Suzuki Swift Sport 1.4 Turbo Review – South Africa
Current retail price: R493,900
We Love: Price and fuel economy, great handling, performance and all the hot-hatch feels.
We Don’t Love: The carbon-fibre-look vinyl might not wear particularly well, while the exhaust note could have been beefier to match the car’s character.
Suzuki Swift Sport Highlights
- Current retail: R493,900
- Engine: 1.4-litre 4-cylinder BoosterJet turbocharged petrol
- Power: 103 kW
- Torque: 230 Nm
- Transmission: 6-speed manual, with automatic available
- Fuel consumption: 6.1 L/100 km claimed
- Tested fuel consumption: 6.8 L/100 km
- Load capacity: 242–918 litres
- CO?: 174 g/km
- Kerb weight: 970 kg
Suzuki Swift Sport 1.4 Turbo Review
The Suzuki Swift Sport brings back fond memories of seeing the 1.6-litre versions racing around Singapore. Up and down Orchard Road in the middle of the night, locals would heavily modify these little hatches into extremely quick, nimble road racers.
So we were very excited when Suzuki introduced a new turbocharged petrol engine and, even better, found a way to get it under the bonnet of this playful hatchback.
Designed and built on Suzuki’s popular Heartect platform, the Swift Sport combines turbocharged power, significantly reduced weight, a revised chassis, performance-focused suspension and bigger brakes. All of which culminate in a potently fun driving experience that’s hard to beat and that’s really the appeal of the Swift Sport. It doesn’t need enormous power figures or a huge engine to put a smile on your face.
Suzuki Swift Sport Performance, Fuel Consumption and Handling
The Swift Sport packs a 1.4-litre four-cylinder BoosterJet turbo engine producing 103 kW and 230 Nm of torque.
Those figures won’t blow your socks off, but when they’re hauling a car with a kerb weight of just 970 kg, things become really interesting.
Maximum torque arrives between 2,500 and 3,500 rpm, before reaching peak power at 5,500 rpm. This means there is always enough pull at lower revs, while the engine rewards you for revving it higher.
It really is a special little engine, belying its size by sounding robust and satisfying at higher revs rather than strained and whiny like the previous version of the Sport.
Along with the short wheelbase and lightweight construction, the Swift Sport gets stiffer, more performance-oriented suspension than the already nimble regular Swift variants.
The very direct steering feel means you can absolutely throw this little car into corners But the best part is that you don’t have to go looking for special roads to enjoy it. Every acceleration, roundabout or corner becomes an opportunity for a little bit of fun.
That’s what makes the Swift Sport so good. It turns mundane daily driving into something enjoyable, which is also why smaller, cheaper performance cars can make a lot of sense as the sporty option in the garage.
Suzuki Swift Sport Fuel Consumption
Suzuki claimed fuel consumption of 6.1 L/100 km for the Swift Sport.
Over the course of a week with the automatic variant on test, we achieved 6.8 L/100 km.
The automatic tends to be slightly heavier, but the Swift Sport remained reasonably close to its claimed figure despite plenty of enthusiastic driving and frequent revving of the engine through each gear change.
For a small performance hatch, that’s a very respectable result.
Suzuki Swift Sport Interior and Features
The Swift Sport’s interior is focused more on driving than outright luxury, but that suits the character of the car.
The driver gets a height-adjustable seat, while the steering column adjusts for both rake and reach, making it relatively easy to find a comfortable driving position.
There’s also a digital driver display which is clear and easy to use, with several different screen options available.
Our favourite?
The Boost gauge and G-meter.
Because if you’re driving a Swift Sport, you might as well know exactly how much boost you’re using and how hard you’re throwing it into the corners.
Given its body styling, there’s sufficient headroom in both rows, while smaller adults should have enough legroom in the rear.
Larger passengers might find things less comfortable on longer journeys, but that’s hardly unusual for a small hot hatch.
The boot offers 242 litres of load capacity, increasing to 918 litres with the available space used with the rear seats folded.
Storage around the cabin is decent, although much of it is concentrated below the centre stack, which can make things awkward when the cup holders are being used.
Suzuki Swift Sport Exterior Styling
On looks alone, you can tell that the Swift Sport is something more special than a garden-variety Swift.
The muscular curves are accented by carbon-fibre-look trim, while the aggressive front bumper features a large grille and air dam. Side skirts and the rear bumper complete the more purposeful look.
The dual exhaust outlets on opposite sides of the rear are reminiscent of the previous-generation Swift Sport. Sadly, the Swift Sport isn’t quite as beefy sounding as it could have been.
The 17-inch diamond-cut alloy wheels and eye-catching Flame Red paint on our test car completed a distinctive exterior package. The styling remains undoubtedly youthful, which some may find a tad immature.
We say it helps capture the joy of youth.
Suzuki Swift Sport Price, Warranty and Service Plan
The Suzuki Swift Sport currently retails for R493,900 in South Africa.
When we originally tested the Swift Sport, it was priced considerably lower. However, the qualities that made the car appealing remain the same: low weight, turbocharged performance, sharp handling and relatively good fuel economy.
The Swift Sport is available with a six-speed manual transmission, with an automatic variant also available.
The vehicle tested was covered by a 3-year/100,000 km warranty and 4-year/60,000 km service plan.
Editor’s note: This is an updated version of our original 2020 road test. The driving impressions and test results are from the original test, while the retail price has been updated to reflect the current price of R493,900.
Is the Suzuki Swift Sport Still Worth Buying?
The Swift Sport takes on two of the heavyweights from the small hot-hatch segment: the Volkswagen Polo GTI and Ford Fiesta ST.
While it cannot match either when it comes to outright power or torque, it can more than keep up when it comes to fun factor and driver involvement — while saving a sizeable chunk of change.
The Swift Sport is the plucky underdog, just nipping at the heels of the front runners and keeping them honest.
And that’s what makes it so appealing.
It isn’t trying to be the fastest car in the segment.
Instead, it combines a lightweight body, turbocharged performance, excellent handling and surprisingly good fuel economy into one very entertaining package.
If you’re looking for something fun, practical and fuel-efficient, the Suzuki Swift Sport deserves a very serious look.
It can handle the city commute during the week and still leave you grinning when the weekend arrives.
Suzuki Swift Sport FAQ
How much power does the Suzuki Swift Sport have?
The Suzuki Swift Sport’s 1.4-litre BoosterJet turbocharged engine produces 103 kW.
How much torque does the Suzuki Swift Sport have?
The 1.4-litre turbocharged engine produces 230 Nm of torque.
What is the Suzuki Swift Sport fuel consumption?
The claimed fuel consumption is 6.1 L/100 km. During our test, the automatic Swift Sport achieved 6.8 L/100 km.
How much can the Suzuki Swift Sport carry?
The Swift Sport has a load capacity ranging from 242 to 918 litres, depending on the rear-seat configuration.
Is the Suzuki Swift Sport automatic?
Yes. The Swift Sport was available with a six-speed manual transmission, with an automatic variant also available.
Is the Suzuki Swift Sport a good hot hatch?
Absolutely. Its combination of low weight, turbocharged performance, direct steering, sharp handling and relatively good fuel economy makes it an entertaining alternative to larger and more powerful hot hatches.
