For that extra $2,544, you get power windows, door locks, keyless entry, a tilt and telescoping wheel and a 6-speed powershift automated manual gearbox with hill start assist. Furthermore, you get a more refined, economical and efficient 1.6L 4-cylinder engine that puts out 120 hp.
Should you care about the Swift's styling and the kit it comes with? Not entirely. Your Swift+ will take you where you need to go in relative comfort and won't bore you to death. I had utterly forgotten that this car was still capable of holding its own on the road, providing sufficient feedback as to not think that you had lost wheels, the engine had blown and were about to end up in the ditch. Yes, the Suzuki is actually quiet, at least serene enough to maintain a conversation at highway speeds.
The 4th gear holds the 1.6L, 106-hp 4-pot at just under 2,500 rpm at 100 km/h. Up to this point, all's good. Should you want to pass a slower-moving vehicle, it's best to pause the conversation and to resume the discussion once the manoeuvre has been completed.
While the transmission makes due with a downshift to 3rd gear, charging its way to 120 km/h, you and three of your best pals will be reasonably well cared for by the comfy seats and the plentiful head and elbowroom, for a subcompact. The trunk will also hold day gear.
The cabin is contemporary, well finished and should age fairly well. Everything you see here is far from science-fiction but all will do a fine job. I can tell you with absolute certainty that the heater works beautifully.
The issue with this car is that it is of the previous age, the bronze age of automobiledom. The current era of the automobile is the equivalent of Web 2.0. A car must now be interactive, clean, green, efficient, racy and economical. As is, the Swift+ is only a few of these things. The Fiesta, the Fiat 500, the Mazda2, the Honda Fit and the new Hyundai Accent are all of the above. A very tough crowd to mingle with.
The Swift+ may be outclassed as is, but that does not take away from its abilities to do its job well, which it does. If Suzuki is your brand, hold out a short while. The new Swift should get here soon enough. In the mean time, check out the Kizashi and the too often-overlooked SX4.
A quick note to thank Carrefour Suzuki for the loan of the car.
Should you care about the Swift's styling and the kit it comes with? Not entirely. Your Swift+ will take you where you need to go in relative comfort and won't bore you to death. I had utterly forgotten that this car was still capable of holding its own on the road, providing sufficient feedback as to not think that you had lost wheels, the engine had blown and were about to end up in the ditch. Yes, the Suzuki is actually quiet, at least serene enough to maintain a conversation at highway speeds.
The 4th gear holds the 1.6L, 106-hp 4-pot at just under 2,500 rpm at 100 km/h. Up to this point, all's good. Should you want to pass a slower-moving vehicle, it's best to pause the conversation and to resume the discussion once the manoeuvre has been completed.
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| The cabin is contemporary, well finished and should age fairly well. (Photo: Matthieu Lambert/Auto123.com) |
While the transmission makes due with a downshift to 3rd gear, charging its way to 120 km/h, you and three of your best pals will be reasonably well cared for by the comfy seats and the plentiful head and elbowroom, for a subcompact. The trunk will also hold day gear.
The cabin is contemporary, well finished and should age fairly well. Everything you see here is far from science-fiction but all will do a fine job. I can tell you with absolute certainty that the heater works beautifully.
The issue with this car is that it is of the previous age, the bronze age of automobiledom. The current era of the automobile is the equivalent of Web 2.0. A car must now be interactive, clean, green, efficient, racy and economical. As is, the Swift+ is only a few of these things. The Fiesta, the Fiat 500, the Mazda2, the Honda Fit and the new Hyundai Accent are all of the above. A very tough crowd to mingle with.
The Swift+ may be outclassed as is, but that does not take away from its abilities to do its job well, which it does. If Suzuki is your brand, hold out a short while. The new Swift should get here soon enough. In the mean time, check out the Kizashi and the too often-overlooked SX4.
A quick note to thank Carrefour Suzuki for the loan of the car.
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