Suzuki Swift 2007 review

It has been tough for the BMW group, which created the new Mini and has just gone again with the new-new Mini, and impossible for Volkswagen with its born-again Beetle.

If a company gets the rebirth right it will have a surefire winner, such as the latest Ford Mustang in the United States, but . . .

Now it's Suzuki's turn with the rebirth of its Swift GTi.

It's a return to the hot hatch business and a chance to plug a gap below pacesetters including the Ford Focus XR5, Renault Megane Sport and Mazda3 MPS.

The Swift is smaller in size and engine capacity, but Suzuki Australia believes it will sell to an eager audience that already knows the new-age Swift and remembers its 1980s and 1990s incarnations.

Except it is not called a GTi now because Volkswagen objected to the use of the label it has applied to its go-faster Golf since the 1970s.

So the GTi is now the Swift Sport, with good looks, a price from $23,990 and the twin exhaust pipes and giant wheels that mark any hot hatch in the noughties.

It is more than a dress-up job thanks to a larger engine, significant suspension work and changes to steering and brakes.

It has far more refinement than any earlier Swift GTi, but there are some questions.

Shoppers have the right to ask about a five-speed gearbox in a generation of six-speeders, an engine that is still only 1.6 litres and the absence of a spare tyre.

They also need to hear about changes that run much deeper than a blat-blat exhaust and big wheels.

Changes run to significant work on the body, interior, chassis, suspension and brakes.

The steering is sharper, the brakes more fade-resistant and the body upgrade includes a deep front spoiler and a yellow body colour that is beyond bright.

The engine grows from 1.3 litres in the regular Swift — CARSguide Car of the Year in 2005 — to a "big-bore" 1.6. Power jumps from 75kW to 92kW and torque is improved from 133Nm to 148Nm at 4800 revs.

Suzuki has fitted a close-ratio five-speed gearbox, put more beef into the driveshafts, and the engine breathes through a large-capacity muffler.

The result is a 0-100km/h sprint of 8.9 seconds and a top of 200km/h.

The suspension has Monroe sports dampers, a retuned rear set-up stabiliser bar, and 195x50 tyres on 16-inch rims.

But the spare is gone, replaced by an emergency reinflation pack, to make space in the boot floor for the giant muffler.

The car has excellent Isofix child-seat anchorage that is now the standard in Europe but cannot be used here because of silly local regulations.

Suzuki Australia expects the Swift Sport to be a sellout, based on reaction to news of a GTi comeback and the showroom success of the regular Swift.

ON THE ROAD

THE Swift Sport is a sharp, enjoyable drive. I first tried a preview car in Japan last year at a Suzuki test track, but it was hard to know if it was really a GTi or just a powered-up Swift on a track that was super-smooth and had few testing turns.

Now, after a run through the regular test program, I know the Swift Sport is very good and very good value.

Is it a true GTi? Honestly, no. It is sprightly and sporty, but I have been spoiled by the new-age Focus, Megane and Mazda3, and by memories of the previous Swift GTi with its raunchy engine, edgy cornering and funky looks.

But the Swift Sport is way ahead of baby-class rivals including the Hyundai Getz and Toyota Yaris, which have only dress-up sports models, and undercuts European imports that have nice badges but big pricetags.

But would I recommend the Swift Sport? Truly, yes.

It is more refined than the earlier GTi and is a terrific drive, particularly on twisty roads where you can work the responsive chassis, feel the tyres working through the tactile steering and short-shift the gearbox between ratios.

The engine is strong without being anything special and even revving it to the redline — much lower than I remember from the GTi — does not give much satisfaction.

It is solid once you have 3000 revs on board and the close-spaced ratios help to keep it boiling, but it's not what I would expect from a company with the experience of building so many amazing big-bore motorcycles.

I was also disappointed by the transmission. Drivers of the test car commented that it needed to be a six-speeder, not a five, and that it was overly noisy and working too hard at a 110km/h highway cruise.

Still, fuel economy was good at 8.7 litres for 100km, though the Sport likes premium unleaded.

Inside the cabin, the sports front buckets give excellent support, the steering wheel is meaty and feels classy, the sound system is good and the airconditioning works well.

So, is the Swift Sport a worthy successor to the GTi? Yes and no.

It is not as quick, responsive or urgent as the GTi, but that is probably a good thing in today's world.

It is more refined, more comfortable and excellent value, putting it closer to a Ford Fiesta Zetec with its 1.6-litre engine than a Hyundai Getz.

It really has no direct competitors and that means Suzuki Australia's prediction of a Swift sellout will probably be spot on.

THE BOTTOM LINE

GOOD looking, fun and sharp to drive, but missing the sizzle expected in a GTi.

77/100