2021 Suzuki Swift Sport Hybrid Review – CarBuyer.com.sg

Page 1: Introduction
Page 2: Interior and Design
Page 3: Driving Experience
Page 4: Conclusion and comparing the old and new Swift Sport

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Driving Experience

A car with three pedals in the footwell is a rarity these days, but the Swift Sport is so easy to drive that you’ll very quickly ease into the experience. 

The car weighs just 1,020kg, which is a featherweight by any standard. The hybrid system’s electric start-generator motor doesn’t add any additional power over the 1.4-litre turbo engine’s 127 horsepower, but is designed as a booster during acceleration for a punchier drive without requiring a larger internal combustion engine. In simple terms, the car accelerates with the aid of two power boosters: the turbocharger and the electric motor.

The total power output isn’t large by 2021 standards, and the 0 to 100km/h launch time of 9.1 seconds sounds pretty pedestrian, but that’s only in theory. In use, it’s a very lively car that pulls strongly from 1,500rpm all the way to its peak power output at 5,500rpm. The engine redlines at 6,200rpm but there’s very little puff left above 5,500rpm.

It really feels faster than what the specifications suggest. After a couple of hard launches from a standing start, we’re of the opinion that its low weight, short wheelbase, and front-wheel drive configuration simply doesn’t allow as much mechanical traction from a standard start as a rear-wheel driven car rather than actually being underpowered.

It’s zippy and darty once it gets going, and while it’s fun to manually row through the gears and operate the lightweight clutch pedal, the engine’s wide powerband and electric hybrid drive is also on display in how the car seems to accelerate seamlessly anywhere in the engine’s operating range.

Sixth gear is usable from around 75km/h, and amazingly the car is fitted with adaptive radar cruise control as standard. It tracks the car ahead and follows at a driver preset distance, but turns off automatically once you depress the clutch to down or upshift.

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The car has hill hold assist, so the brakes engage automatically on a ramp or slope until the clutch engages. You’ll never have to worry about rolling backwards at the carpark ramp.

Sticky Continental ContiSportContact tyres give the little car plenty of grip through corners, and while there’s no electronic torque vectoring or limited-slip differential fitted, you get a sense that it’s not really needed here as there’s just enough power available to be a fun drive without being overly powerful. It turns on a dime, darts out of curves with immediacy, and has great medium speed acceleration for highway overtaking.

The bottom line is, the Suzuki Swift Sport is not really a genuinely fast hot hatch, but has handling prowess that is hard to beat. 

Page 4: Conclusion, Competition, and the original Swift Sport

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