Used Suzuki Swift Sport 2012-2017 review

The Beatles once sang ‘Money don’t get everything, it’s true; what it don’t get, I can’t use.’ Well, this doesn’t apply to the Suzuki Swift Sport, because while it’s true that you won’t have vast amounts of power to play with, you will be able to use most of its performance more of the time, which is more fun. And, because used examples start from just £4000, you won’t have to pay vast amounts of money to get one.

When the original Swift Sport hit the market, it made a bit of a splash, because it offered hot hatch fans an engaging drive for a surprisingly small outlay. This second-generation model carried on that tradition, but it’s a little bit more refined, comes with a six-speed manual gearbox and can be found with five doors for greater practicality. But it still maintains its cheeky nature and willing, naturally aspirated 1.6-litre petrol engine, this time with 136bhp, which is enough to get it from 0-62mph in 8.7sec and up to a top speed of 121mph.

Aside from the performance, the Swift Sport is a hoot on a back road. It weighs just 1045kg, so you can carry plenty of speed into corners, because it’ll change direction with alacrity and generate plenty of grip. It isn't as precise as the Renault Twingo RS 133 (especially one with the Cup chassis package), but given that the Swift Sport has a much more comfortable ride, especially over lumpy and rough roads, you can forgive it that. Aside from that and a more positive-feeling clutch, there are few complaints you can make about how the Swift Sport drives.

However, you might have something to moan about if you need a big boot, because the Swift Sport is a little short in this department. Okay, it is a small car, after all, but the Twingo has sliding rear seats, allowing you to maximise boot space. The Swift Sport's loading lip is rather high, too, making it a little difficult to put heavier items into the back. Still, you can at least have the Swift Sport with five doors, so rear passengers don’t need to scramble through the front. Impressively, the steering wheel can be adjusted both up and down to help you get a comfortable driving position. It’d be better if you could lower the seat a bit, but this is true of most small cars.

Even though all the Swift Sport's dashboard surfaces are hard, scratchy plastics, you can understand why when you consider its generous standard equipment and low price when new. It’s all well screwed together, too.

Prices for an early Mk2 Suzuki Swift Sport start at around £4000, but you’d be better off spending a bit more to find a car with below-average mileage, a full service history and no previous accident damage. A budget of £5500-£6000 is enough for an example that hasn't yet hit 50,000 miles, while if you want a car that’s less than two years old, you'll need £8500.

Check the value of a used Suzuki Swift Sport with What Car? Valuations

The original Swift Sport was rather expensive to insure, but premiums reduced with this second-generation car, because of its better safety tech and standard stability control. Fuel economy was also improved a little, to an NEDC combined figure of 44.1 mpg, while annual road tax is £155.

Suzuki offers fixed-price servicing on any of its cars that are over three years old; £129 for a 25-point check and £259 for a more extensive 35-point check-up. That’s competitive, although the 9000-mile/one-year service intervals mean those who do plenty of miles will have to book the Swift Sport in rather often for routine maintenance.

Since there's only one engine and one trim level, there’s not much to say here. All Swift Sports will be well equipped, with climate control, keyless entry, cruise control and xenon headlights. You’ll also get seven airbags (including one for the driver’s knees) and stability control as standard.

The only choice you do have is whether you want three or five doors. If you have to regularly transport passengers, get the five-door version; if you don't, you can save some money by sticking with three.

Our favourite Suzuki Swift Sport: 1.6 Sport

Similarly hot rivals that are of equivalent size and performance to the Suzuki Swift Sport are few and far between. The Renault Twingo RS 133 is perhaps the closest alternative. As mentioned previously, the Twingo has sharper handling when equipped with its optional Cup chassis, but its harsh ride and smaller dimensions make it less practical and more tiring as an everyday car.

Recently, Volkswagen produced a hotter version of its Up, called the Up GTI. The trouble is that because it is so new, you’ll have to pay a lot more money to bag even the earliest example.

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