One of the fastest rising stars in the auto-journo biz, Matt Hardigree, got a chance to pilot the not-quite-yet-on-our-shores Suzuki Swift around Jake and Elwood's old stomping ground, Joliet, Illinois. His take? This is not your junior high science teacher's crap-box Geo Metro. As you are well aware, and as Hardigree points out, American streets will soon be filled with Ford Fiestas and Mazda2s (and hopefully Fiat 500s!). Therefore Suzuki would be wise to bring their competitive world car over here and cash in on our rapidly rising gas prices. Mr. Hardigree got his grubby mitts on the slushbox Swift, which coupled with a 100 (or so) horsepower 1.5-liter mill, wasn't exactly noteworthy on the straights. But he did like it "batting around corners." Seeing as how the Swift weighs in at just 2,400 pounds, I'll go ahead and predict that the manny-tranny version would be quite a sweet little package. Especially if they ditch the rear drums for disks when it finally comes our way.
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I remember reading Clarkson’s review of the new Swift and he said it was better than the Mini Cooper (minus interior noise levels).
While I have issues with JC’s reviews from time to time, I was impressed with such high praise for the Swift.
I would love to see it for sale here. Of course Suzuki could do itself a favor by:
– bring it over here
– discs all around
– under cut the Honda Fit prices
Anything that pushes Honda closer to a Fit Si with the Civic’s brakes and 1.8L engine will be great news :)
If Honda can sodomizesedanize Si (and the whole Civic line), Suzuki will probably do the same to the Swift, because as everyone knows “Americans don’t want hatchbacks”.
The Swift is a great looking car. I would love to see it here with a slightly more powerful engine. But for the love of God, keep it a hatch.
The Suzuki Swift Sport has more power (125hp), and while still not a rocket, would be a great offering at under $18k.
Tiff Needell’s review:
Eh….
Consider me one of the few Americans that loves hatchbacks.
This would be a fun car with discs all around and a 5 speed manual.
This is exactly the sort of car Suzuki needs to have available in the US. I’m seeing more Yaris, Fit’s and Versa’s on the road every day where I live. The Swift would be a great alternative. I’ve yet to read a negative review of it as well.
Can I get this car with 4 discs, a manual trans, and about 140 horsepower?
if they brought a Swift Sport over and it was under $18k, what would it do to SX4 sales? You’d think that the Swift would need to be the price leader within Suzuki’s lineup to be successful. I’m personally excited to see that small, economical (and fun) cars are making somewhat of a comeback! Makes me really miss my Plymouth (Mitsubishi) Arrow!
As with the Mazda2 that may or may not make it to our shores, 100 hp in a car that is this light, isn’t bad at all. Give it a 5 speed manual and disc brakes, and you could easily have a fun entry level car that delivers good gas mileage to boot.
here is my problem with 100hp. while in a city its all that yo need yes…but since most of us drive on the highway over 65mph 100hp is a killer! I drove a scion xB for 26k miles and in mixed driving i was getting 25mpg. You have to floor the gas in that car everywhere just to keep up with minivans! I traded that car in on a MKV GTI and regularly return 27mpg in the same driving cycle! on road trips i have seen as high as 34mpg from the GTI.
i would love to see a turbo version of the swift with ~150hp and a 6 speed manual. anything less then 30mpg is stupid, just buy a civic/cobalt/corolla/3/etc and have a truly usable car and get better mpg.
Suzuki needs to bring this car to North America… Yesterday.
Why the hell do we get cursed with the awful Swift+ instead?
Suzuki needs this in NA in order to stay relevent. Nobody cares about the Grand Vitara anymore, and the rest of their line up is just rebadged Daewoo/Chevies.
Suzuki always did best when it stuck to simple and small.
Oh, and bring the Samurai back too!
Suzuki should nuke every car in their lineup except for the SX4 and Vitara then add the Swift ASAP.
hwyhobo :
April 23rd, 2008 at 3:45 pm
If Honda can sodomizesedanize Si (and the whole Civic line), Suzuki will probably do the same to the Swift, because as everyone knows “Americans don’t want hatchbacks”.
Sadly, they could cherry pick the already-produced Indian-market Suzuki-Maruti Swift DZire four-door…
Speaking of which, I see Nissan Versas all over, but have yet to see a sedan anywhere but on dealer lots.
@6G74: have yet to see a sedan anywhere but on dealer lots
I envy you. In my area even Toyota dealers carry Yaris only in sedans. You might be able to order a hatch if you are willing to wait for ever and order blind, as most don’t even have one on the floor.
Look at Ford Focus – great form factor in the first few years, but noooooo, now we don’t even have a hatch, just the irrelevant fleet darling Focus sedan.
Chevy Malibu, wagon no good, no, now only sedan available.
Honda Civic – see any hatches anymore?
Toyota Corolla and Camry? Wagons anywhere?
Need I continue?
Personally, I think it is a desperate attempt by manufacturers to sell their high-profit SUVs to anyone who wants any utility in their vehicle.
“This is not your junior high science teacher’s crap-box Geo Metro”
But the thing is – I see at least 2 or 3 Geo Metros or Swift Mk2s a day still plugging away 17 years later.
Plus, every mention of Suzuki brings up the point of their 90s Swift GTi/GT had a 5-speed and 4 discs. 110hp gave it more than enough to light up the front wheels while still getting 30mpg+
God help you if you an SUV T-boned you, but… still… I miss mine.
Seem Suz is trying hard to convince Americans that their bikes have something to do with their cars. A small, quick, great-handling hatch (even more so than the SX4) would really drive it home.
hwyhobo: Look at Ford Focus – great form factor in the first few years, but noooooo, now we don’t even have a hatch, just the irrelevant fleet darling Focus sedan. Personally, I think it is a desperate attempt by manufacturers to sell their high-profit SUVs to anyone who wants any utility in their vehicle.
I’m TRYING to buy domestic next time but again they don’t want to sell me the product that I want to buy. Last time (1999) I wanted a small wagon. No dice from the domestics. Honda came as close as I get with the CR-V which we bought. There were the Rav and the Suzuki but I didn’t like the Rav and had doubts about the ‘Zu.
Now we are STILL watching for a small wagon for next time around and only Mazda comes close. ‘Zu and Kia have a couple entries that I’ll look at. The Astra 5-door will get looked at but now in times of high gas prices even the domestic hatchbacks are drying up.
What’s an import driver trying to go domestic supposed to do??? VBG!
I don’t understand the small sedan thing. You’ve got passenger space but there is this HUGE trunk stuck on the back and you better hope that your cargo fits the trunk ’cause that is your only option. With a hatchback you go buy a big TV, lay the seats flat and take your TV home.
I have to guess that there is a cost issue here. First the car makers will tell us that Americans don’t want hatchbacks. And then quietly they’ll mumble about how hatchbacks require those face fold forward seats, rear window wiper system, decent cargo area trim, and so on. The hatches are prob a little more expensive and we know how a dollar here and there makes such a big difference over a year’s production.
Why not pass the cost on to me? You know – that added $200 or so.
We’ll be looking at small 3 and 4 door hatches next time. Hear that Detroit? Astra, Rabbit, Mazda, ‘Zuki…
“Consider me one of the few Americans that loves hatchbacks.”
And me. Never knew how much I missed a hatch until we got a Corolla sedan. When the Matrix came out we were so there.
Author: yournamehere
while in a city its all that yo need yes…but since most of us drive on the highway over 65mph 100hp is a killer!
That just depends on the engine I think. I have a 146HP DOHC 2.0 in my ’99 CR-V. The engine doesn’t have alot of torque for a vehicle that size and the low gears are pretty low. The low gears are also spaced pretty close. I have a hard time getting off the line without revving the engine past 3K at every shift and keep up with traffic. Not a question of power, just trying not to race the engine too badly. If I can shift fast enough or accelerate slow enough I can keep the engine between 2K and 3K and it does fine but a normal takeup dictates a 1st to 2nd shift almost immediately. It’s a 5 speed by the way.
My ’97 VW Cabrio has 115 HP and 8v SOHC engine and it has much more torque. I find it very capable at keeping up with traffic slow and fast. It’s 2800 pounds. Also a 5 speed.
Give me a 2K lb car again (like my 90HP 1.8L ’84 Rabbit) and 100HP will be just fine with me.
BUT I demand some gas mileage! None of these Aveo mini-cars getting medium car mileage stuff.
Liking the current Rabbit but wish they would offer an option for their 2.0L four cylinder with or w/o turbo. I’m sure the 150HP five cylinder makes loads of torque making it easy to keep up.
Wouldn’t this cannibalise the SX4?
In keeping with the podcast theme, Suzuki could be the new Subaru. Subaru seems to want to be the old Toyota.
Brendino :
The SX4’s strong points are AWD, larger size, larger motor.
The Swift would be smaller, FWD better fuel economy.
It could be argued that some people buying the SX4 would be more than happy with a Swift if it were offered here.
The sx4 gets rather poor fuel economy due to the AWD system and is about the size of the Versa. The Swift will be better competition against the Honda Fit.