Suzuki’s Swift Sport is back for 2018! It’s been a year since the Japanese firm dropped its hottest offering from its line-up, but at last it’s made a return.
The budget performance machine has carved a name for itself in bringing bags of fun to a small package, with a low price since its introduction to the UK in 2006. We’ve spent some time with the all-new machine, and there’s been quite a lot of change.
Let’s take a look at what’s new on the 2018 Suzuki Swift Sport…
Turbocharging is here!
Old Swift Sports became loved for their peppy and free-revving naturally-aspirated 1.6-litre engines, which brought tons of fun to the hatchback.
Sadly, with ever-stricter emissions regulations, they haven’t made the leap to the new model but what replaces them is no slouch. Under the bonnet of the latest Suzuki Swift Sport sits a 1.4-litre turbocharged motor from the larger Vitara S.
And so is more power
The result of this new engine? A little bump in power — up to 138bhp from 134bhp — and a huge increase in torque. It develops 230Nm between 2,500 to 3,500rpm, which is leaps and bounds more than the outgoing car’s 160Nm at 4,400rpm.
This means 0-60mph comes in 8.1 seconds while a top speed of 130mph is possible — all while achieving 47.1mpg and 125g/km of CO2 emissions.
Weight is down
A successful diet for the 2018 Suzuki Swift Sport means weight is down by 70kg compared with the last car — now tipping the scales at 975kg.
The result is a torque-to-weight ratio of 4.2kg/Nm, which is about the same as the all-new Volkswagen Polo GTI — a car that’s supposedly a class above the Swift. Not bad, eh?
Tons of fresh safety tech
Safety is more essential in the motoring world than it has ever been before, and that’s something Suzuki has recognised with the new Swift Sport.
The junior hot hatch now features adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning, high beam assist and automatic emergency braking. Even better? It’s all included at no extra cost.
Looks you can’t miss
So, opinions might differ on if the new Suzuki Swift Sport is a pretty car — but it can’t be argued that it’s far from a subdued look.
The core look of the standard Swift remains, but included here are huge vents up front, carbon-effect side skirts along the side with a matching rear diffuser — while Swift Sport-trademark dual exhausts feature too.
So, so yellow
New and exclusive for the 2018 Suzuki Swift Sport is a Champion Yellow paint finish — inspired by its junior rallying efforts.
It’s certainly eye-catching — and to us, the best pick of the bunch. If it’s a bit too much for you, no problem — there’s also the choice of Burning Red, Speedy Blue, Pure White, Mineral Grey and Super Black.
The 2018 Suzuki Swift Sport goes on sale this June, at a price of £17,999.
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