Suzuki Swift Sport

While other manufacturers have been planting powerful engines into their top spec superminis, the small Suzuki has kept things simple, well-designed and most importantly, affordable. It’s not quite as ‘hot’ compared to the likes of the Renaultsport Clio, Corsa VXR and Mini Cooper S, but that isn’t such a bad attribute. Let me explain why.

For students more concerned with performance and gaining some street cred (myself - guilty), the idea of sweetly tuned superminis is an attractive prospect, but is it an affordable one? Unfortunately... no.

There’s no use denying it, those cars are great fun to drive, but they're also seriously fast, expensive and by no means exempt from high insurance premiums.

So, unless living at home after university is the best plan for the rest of your early 20s, four figure insurance quotes might not be what everyone’s looking for, regardless of how much fun it would be to own one. This is where the Swift makes a dashing entrance. It’s cheap, placed in a low insurance bracket and won’t even cost too much at the green pump. Even so, it still offers some serious thrills worth taking an interest in.

The Sport certainly looks the part. All the sporty credentials are present and accounted for: fog lights – check, 17 inch alloys – check, lowered suspension – check and most importantly (because you know it makes all the difference), spoiler – check.

From the front it looks as though Suzuki have been stealing ideas from Audi, especially with the front and lower air-intakes, but even so, it still looks great. At the back, this top spec model gets dual chrome exhausts, hidden neatly at either end of the bumper, which is an especially a nice touch. In all, the Sport looks like a serious racer - let’s hope it drives like one.

Under the bonnet is Suzuki’s 1.6 VVT (variable valve timing) engine. It needs to be revved rigorously to get the best out it, which isn’t a problem as it’s always keen to hit the rev limiter. With only a 125bhp, don’t expect to be blown away by the performance, but neither is it slow. It’s especially lively above 4,000 rpm, which, thanks to the VVT part of power-plant allows for bigger and more frequent explosions in the engine. The Sport hits 60mph at the higher end of the 8 second mark and promises to return a decent 40mpg, as well as topping out at a very illegal 124mph.

Suzuki Swift Sport Interior

As for the rest of the drive, the Sport continues to prove itself compared to its more expensive and powerful rivals. The steering is nicely weighted towards the heavy side, which allows for greater feel at cruising speeds and corners. As a result ease of steering is compromised somewhat for parking and manoeuvring. Even so, the Swift approaches corners with such vigour and eagerness that the weighting at low speeds is something that can be easily forgiven. There’s even a sweet gearbox. It’s tight and has a short-throw between changes, urging for quick up and down-shifts.

Climb inside and you’ll find the Sport has been fitted with some brilliant seats which not only neatly tuck in your sides and derriere, but also hugs the shoulders securely as well. As fantastic as these seats are, there is one problem. They feel far too high, a massive departure from the hunkered down feel I was hoping for, which spoils the driving experience somewhat.

Suzuki’s fixtures and fittings feel solid and well put together. Even so, there’s little imagination compared to the likes of the Fiesta Zetec S which has considerably more quality materials, as well as a more modern, individualistic design.

The Swift Sport aims to give entry-level performance at a price students can afford. It may not worry the likes of the seriously ‘hot’ superminis in terms of performance, but even so, as a complete package it offers great value for money. With similar power outputs to that of the awesome Fiesta Zetec S, there’s some tough competition for the Sport. Even though the blue oval’s showroom price is £1500 more than the Swift, it’s worth the extra money. It offers better driving dynamics, a more accomplished driving position, an interior that’s bang up-to-date as well as an exterior that looks phenomenal from every angle.

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