The next-gen Suzuki Swift has finally arrived in South Africa, and it was well worth the wait.
The Japanese carmaker recently held a launch event for the iconic hatchback in the beautiful Cape Winelands area, where we got to spend the day getting to know the range-topping GLX units on a scenic drive through Stellenbosch and Franschhoek.
Refining a winning formula
The Swift has always had a very distinctive shape, and Suzuki has done an impressive job of preserving the hatchback’s silhouette while still updating it to look sleek for today’s audiences.
Compared to the previous generation, the new version has more muscular proportions and a larger gloss-black hexagonal grille, which helps to give the small car a bigger presence out on the road.
There’s also a selection of new colour schemes, including the stunning blue metallic option on our test unit, which really stood out on a bright summer’s day.
On the GLX trim, you can also expect 15-inch alloy rims, automatic LED headlights, and L-shaped daytime running lights, which help to give the Swift a modern touch.
It’s hard to imagine that a car that looks this good is also one of the cheapest in the country, but it shows what the design team is capable of when it’s able to refine an aesthetic to a tee.
It’s a similar story with the interior, which is both familiar and modern with elements akin to those seen in other recent Suzuki cars like the Fronx.
Every model in the range now has digital aircon controls, and the GLX units are upgraded to automatic climate control which worked a treat on our trip through the Winelands.
The dashboard also boasts a new 9-inch infotainment screen, which is easy to navigate with a clean user interface and physical shortcut buttons, and there’s wireless support for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto if you need to connect your phone.
Storage space is a bit limited in such a small car, but the door bins and cupholders have enough room for several bottles and other items if you’re planning a road trip.
One of the best additions has to be the new instrument cluster, which gets two sharp-looking analogue dials on either side of a small digital screen.
I was particularly impressed to find that the screen is actually capable of providing navigation inputs, bringing up directional arrows pulled from Google Maps when we were navigating our way around Stellenbosch.
The driver’s seat now has height adjustability, and headroom is actually rather good considering the reserved dimensions of the hatchback.
The boot was also accommodating enough to easily take two bags and two suitcases, meaning it should be more than enough for everyday items like school bags and groceries.
Two other notable additions to the Swift formula include keyless entry and start, and an engine stop/start function that improves fuel economy.
Which brings us to the Swift’s performance, which is interesting to say the least.
The new Suzuki is still using a 1.2-litre, naturally-aspirated petrol block, but the key distinction is that it dropped from four down to three cylinders.
This has not come at the loss of power, as the hatch’s output is effectively unchanged at 60kW and 112Nm.
However, having one less combustion chamber means the Swift is even more frugal than before, with a manufacturer-claimed figure of just 4.4l/100km.
The other benefit of the new engine is that it has a more generous torque band at low speeds, which is very noticeable when you are in first or second gear.
There’s no getting around the fact that 60kW isn’t a lot of power, and it took some tactical downshifts to get up Sir Lowry’s Pass and to overtake other cars, but overall the Swift is fun to drive on the right road when you can enjoy its full potential.
A few other nice-to-haves that the higher-spec models come with include cruise control, parking sensors, and a reverse camera, which were all welcome additions on our drive through the small towns of the Western Cape.
Final thoughts
The upgrades to the Suzuki Swift are all well and good, but it won’t matter much if the car’s primary selling point – its price tag – has been significantly impacted.
Happily, I can report that the new Swift starts at just R219,900, which is only R6,000 more than the outgoing units.
In other words, the automaker has managed to significantly improve on what was already a winning formula, and it’s coming at very little extra cost to the consumer.
Considering that many South Africans are currently downsizing their car purchases and moving away from luxury brands towards more affordable options, we expect to see a lot of next-gen Swifts on the roads very soon.
Suzuki Swift
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