Road test: Suzuki Swift Sport, auto vs manual in hot hatch farewell test

What is it:

The Suzuki Swift Sport is one of the last turbocharged hot hatches on sale in Australia and, frankly, a hidden gem and a much under-rated vehicle.

This is the end of the line for Suzuki’s iconic hot hatch amid the imminent switch to hybrid power with the new model that’s just around the corner.

Although Suzuki will continue to build this model alongside the new hybrid model for the foreseeable future, there is unlikely to be a successor to the turbocharged hot hatch Swift Sport model.

That makes this model a future collector’s item in the eyes of some enthusiasts.

As the saying goes, you never know what you’ve got until it’s gone.

One of my first cars was a Suzuki Swift GTI (I owned three of them) and I have had several other hot hatches over the years.

I’ve also owned a string of Ford Fiesta ST models: two of the turbo 1.6-litre four cylinder versions (134kW/240Nm) and currently have one of the last turbo 1.5-litre three cylinder versions (147kW/320Nm) tucked away.

We got reacquainted with the Swift Sport in automatic and manual guise to find out which is best out of the two.

The result might surprise you.

Price:

The Suzuki Swift Sport is currently priced from $32,990 drive-away for a manual and $34,990 drive-away for an automatic.

Premium paint colours add $645.

Engine:

The turbocharged 1.4-litre four-cylinder engine has a modest output versus other hot hatches (103kW/230Nm).

However, in such a light and compact body, it’s perky – and punches well above its weight.

The Suzuki Swift Sport weighs just shy of 1000kg (970kg manual, 990kg auto) versus its classmates the Ford Fiesta ST (1218kg) and Hyundai i20 N (1210kg to 1235kg).

Transmission:

A six-speed manual or a six-speed auto are available. Interestingly, Suzuki quotes the same fuel consumption average for both transmissions (6.1L/100km) and our road test reflects that.

In fact we got better than the label on our 130km test loop, which is a mix of suburban, inter-urban and freeway driving.

We got 5.6L/100km to 5.7L/100km out of this pair in our testing.

The option of an automatic transmission is significant, as it was not available in the Ford Fiesta ST and is not available in the Hyundai i20 N.

0 to 100km/h (as tested):

Enthusiasts might prefer the manual, however the stopwatch makes for uncomfortable reading.

We got repeatable 0 to 100km/h acceleration times of 7.7 seconds in the six-speed manual (launching at 4000rpm and shifting into third at 88kmh as second gear runs out of legs).

And a time of 7.2 seconds for the smooth-shifting auto (loading the brake pedal up to 2500rpm), using our precision VBox timing equipment after an average of four runs each.

These times are slower than we have previously recorded for the manual-only 2022 Ford Fiesta ST (6.9 seconds) and the manual-only Hyundai i20 N (6.7 seconds). It’s worth noting both of these cars also needed a shift into third gear to eclipse 100km/h.

Emergency braking from 100km/h (as tested):

The Suzuki Swift Sport pulls up exceptionally well (37.3m), in part because of the quality Continental ContiSportContact 195/45/17 tyres, and also due to the feather-light weight (970kg manual, 990kg auto).

Good points:

The Suzuki Swift Sport is a hoot behind the wheel, whether it’s auto or manual.

It feels like you’re doing warp speed even at 60km/h.

The suspension is more comfortable than the Ford Fiesta ST and Hyundai i20 N, and yet its road-holding is astounding.

It has so much grip for such a small and light car. Suzuki’s chassis engineers last put a spanner on the Swift Sport just prior to its launch six years ago, and haven’t touched it since.

That’s because they absolutely nailed the suspension set-up the first time around, when this generation launched in 2018. It is the perfect blend of comfort and handling for a city hot hatch.

It soaks up bumps and thumps with ease as it wriggles its way over irregularities in the road, and feels more stable than such a small car ought to.

I love manual transmission cars (the red example in these photos) but I’m honestly torn between this and the auto (the white example in these photos).

I also love the perkiness and instant response from the auto, and it’s easier to live with in the daily grind.

Frankly, you can’t lose no matter which transmission you choose.

Both are fun to drive and both are frugal on fuel (when you’re taking it easy, that is).

Bad points:

The sports seats are a bit too snug for larger bodies.

No speed sign recognition technology or tyre pressure monitors.

Tyre inflator kit, even though there is a recess for a space saver spare.

So you’re calling a tow truck if you get a flat.

What the haters say:

There’s a Suzuki hot hatch?

What the haters don’t understand:

Suzuki was one of the pioneers of the hot hatch segment among Japanese manufacturers, and it has plenty of street cred in the pint-sized performance-car space.

Should you buy one?

This is a no brainer. If you’re a hot hatch fan on a budget, the answer is yes.

If you’re looking for an excuse to buy a Suzuki Swift Sport (or a pint-sized petrol hot hatch) then time is running out.

Suzuki hasn’t announced when this model goes out of production, but a new generation Suzuki Swift (with hybrid power) is just around the corner.

We’re guessing the Suzuki Swift Sport will go out of production later this year or some time next year.

The Ford Fiesta ST and Renault Clio RS have already gone into the car park in the sky, and the Hyundai i20 N is unlikely to have a turbo petrol successor.

The Suzuki Swift Sport is one of the last of its breed.

Also consider:

A Hyundai i20 N or a secondhand Ford Fiesta ST.