Suzuki Swift Sport 2007 new car review

I broke two ribs in my last kart race about five years ago. I carried on and got second place and a nice trophy, but six months later when I could finally sneeze without it hurting I decided that I’d like something with a roll cage. What brought back these memories is not that the Swift Sport is uncomfortable to drive (or has a roll cage), but that it handles like a go-kart.

This is the product of Suzuki’s concerted effort to make a car that is dominant at the Junior World Rally Championship, and use that experience to make a road car.

Also, you can explore the whole envelope of the Swift’s capabilities. Unlike a million-dollar supercar, in which you would struggle to use 18% of the available power and grip on most roads, the Swift can be chucked around to within an inch of its life, with its slight understeer making it a safe car to push into the bends. Understeer is the best option for a car only 3.76m long — any tendency to swap ends would be difficult to catch in a car this short.

The 195/50R16 tyres are perfectly matched to the Swift and, along with its rally-inspired suspension keeping the car flat, means it carves into the corners like a wakeboarder on a still lake. I almost expect tarmac to come flying up in a big rooster tail. The Swift’s ability to change directions like a gazelle being chased by a cheetah is because its kerb weight is a measly 1090kg (though Suzuki quotes 1500kg gross weight). Still, that’s over 300kg less than, for example, a Porsche Cayman.

The willing 1.6-litre engine has high-lift camshafts, shot-peened rods and oil-cooled pistons to help deliver more grunt. Mated to a fairly close-ratio gearbox, you have the pleasure of choosing to keep the Swift’s engine racing near the redline, heel-toeing the drilled aluminium pedals, or using the 148Nm of torque and taking a more leisurely drive in the lower rev range.

For the moments when enthusiasm exceeds ability, this revised Swift adds Electronic Stability Programme (ESP) to the previous version’s ABS, EBD and brake assist. Six airbags, side-impact beams and head impact protection structure complete the safety picture.

The driving position, as with most small cars, is quite upright. My six-foot frame fitted in the car with no trouble at all, even having a surprisingly large amount of headroom. The Recaro-style seats are not buckets, but are reasonably supportive laterally and are well-positioned for the driver to reach the gearstick with its positive short-throw action. Audio controls for the WMA/MP3/CD player are located on the leather steering wheel and the sound quality is adequate for a car in this price range.

A basic trip computer showing average and instantaneous fuel consumption sits in the centre on the dash. We managed to equal Suzuki’s combined cycle of 7.5l/100km.