22/09/09

• Price10,250
• We like...Price, drive, cabin
• We don't...Cramped in the back for three

Well-priced little car is likeable and well equipped. In a market packed with talented rivals, it mixes it with the bestValue. When you compare what the Suzuki Swift gives you against any one of a number of its rivals, it’s pretty impressive. At time of writing, the top of the line model that we show here can be yours for £10,000, plus a couple of hundreds of pounds.

And that’s for a car that’s well equipped: a keyless entry system is a highlight. So long as the big, chunky keyfob’s in your pocket, you can open up and drive off at the press of a button and the twist of a knob. But otherwise you’ll find alloy wheels, remote central locking, air conditioning and a good stereo that also works off steering-mounted buttons.

The cabin’s dark but good looking and while the plastics covering the cabin aren’t of the expensive, soft-feel type you’ll find in, say, a Volkswagen Polo, they are tough-looking and nicely finished. A leather-wrapped steering wheel is a nice touch. The seats are well finished in dark, hard-wearing fabric. The overall effect is sober, durable and classy, leaps ahead of previous model Swifts.

While it isn’t the biggest supermini on the block – Skoda’s Fabia and the Vauxhall Corsa are each bigger inside – there’s enough space in the cabin for four sensibly sized grown ups, although five would be a squeeze because the rear seat is narrow. The boot is deep and, though only average-sized comes with a handy shelf that you can use to separate squashable items from the rest of your shopping. The rear seats fold down easily, too.

What’s it like to drive? A little belter. The driving position is spot-on. The 1.5 petrol engine’s not quiet but it spins easily up to speed and chucks the car forward. With 100bhp to give, progress is brisk rather than outright fast, but reasonably quick steering and light controls make the most of what’s there. There’s enough give in the ride to keep you reasonably comfortable over broken-surfaced roads, although it can’t match the’ big-car’ smoothness you’ll get from a Polo or a Vauxhall Corsa.

And while it has plenty of power for a motorway trip, noise from the engine and wind rustle from around of the top of the screen could become tiring. It’s not bad – but it’s just not up there with the best. Around town, though, it’s a perky little friend, easy to slot into tight parking spaces thanks to its handy size, although sizeable blind spots around the rear quarters can cause the odd ‘moment’ when reversing.

Should you buy one? If you’re looking for a value buy among superminis, it’s a good bet. It’s good to drive, looks right and matches the spec of cars costing thousands more. We like it... a lot.

To read our review of the Suzuki Swift Sport, click here
To view and buy new and used Suzuki Swifts, click on motors.co.uk
 

• Engines1.5 petrol
• Power100bhp
• 0-60 mph10.0secs
• Economy46.3mpg
• CO2g/km145
• Insurance groups6
• EuroNCAP
• Airbags6
• Seats5

Motors.co.uk value verdict: