Should you buy one?

So much of car culture, marketing and buying is driven by the old adage of ‘selling the sizzle’. No-one is going to be gazing admiringly at the Suzuki Swace, swooning at the news that it’s really a Toyota Corolla. And when a similar monthly payment could get you an Evoque, or a Mercedes, it’s easy to get distracted.

But some cars don’t need ‘sizzle’. Credit for the Swace may go to Toyota, but Suzuki has put a lower price on the windscreen and it has an enviable dealer reputation with a great track record in customer service. The Suzuki Swace, particularly post-facelift, is a solid and endearing car with a hint of space-age feel, practical use of space, and genuinely impressive economy for the room on offer for both passengers and cargo.

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While prices do fluctuate, this polished, very well made, Japanese (but made in Britain, at Burnaston) family estate car is less than 20% more than the Dacia Jogger 140. While that seven-seater MPV is good – it’s not Suzuki (or Toyota) good. The Swace’s advanced driver assistance, impressive refinement and overall economy, plus lower emissions, feel like a completely different class of car if you’re looking for the most affordable hybrid estates.

The main weakness of the Swace when first launched, (a shorter warranty than the almost identical Toyota), has been addressed somewhat with the introduction of a similar ‘extended with every main dealer service’ warranty deal. Like Toyota it covers up to 100,000 miles, but unlike Toyota it can only be extended up to seven years.

Pre-owned/nearly new Swaces (2020-2022) are technically similar, but the grades are SZ5 or SZ-T, they have less power, and marginally lower emissions.

What we like

Impressive economy, good motorway refinement and surprisingly involving, enjoyable handling, and an overall air of quality in the design and build.

What we don’t like

The hybrid engine and CVT revs high and loud when working hard, and while it’s great when cruising or flowing across fast country roads, the handling’s promise is lost when the engine needs to work hard as well. Rear passenger doors are quite tight for a family car, and Suzuki’s finance packages aren’t as strong as rivals.

It may seem like a badge on a borrowed car, but for the pragmatic, the sensible and those who want real quality for their budget, the Suzuki Swace is very hard to beat.