. There’s additionally loads of headroom, too.
There are two ISOFIX and three top-tether anchor factors within the again for baby seats.
Open the hatch and also you’ll discover 242L of cargo house, increasing to 556L with the rear seats folded. That’s fairly a bit smaller than a Polo (351L) or Rio (325L), although near a Mazda 2 (250L).
What’s beneath the bonnet?
The GLX Turbo is powered by a 1.0-litre turbocharged three-cylinder engine producing 82kW of energy at 5500rpm and 160Nm of torque between 1500 and 4000rpm.
It’s up 16kW and 40Nm on the naturally-aspirated 1.2-litre 4 present in lesser Swifts, and swaps a constantly variable transmission (CVT) for a six-speed computerized with paddle shifters.
It makes use of a claimed 5.1L/100km on the mixed cycle, or 0.3L/100km greater than the 1.2-litre. Over a mixture of inner-city, suburban and freeway driving, we averaged 5.8L/100km.
It requires 95 RON premium unleaded gasoline.
How does the Suzuki Swift GLX Turbo drive?
Given all Swifts have a kerb weight of beneath a tonne, even the bottom 1.2-litre has greater than sufficient pep for commuting duties.
The turbo 1.0-litre, nonetheless, provides the Swift a little bit further punch. The GLX Turbo has a kerb weight of simply 945kg and due to this fact fairly a beneficial power-to-weight ratio of 88.6kW/t.
The engine has a little bit of a boosty really feel to it, however it’s a zippy unit and has no drawback maintaining with visitors. It additionally doesn’t sound half unhealthy both, with a reasonably sporty engine notice.
The Swift additionally avoids sounding too loud, even at freeway speeds, with wind noise largely stored at bay. It’s not whisper-quiet, however it’s aggressive for the section.
The steering is properly weighted and direct, with an excellent quantity of street really feel. This, coupled with the punchy engine and the balanced chassis, makes the Swift an gratifying little factor to drive.
It’s gratifying with out sacrificing an excessive amount of in the way in which of journey consolation. It’s typically snug for a lightweight hatch, although you do are inclined to observe the floor of the street.
You’re nearly assured to by accident knock the automotive into guide shift mode as this sits beneath drive on the shifter as a substitute of, extra logically, to the aspect. Don’t fear, the automotive will warn you by revving its guts out in first gear.
The six-speed computerized does a good job shuffling between gears, although an engine like that is simply crying out for a guide transmission. You’ll be able to a minimum of use the paddle shifters to manually choose gears.
What do you get?
Swift GLX Turbo highlights:
- Computerized LED headlights
- Computerized high-beam
- Computerized local weather management
- Energy-folding exterior mirrors with built-in indicators
- Telescopic steering wheel adjustment
- Keyless entry and begin
- 6-speaker sound system
That’s over and above tools additionally present in lesser fashions:
- 16-inch alloy wheels
- Area-saver spare
- Entrance fog lights
- 7.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system
- Apple CarPlay, Android Auto (wired)
- Leather-based-wrapped steering wheel
- Tilt steering wheel adjustment
- Material upholstery
- 60:40 break up/fold rear seats
The $3800 premium over the GL Plus appears pretty affordable, significantly contemplating it brings a punchier engine.
Is the Suzuki Swift GLX Turbo secure?
The Suzuki Swift wears a 2017-dated five-star ANCAP security ranking, scoring 35.13 out of a attainable 37 factors in native testing.
The bottom GL has a decrease four-star ranking owing to its lowered roster of security package, with a rating of 32.49 out of 37.
Commonplace security tools contains:
- Entrance, front-side and curtain airbags
- Adaptive cruise management
- Autonomous emergency braking (AEB)
- Blind-spot monitoring
- Lane departure warning
- Rear cross-traffic alert
- Rear parking sensors
- Reversing digital camera
Whereas all Mazda 2 fashions include blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert and top-spec GT fashions additionally characteristic adaptive cruise management, there aren’t many different rivals that provide as lengthy a listing of security tools as each it and the Swift GLX Turbo.
You could step as much as a Polo Model for these options, and whereas all Yarises come commonplace with adaptive cruise management you’ll must get the top-spec ZR if you’d like blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert.
The Mazda 2 edges previous the Swift total, nonetheless, with the inclusion of a surround-view digital camera, lane-keep help and visitors signal recognition.
How a lot does the Suzuki Swift GLX Turbo price to run?
All Suzuki fashions are backed by a five-year, limitless kilometre guarantee.
Suzuki provides capped-price servicing for the primary 5 years or 100,000km, whichever comes first.
Service intervals are shorter within the GLX Turbo than in 1.2-litre fashions, with visits required each 12 months or 10,000km (as a substitute of 15,000km).
The primary 5 companies are capped at $319, $429, $329, $529 and $349, or $1955 over 5 years. These costs are the identical as in 1.2-litre fashions, albeit charged on the aforementioned shorter intervals.
A Mazda 2 prices much less over 5 years ($1734), as does a Yaris ($1225), however the Swift undercuts the Polo ($2300 if pre-paid).
CarExpert’s Tackle the Suzuki Swift GLX Turbo
For these of us who bear in mind the times of $19,990 drive-away Nissan Pulsars, a $30k+ Suzuki Swift initially appears surprising.
Look a little bit nearer – and remember inflation, in fact – and you’ll see the Swift however makes a strong case for itself.
The record of ordinary security tools is not like any Swift of yore, and helps the Suzuki stack up properly towards key rivals. Solely the Mazda2 can finest it on this respect, however it might probably’t match the Swift’s turbo spunk.
When you simply need an inexpensive little runabout and don’t care about security or efficiency, MG will fortunately promote you an MG 3.
The place the Swift justifies the additional price is with its larger tools and its punchy powertrain, in addition to its gratifying dynamics.
It doesn’t supply way more than the standard MG by way of inside panache, however whereas it’s all enterprise with its sober colors and onerous plastics all of it feels convincingly screwed collectively. It’s fairly properly packaged for occupants, too, even when it doesn’t have the most important boot.
The Swift does naturally profit from the exodus of assorted key gamers, however even at six years outdated it nonetheless has loads of allure.
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