Correct us if we’re wrong, but one of the most loved hatchbacks in the market has to be the Suzuki Swift. Its hot hatch inspired styling gives it a very sporty yet elegant look. It has always been known for its endless modification options and there are some very uniquely modified Swifts driving around the city. The Swift has managed to win our hearts ever since the day we first saw it. It did get an update mid-way through its life but it was mostly just facelifts with some additional feature to keep up with the rapid advancements of automotive technology. But this time around, it went through a major overhaul and now we love it even more. We took the Swift ZXI out for a spin to find out if this much awaited and anticipated car lives up to the hype. We’ll take you through the changes and the improvements that have been made over the previous Swift. So, let’s not keep you waiting any longer and get on with the review, shall we?

EXTERIOR
Like we said earlier, we have been in love with the Swift’s design ever since we first saw it. But the newer Swift leveled up a few notches on the hotness scale with its new and improved styling. The headlights are shared with the Suzuki Dzire and it still looks very striking in the Swift. The LED headlight with the LED DRLs (Day time Running Lamps) is available only in the ZXI (O). The front grille has been reworked which gives it a bolder look. The hot hatch design element has been carried over and you can tell that Suzuki has taken design very seriously this time around.

The rear door handles have been moved from its usual place to the black area near the window which gives it a 3-door hot hatch like look and feel.

Unless you look at it carefully, without acknowledging this creative design, you will most probably mistake it for a 3-door car at the first glance. Either that or the person will be standing confused, searching for the door handle. Trust us, we’re not exaggerating, the door handles just blend in that well. The side profile of the car is sleek with gentle curves along the lines. The 15 inch alloys look very elegant and compliment the look of the car very well. Moving on to the rear, the taillight has been completely re-done. It is an LED unit enclosed within a boxy outer shape. The already attractive rear section of the previous gen Swift looks more attractive with the new upgrade.

INTERIOR
The interior has been kept as minimalistic as possible. There aren’t many things that will divert your attention away from the road ahead. The media player takes up most of the dash board space. It’s got two A/C vents situated just above the media player and the A/C control dials just below the display. However, it misses out on the 7 inch touchscreen infotainment system which is available in the ZXI (O) variant. The flat bottomed steering wheel adds to the sportiness of the vehicle. It carries over the steering mounted audio controls for added convenience. The top end model, the ZXI features passive keyless entry and push button start/stop function which sounds really cool. You can just leave your car keys in your pocket and drive off without having to bother reaching for it. The seats were well bolstered and provided good support to both the driver and the passenger. Also in comparison to the previous gen Swifts, the rear space has seen improvements, since, it offers more leg room and head room.

PERFORMANCE
The Swift definitely drives like how it looks. The tried and tested 1.2L VTVT petrol engine produces 81.8 Hp @ 6000 RPM and 113 Nm of torque @ 4200 RPM. The power figures are not close to any hot hatches but the 855 KG kerb weight of the car makes it feel really peppy. Thanks to that, the Swift has a good power to weight ratio. The torque comes in at the higher side of the rev band, which shows how much this engine loves to be revved and pushed to its limits. When you do that, that’s when you will see its true character. The flat bottom gives it a very sporty feel while driving and combined with the sharp handling ability of the car gave us more confidence to push it harder. However, we can’t say the same about the suspension because it is a little on the softer side.

The softer suspension ensures a more comfortable ride, but that slightly sacrifices the confidence while driving. It entirely depends upon how you use the car, if you are going to use it like an everyday commuter then it will do the job. Your commutes will go very smooth with the sharp handling, peppy yet fuel efficient engine and soft suspension comfortable. But if you are one to push cars to their limits then you might notice that the soft suspension won’t be the best choice. The Swift comes equipped with two disc brakes upfront and a drum unit at the rear, the brakes have a nice bite to them and stopping is not an issue. The addition of ABS (Antilock Braking System) and EBD (Electronic Brake force Distribution) make stopping much safer and easier.

VERDICT
The new Swift has set its priority right! That is to take the top spot in its segment and increase the fan base of the vehicle. The very sporty looking hatch is a very good choice for those looking into buying a mid-sized hatch. The only gripe that we have with this vehicle is the fact that the top end ZXI (O) variant is currently unavailable. The addition of LED headlights with LED DRLs, a 7 inch touchscreen infotainment system and more attractive allow wheels, would make the swift even more desirable. Current the Swift is only available in the VXI and the ZXI variant priced at NRS. 28,99,000/- and 31,99,000/- respectively. The swift ticks most of the boxes right and is positioned in such a spot that the people of all ages will be attracted to it. It is a very sporty looking vehicle but it is not so angular and sharply designed like most of the sporty hatches, so it is sporty with a dash of elegance to it.