2018 Suzuki Swift Review: A Compact Hatchback with Style
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Driving Experience of the 2018 Suzuki Swift
Today, I’m excited to share my experience with one of my favorite compact hatchbacks, the 2018 Suzuki Swift. Personally, I prefer it over competitors like the Nissan Micra, Mitsubishi Mirage, and Hyundai i20. The Swift stands out with its youthful spirit and distinctive design, making it more comparable to the Fiat 500 and Mini Cooper, despite the latter losing its economical pricing since BMW started manufacturing it in 2000. Let’s dive deeper into the 2018 Suzuki Swift GLX model we have today, priced at AED 57,900.
Exterior Design
Suzuki has always focused on creating a youthful and modern design for the Swift. This fourth generation has successfully delivered an impressive look for a car in this category, featuring a prominent front grille, clear curves above the wheels, and a sleek line extending from the headlights. The GLX version comes equipped with xenon headlights, LED daytime running lights, and automatic fog lights. The side profile showcases a strong line along the lower doors and a clean line leading to the larger rear lights. The sporty design is further enhanced by the cleverly concealed rear door handles positioned high on the vehicle.
The model we are reviewing today features a striking two-tone color scheme, with a blue body and silver roof and side mirrors, emphasizing Suzuki's aim to attract a younger audience.
Interior Design
The youthful and modern design continues inside the cabin, highlighted by circular air vents and a simple dashboard layout featuring a touchscreen, three dials for climate control, and sporty gauges illuminated in red. The steering wheel is compact with a flat bottom, and the sporty seats offer good support. White accents on the dashboard and doors add to the aesthetic appeal, though I wish these accents matched the car’s exterior color or at least the silver roof color.
While the interior design reflects the robustness of Japanese manufacturing, the materials used are predominantly lightweight plastic, which is expected given the car's price point. Additionally, storage spaces in the cabin feel a bit limited, particularly the absence of a central armrest or storage box, which may impact comfort during long drives.
At first glance, the compact size of the Swift suggests cramped rear seating, but once inside, it comfortably accommodates three adults with adequate legroom and headspace. However, this does negatively impact the trunk space, which feels tight, necessitating the rear seats to be folded for a decent cargo area.
Technological Features
The GLX version of the Swift includes a touchscreen for audio system control and Bluetooth connectivity. Here in the UAE, the dealer offers an option to add a large Android screen for an additional AED 2,600, which includes Google Maps navigation and mirroring capabilities for both Apple and Android devices. The car is also equipped with automatic climate control and a small display between the gauges showing basic trip information and fuel consumption. Steering wheel controls allow access to the audio system, phone functions, and cruise control. Additionally, the car features a rearview camera without sensors, which seems unnecessary given the Swift's compact size, making parking easy. For safety, the GLX version comes with six airbags.
Driving Experience
The Swift is known for its enjoyable driving experience, thanks to its compact wheelbase and suspension that provides stability in corners. Although the only engine available in our markets is a small 1.2-liter four-cylinder producing just 82 horsepower and 113 Nm of torque, it is sufficient to deliver fun driving dynamics in this small car.
Many people associate driving enjoyment with acceleration and high-speed performance, which isn’t always the case. You can have a great time driving a small car, especially on twisty roads, due to its high stability and precise steering. It would have been even more enjoyable if Suzuki offered a manual transmission or even a traditional automatic, but unfortunately, the Swift comes with a CVT in our markets. As is typical with CVTs, this results in a noisy engine and high RPMs needing constant acceleration. One downside I noticed during my drive was the high cabin noise; I wish Suzuki had put more effort into sound insulation.
The car excels in fuel efficiency, achieving an average of 13.6 km per liter over my week-long test drive, despite my tendency to press the accelerator hard. Of course, this figure can improve based on individual driving styles.
Final Verdict
After experiencing the 2018 Suzuki Swift, I hope we soon see the Suzuki Swift Sport in our markets, featuring a turbocharged engine producing 140 horsepower, as it would truly be an exciting addition to the segment. The Swift has proven to me that it deserves the title of the modern "mini" car.
The starting price of the 2018 Suzuki Swift in our markets is AED 48,900 for the GL version and AED 57,900 for the GLX.
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