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The 2012 Suzuki Swift range of configurations is currently priced from $4,499.
Our most recent review of the 2012 Suzuki Swift resulted in a score of 7 out of 10 for that particular example.
Carsguide Contributing Journalist Ewan Kennedy had this to say at the time: Budget on spending from$3000 to $5000 for a 2005 Suzuki Swift S;$4000 to $7000 for a 2006 Sport;$5000 to $8500 for a 2008 Sport or a 2009 Swift;$7000 to $12,000 for a 2010 Sport;$9000 to $14,000 for a 2012 Sport or a 2014 GLX;$11,000 to $16,000 for a 2013 Sport;and $16,000 to $23,000 for a 2016 Sport Navigator.
You can read the full review here.
This is what Ewan Kennedy liked most about this particular version of the Suzuki Swift: Sports models have substantially more go
The 2012 Suzuki Swift carries a braked towing capacity of up to 1000 Kg, but check to ensure this applies to the configuration you're considering.
The Suzuki Swift 2012 prices range from $3,960 for the basic trim level Hatchback GL RE.1 to $10,670 for the top of the range Hatchback Sport.
This model Swift was recalled to check and tighten, if necessary, the bolts that connect the torque converter to the car’s engine. However, if these were to fail or fall out (as happened in some cases) it would be a one-off event and the car then wouldn’t work at all.
Your problem sounds more like a worn transmission which is not accepting the load you put on it when you try to accelerate. This could be worn bands or some other component inside the transmission. CVTs are pretty complex things and rely on physical parts like bands and pulleys as well as hydraulic bits and pieces to take drive to the wheels. It would also be worth checking the torque converter, as a damaged or worn unit can also produce the symptoms you’re seeing. I’d start with checking that the recall was carried out and work backwards from there.
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While the less sporty versions of Suzuki’s Swift of this era used a conventional automatic transmission, the Swift Sport used a CVT transmission. And I’m wondering if maybe that’s all there is to your question. The CVT is quite capable of feeling like its slipping when you use lots of throttle, such as when going up a hill or accelerating to overtake. It’s actually quite normal and is the method a CVT uses to maximise fuel-economy by keeping the engine operating in its most efficient zone.
But if you’ve owned the car for some time and its behaviour has changed, then it could be that the CVT is beginning to wear internally. Or perhaps it’s the torque-converter (that links the engine to the transmission) that is starting to wear out and allowing the engine to rev harder than it used to for a given road speed.
Suzuki did recall this model (and conventional automatic versions) to check for loose bolts that secured the torque converter to the transmission. But if these became loose and fell out, you’d have no drive at all, so I don’t think that’s the problem here.
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Both are fun cars to drive, they’re relatively new, so should be reliable. I would prefer the Swift; I reckon you’ll get a better run out of it.
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