Suzuki Swift Sport Review (2019)

Caroline drives the 2019 Suzuki Swift Sport!

Suzuki is well-known for making fun small cars. If you are looking for the most potent car that the brand currently offers in Ireland, then look no further than the Suzuki Swift Sport. Powered by a 1.4-litre turbo petrol engine and putting out 140hp, the Swift Sport is a hottish hatchback occupying the sportier end of the supermini spectrum. And while 140hp is hardly revolutionary in a small car, there is plenty in this package to entertain.

Priced from €22,995, the Suzuki Swift Sport crowns the Swift range. Suzuki has given the Swift a sporty makeover in this iteration and it presses all the right buttons. The Sport sits lower and wider than the standard Swift and has a special grille, bumpers, black aerodynamic under spoilers, 17” alloys, dual tailpipes and a roof-end spoiler. LED headlamps come as standard. The Swift Sport is available in six colours, including Champion Yellow, exclusive to the Sport. This reviewer was happy to pick up the Swift Sport in more demure Speedy Blue metallic!

The interior of the 2019 Suzuki Swift Sport

Inside, Suzuki has added more red trim to the Swift’s cabin and some new sports seats. Hard plastics prevail but the build is good and there is nothing offensive about the straightforward interior design.

The tachometer has a red dial face and the speedometer is coloured silver. Infotainment is provided via a touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Navigation also comes as standard. There is impressive safety equipment on board including Adaptive Cruise Control, Dual Sensor Brake Support, high beam assist, keyless entry and start, and Lane Departure Prevention, auto air conditioning, DAB radio, rear privacy glass, touchscreen, Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, electric windows, front fog lamps and rear view camera.

The Swift Sport has five doors for practicality and reasonable interior space for a small car. The boot is on the small side for this class of vehicle at 265 litres.

So what about that engine?

Suzuki has planted the brand’s new 1.4-litre Boosterjet turbo petrol engine under the bonnet of the Swift Sport, producing 140hp and 230Nm of torque. The Swift Sport uses a 6-speed manual gearbox. 0 to 100kmh is 8.1 seconds and the Sport can reach a top speed of 210km/h. CO2 emissions of 125g mean motor tax will be €270 per year and over a week of driving my average fuel consumption was 5.9l/100km.

The 2019 Suzuki Swift Sport is built on a light but rigid new platform and weighs just 975kg. The Suzuki Swift Sport revs happily and takes off with aplomb without frightening anyone with sheer speed. The six speed manual gearbox is delightful to use and the Swift Sport rocks in and out of corners with loads of tactile grip and precision. The engine noise in the cabin makes the driving experience feel all the more frantic! On longer runs on the motorway, the refinement and stability of the Swift Sport was impressive. There is a firm edge to the suspension but only the very roughest roads transmit their worst to cabin occupants.

The Suzuki Swift Sport doesn’t have the outright power and menace of the Ford Fiesta ST or the Volkswagen Polo GTI but it’s cheaper to buy and loaded with equipment. For supermini buyers looking to stretch the budget for something sportier and a bit different, the 2019 Suzuki Swift Sport ticks many boxes. It’s more fun than it should be considering the 140 hp power output and price. The Swift Sport is a stylish and fun small car with a sort of back-to-basics feel that will have you taking the long way home.

Caroline Kidd

Model tested: Suzuki Swift Sport
Price: €22,995
Engine: 1.4-litre turbo petrol
Power: 140hp
Torque: 230Nm
0-100km/h:  8.1 seconds
Top speed: 210km/h
Economy: 5.6l/100km
CO2 emissions: 125g/km
Motor tax: €270 per year