The very first time I saw this 'cheeky, funky chappy with attitude' was in my local Suzuki dealers show room when my husband went to pick up his Grand Vitara, I wasn't even thinking of buying myself a new car but for some strange reason I just kept going back to have another look at the 'NEW ... Read review
Advantages: All the equipment I need ! Disadvantages: Just can't 'play' enough !!!
...attitude' was in my local Suzuki dealers show room when my husband went to pick up his Grand Vitara, I wasn't even thinking of buying myself a new car but for some strange reason I just kept going back to have another look at the 'NEW SWIFT' that had caught my eye !!
It was dressed in Superior white and stood in a class of it's own - cute but rugged, different but familiar, small but sturdy - and most of all, well priced for what ... ...being made! It looked liked Suzuki had developed a 'supermini' that was receiving a raved reception from the public and press !
Apparently, it has been built with the European interest in mind,
ranging from £7.499 upwards and the prospect of the diesel model in September 05 and a cabriolet variant with folding metal roof next year !! BUT, I couldn't wait that long so decided to go along and have a test drive -
The very first time I saw this 'cheeky, funky chappy with attitude' was in my local Suzuki dealers show room when my husband went to pick up his Grand Vitara, I wasn't even thinking of buying myself a new car but for some strange reason I just kept going back to have another look at the 'NEW SWIFT' that had caught my eye !!
It was dressed in Superior white and stood in a class of it's own - cute but rugged, different but familiar, small but sturdy - and most of all, well priced for what it had to offer!! My first initial thoughts were 'this is so 'Mini' like but more original - more robust looking with a distinctive stand out character - from that moment I was interestingly curious!!!
I started to look into articles in mags and on the net about the New Swift - and became very interested in all the good comments that were being made! It looked liked Suzuki had developed a 'supermini' that was receiving a raved reception from the public and press !
Apparently, it has been built with the European interest in mind, ranging from £7.499 upwards and the prospect of the diesel model in September 05 and a cabriolet variant with folding metal roof next year !! BUT, I couldn't wait that long so decided to go along and have a test drive -
As soon as I got behind the wheel of the test drive vehicle and turned the key, it was SOLD for me !! My initial driving experience thoughts were ' This is fun, stylish, sophisticated and just so ME ! It's handling was fine, the sporty gearshift was nice and tight, the controls were in the right places - and after driving my Ford Ka, it just knocked the socks off that - a more safer feel to the drive with a solid but comfortable aspect.
I opted to buy the Superior White five door 1.3 GL at £7.799 but for another £1,200 you can get the 1.5 GLX 5dr which boasts Alloy wheels, air conditioning Muffler extension, Key Free System and Front Fog lamps - They come in 9 different colours consisting of Galacitc Grey, Cosmic Black, Kashmir Blue, Bright Red, Cats Eye Blue, Silky Silver, Spring Green, Superior White and Xtreme Yellow -
It is suprisingly spacious in the back with the capability of seating five ! The rear seats split-fold 60/40 and are so easy to put up and down. The boot isn't massive but I would say was generously sizable for a small car and easily holds my shopping loads!
Internally there's lots going on for the money as all models have:
Power Steering Front electric windows heated electric door mirrors remote central locking pollen filter radio/Cd + 6 Speakers Audio controls on steering wheel tinted glass driver and front passenger airbags side & curtain airbags head impact protection pad ABS and EBD Immobiliser 3 point ELR seatbelts for all seats high mounted stop lamp ISOFIX child restraint system Remote fuel lid opener child proof rear door locks side impact protection beams Visible V.I.N Freewheeling key cylinders Deadlocks Digital Clock Lights-on/key-in reminder outside temperature display fuel warning indictor Drivers seat belt warning lamp & alarm door ajar warning lamp
then of course all the usual - interior light, sun visor/vanity mirror, cup holders x 3 , passenger seat undertray, head restraints for all seats etc.......... Also Suzuki offer the Exclusive Aftercare of a 3 year warranty - Suzuki Assistance for 3 years and the dealer I went through was Hodgson Suzuki, Silverlink Newcastle - who I found to be professional from start to finish.
At night, when the dash is lit up it's really smart - casting a warm reddish glow which can be dimmed if you want at the press of a button and all the conrols are within easy reach and the stereo system has handy controls located on the steering wheel !
The safety aspect really sold this car for me - it has a four star rating in the EURO NCAP crash tests - and this with its front, side and curtain airbags along with a four-wheel anti-lock braking system, it definatley makes me feel that bit more safer behind the wheel than some other cars I have owned.
The seat fabric is smart and of good quality in a black trim - and I just love the large aeordynamic door mirrors - fuel consumption seems reasonable althought I have not really gone into that side much - it came with a full tank of petrol when I bought it 2 weeks ago so I haven't had much of a chance to experiment on that.
My one and only hitch (at this moment in time) is why on earth Suzuki kept this car with the same name 'SWIFT' - It's nothing like the old Swift - it looks like a totally new car - they should have just brought it out as a new model and given it a more funky name to suit it's individual character !
So, for me, this new Swift is an ideal small call that offers that bit more for your money. I'm not really car minded but I must admit I am really impressed with this sporty, responsive, energetic drive and it is very eyecatching (especially in the Superior White) plus as an added bonus for myself, I have only seen another two on the roads in my area - one was red and the other was silver, so up to now my little Suzi Suzuki (that my car's nick name) feels even more individual to me. I've never had so many nice comments from friends either - shame it's all about my car though !
Advantages: Nice tidy car Disadvantages: very little room in the back
I had a Suzuki swift for about three years before I traded it in for a Rover. I did not change makes because of any problems with the swift, but because I got an unbelievable deal with the Rover. The Suzuki Swift 1.3 GLS is surprisingly fast for its size and its handling is excellent. The looks of the car are also very stylish for a car in its class. It is one of the few cars that a Bloke can get that does not look too girly (i.e. Nissan Micro, Renault ... ...the windscreen wipers are inverted which can take some getting used to. To sum up the Suzuki swift I would say that it is an excellent buy for the range of cars that it is in, but I would always go for the 1.3 as the 1.0 is underpowered. ...
sacook 16.07.2000
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Ciao members have rated this car review on average: helpful Review of Suzuki Swift 1.3
I had a Suzuki Swift 1.3 GLS for 1 year and never had any mechanical trouble with it. It was a very reliable car that never let me down.
I bought it second hand for approx £2700 on a R(97) plate and it had around 24000 miles on the clock. It was my second car and my first finance car.
The car itself is quite small if you are considering carrying passengers in the back, its ok for the driver and front passenger but theres not much room in the back. ... ...as an option), but does have electric windows, central locking and a key coded immobiliser. Also it has a drivers airbag (no passenger airbag though).
All in all if you want a car as a cheap run around for getting around town I would recommend the Suzuki Swift. 8/10 ...
craig911gt2 27.08.2005
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Ciao members have rated this car review on average: helpful Review of Suzuki Swift 1.3
I have a Suzuki Swift and I must say its not the best thing I have driven. Cant complain as its a company car though.
Inside the car, the layout is very plain and boring. The Blue seats are a bit much though and take some getting used too. The Grey bland dash has large dials so I presume its intended for drivers with bad eyesight. The steering wheel has an adjustable height in it though which is unusual for a small car.
Gear stick feels like it ... ...is too far back, I dont know which.
Any closer and I would be on top of the wheel.
Passenger legroom is at a premium here. The grey carpets match the rest of the interior. Bland.
Comfort is not helped by a hard back seat although it does tip forward to allow loading of large goods.
Outside, the car looks a bit ugly. More like an old Datson than a new car. The lines are too bold and the shape is just awful. A long bonnet for a small car makes ...
voodoo-chile 30.05.2002
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Ciao members have rated this car review on average: helpful Review of Suzuki Swift 1.3
Advantages: great value for money Disadvantages: none that aren't easily outweighed by the benefits
...am currently on my third Suzuki Swift 1.3 GLS automatic. In terms of reliability it is as perfect as the previous two. By perfect I mean just that: no trouble of any kind has developed since I bought it, in the summer of 1998. It is kitted out with facilities that you wouldn't expect to be standard in a car in this class: twin airbags, electrically operated windows and side mirrors, plus a highly efficient airconditioning system (great if you've ... ...The automatic transmission is, of course, a bit less snappy than the manual, but a clever choice of gear ratios ensures that other cars at the lights will soon appear in your rearview mirror. Its fuel consumption is among the lowest you can get in this class, though not as low as with the manual, naturally.
Its handling on the road is exemplary even if it cannot match the stability and silence of larger cars. I've taken it on quite a few long-distance ...
Alberich 28.08.2000
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Ciao members have rated this car review on average: helpful Review of Suzuki Swift 1.3
Advantages: Looks. Value for money. MPG Disadvantages: Boot space.
A car that will never let you down. As a young student i wanted a car with low insurance values which not only looked good but i would not look stupid driving as you do with many small cars. This car represented all the above along with great value for money and with having a good previous experience with cars and has proven to be highly reliable. Hasnt let me down once and i have had it now for over a year. Looks great, also for those wanting to ... ...stuff with which you could modify the car. Highly recommended to all sorts of buyers, great for young people looking a cheap and affordable way to get around with easily achieving more than 40 mpg from my experiences. Also would make a great family car althought the boot space leaves a lot of room for improvement but with the leg room and back seat space extra luggage could easily be accomodated. ...
alfie2713 26.02.2008
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Ciao members have rated this car review on average: helpful Review of Suzuki Swift 1.3
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Advantages: Economical, cheap and fun to drive Disadvantages: Not a particularly powerful engine, lacks style
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*UPDATE 1/8/07*
I brought a SuzukiSwift about 3 years ago for my first car. Being a student who doesn't have money which's is growing on trees I had to find a reliable car which will get me from A to B, is cheap to run and also looks aright.
I looked around but in the end I decided that the SuzukiSwift would be the one for me considering everything else on the market at that point in time.
First impressions when I saw the car as that it was a bit old compared to the likes of a Peugeot 206 or Honda Civic. I knew that there are a few different sorts of Swift models considering it was launched in 1992 and I was buying mine a full 10 years on in 2002, early 2003. I had seen some around and mostly they have been green or white which doesn't help the look of the car as it helped it stand out places that were dirty and the green ...
mjgfish 28.09.2007 (01.10.2007)
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