Hamamatsu, Japan. A city known for 2 major contributions in the world. Namely the manufacturing of Kawai and Yamaha musical instruments and then, of course, their contribution of top automotive brands, with Suzuki being the bell of the ball!
History lesson done, let’s move a little closer to home. Yesterday we got to sample a “little” Suzuki magic in the form of the updated Suzuki Swift.
What’s new?
The “minor changes” had “major impacts” on how the refreshed Swift has been received by the public. The base of all models in the range is a 1.2l petrol engine. This powerful pocket rocket kicks out 61kW and 113Nm of torque. You have the option of either a 5-speed manual or an auto transmission. What gets us the most excited is the claimed fuel consumption of 4.9l to 100km.
Setting the tone, the two-tone
Suzuki spiced it up by giving the Swift a two-tone make over. Think along the lines of a magnificent Midnight Blue Pearl and white roof, a fiery Fire Red with a black roof and an Arctic White Pearl with black roof.
Some additional changes worth mentioning include chrome trimmings on the grille giving the Swift a sportier look; rear parking sensors on all models across the range.
Money talks
The entry level GA manual will set you back R180 900 and the range topping GLX will cost you a cool R234 900.
What hasn’t changed is Suzuki’s super warranty and service plan. The Suzuki Swift comes with a standard 5 year/200 000km warranty and a 2 year/30 000km service plan. With their extensive dealer networking stretching over 70 dealerships nationwide, what’s there to think about?! The Swift will make a solid companion and will be a big competitor in the very competitive budget B-segment market.
