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“It’s cheap – not, perhaps, recession-bustingly so, but under £10,000 ($15k) It has some of the dash and cheek of the Mini, but none of the ubiquity, and is roughly two-thirds of the price. And it’s the future of driving. As a US Government report into the motor industry has stated: ‘The shift in consumer preferences towards smaller, more fuel-efficient passenger cars appears to be permanent.’ (The report said this in 1980, a year after giving Chrysler $1 billion of bail-out money to arrest its spiral towards the plughole. Truly, there is nothing new under the sun.)”
16 Comments on “The Buyer’s Market Car?...”
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This is one car that I have been wishing for in the States for a while. Even though the sport tuned versions are not rockets, it has great styling and everthing you need and then some for the average commuter including at least some factor of fun.
I think it has a 1.6 gasoline engine currently, wonder if anything larger would make it over here for a sport version. Cool car, cant wait.
Question: what does this offer over the Fit, Yaris and Fiesta?
OK, I get the hint, I’ll do a capsule review of the Suzuki Swift
‘The shift in consumer preferences towards smaller, more fuel-efficient passenger cars appears to be permanent.’ (The report said this in 1980, a year after giving Chrysler $1 billion of bail-out money to arrest its spiral towards the plughole.)
This is truly a mind-boggling statement, 28 years later.
psar: More room and fun than a Yaris, cheaper than a Fit. Arguably more style than both. The Fiesta/Mazda2 and Kia Soul remain the unknown quantities in this category, which is shaping up to be one of the more competitive in the next few years. Suzuki has missed out by not offering the Swift here for the last few years, but the model’s stunning success (passed the 1m global sales mark this year) means it could be real cheap when it arrives in 2010. Also, there are rumors of a hybrid version come 2012. We shall see.
Martin: Please, and thank you!
Question: what does this offer over the Fit, Yaris and Fiesta?
Probably nothing over the Fiesta, but compared to the Swift, the Yaris and Fit look like various vintages of dog vomit.
Of course I have not driven one, but from many accounts, the Swift seems to be one of those vehicles that hits the sweet spot, offering style, content, performance at a very competitive price.
I just got back from a week in Barbados, and these new Swifts were ALL OVER the place. As in every fourth or fifth car, including Sport versions on an island where Toyotas, Skodas and Nissans of every variety are otherwise in great quantity.
Suzuki’s reputation in Barbados appeared to be fairly strong, too, but mostly with small Jeeps, mokes and Grand Vitaras. This was the only Suzuki “car” which seems to have established itself there. It’s a big hit.
I didn’t get a chance to sit in or drive one, but seeing them in such quantity was telling. And, yes, they do look every bit as good in person as in the photos. Very MINI-like in general appearance, but I think better looking. The Yaris looked so 1990’s in comparison. The car’s low-looking stance seemed to portend good handling, too.
I want one.
my missus won’t let me buy anything by suzuki. they make agricultural implements, not cars in her view. i’m sorta inclined to agree.
i experienced a suzuki cultus in japan. given japan’s draconian laws about used cars, i was very surprised to be driving a total crapbox that came damned close to killing me (popped out of first when turning right across a busy intersection whilst a large lorry was oncoming); my employer thought i didn’t know how to drive a standard … d’oh!
Does it still feel like you are sitting on cardboard covered in felt like the SX4?
The US had earlier versions of this car, in the form of the Geo Metro and Chevy Sprint.
These didn’t compare well to the equivalent cars from Toyota and Honda, which why those companies prospered with their versions while GM did not. If this car is as much of a penalty box as were those, then it would not do well here.
@gamper
“I think it has a 1.6 gasoline engine currently, wonder if anything larger would make it over here for a sport version.”
Um, the 1.6 is the sport version.
I think we’re supposed to get the next gen Swift in the US. Although enthusiasts praise the car, I doubt it’ll sell like the Yaris and Fit, but we’ll be glad the option is there.
This really is a good-looking car in person. I saw more than a few in Guatemala the last 2 times I visited, and the Swift Sport looked pretty sharp. For the US, they should follow MINI’s lead and turbocharge the 1.6 for the Sport. It’ll put Suzuki back on the radar.
Question: what does this offer over the Fit, Yaris and Fiesta?
The luxury of not having rear seat passengers to poke you in the back with their knees. Simply because they won’t fit.
But seriously, despite the ridiculously small rear seat (which is probably half the reason why people compare it to the Mini, the other half being the styling) it’s a nifty little car. Plastics a bit cheap, but what isn’t nowadays, but it looks better inside than a Yaris, drives a million times better, and rides pretty well for a small car. I’d put it on my hot small car list alongside the Fit and the Mini.
It’s great in 1.5 MT. The 1.6 Sport, with its variable-valve high compression engine with forged pistons makes a faintly ludicrous 125 hp at 7000 rpm (ludicrous because for all the money put into that engine, it should make more)… but it’s still quite desirable in a geeky sort of way, and also because it comes on 16″ wheels, with a sports suspension and Recaros.
Too bad the closest thing to a Swift North American GM-Suzuki gets is the SX4. Which is a big, overweight body stuffed on top of the same basic chassis.
And all Chevy gets is the Aveo. Which is basically a pile of dog-crap painted in metallic fruit colors. At least you don’t get the Spark (or do you?) Which is ten-year old recycled dog-crap with the crash survivability of a Chinese car.
Good. It’ll make my dream of owning a Buick Lacrosse Super, Impala SS, or any performance-oriented-American-brand-V8-powered RWD vehicle that much easier. (Yes I know the Lacrosse and Impala aren’t RWD.)
The Swift is the top selling small car in my country, due in part to their style but also they are so, so cheap. cheaper than the Holden Barina (Aveo5), several thousand cheaper than the Yaris, Fit(Jazz), Rio, Mazda2 etc.
I’ve rented a Swift 1.5 auto for the weekend once. the auto is not that great, smooth but it upshifts far too early blunting acceleration but the manual version would be a really fun drive. the Mazda2 is more solid/refined with better steering (a Swift weak point), but the Mazda2 being A LOT more expensive the Swift is a worthy choice. Also, despite being cheaper the Swift offers ‘no cares’ motoring, the dealer pays for all servicing/repairs/tyres for the first 3 years. all the buyer pays for is registration, gas and insurance.
their resale is really good as well, 3-4 year old Swifts are selling for 75% of their new price
eta – i’m 6’0 and could fit in the backseat behind my driving position. you wouldnt want to be in there for long, but it’s adequate for short trips