Overview

The Suzuki Swift has slowly and steadily earned itself a reputation as a value-for-money low-cost car that’s good fun to drive. Fortunately for Suzuki, this version introduced in 2010 continuesd with those traits while adding a little bit of extra quality, making it one of the best used cars for less than £5,000.

It may not look much different on the outside – it’s a little bigger than the previous model and has different front and rear lights – but then why would you bother messing with a winning formula?

A new petrol engine with lower emissions and improved fuel economy means running costs have dropped even further. Even better are the changes made to the body and steering.

The body is stiffer giving it better agility on the road – as well as making it safer – and the sharp steering has been tweaked to make it even better. These improvements along with some upgraded materials inside make the Swift one of the best small hatchbacks around.

The Suzuki Swift is every bit as good to drive as it is to look at thanks to a chassis and suspension that give the car just the right balance between comfort and control. It handles with the same zest as a Ford Fiesta, though the Swift’s steering doesn’t have the same level of feel or communication as the Ford’s.

A firm ride might not suit all tastes, but it’s sufficiently compliant around town to be just the right side of comfortable. The 1.2-litre petrol engine needs to be worked hard but is willing, while the 1.3 diesel has bags of low-end punch. Go for the 1.6-litre Sport and you enjoy all the fun of an affordable, highly able hot hatch.

Boot space, or the lack of it, is the only real black mark against the Swift when compared to its rivals in the supermini class. The boot offers a tight 211-litres of space, which is not great when compared to a Honda Jazz’s 399-litres. It’s further hampered by a high load sill and a drop from the sill to the load floor, which makes lifting in heavy cases and shopping bags more of a chore than it should be.

Still, the rear seats split and fold to augment boot space and there are plenty of other storage cubbies throughout the Swift. Read our full Suzuki Swift review to find out more.