It’s 2025. Your bread-and-butter cars are no longer just simple, honest-to-God machines. They are increasingly being laden with technology and screens, and are a far cry from the ‘entry-level’ machinery of old.

Then there’s the Suzuki Swift, a beacon of hope amidst this wave of flashy screens, and of forced induction. A machine that harks back to simpler times.

One in which cars were mechanical, cheap to run and free from a spec sheet laden with marketing gimmicks, and a formula that has served Suzuki well for many years.

With the Swift, you are getting a known product that has is excellent overall value, is practical and efficient-to-run, and yet surprisingly fun-to-drive, despite only have 88 bhp. It truly channels an almost old-school vibe, seemingly unsullied by electronic nannies or gubbins that’d take away from what we like about driving in the first place.

There’s More Than Meets the Eye

Now in its fourth generation, this latest Swift isn’t actually an all-new car. Rather, Suzuki, like many automakers in recent years, heavily reworked the previous generation vehicle to construct their newest offering. It is still underpinned by the same Heartect platform as the outgoing third generation car, though refreshed with a design that Suzuki claims is 4.6% more aerodynamic.

Some of these visual changes include revisions to its front strakes, smoother overall surfacing and alloy wheels that are far more sculpted than what has been fitted on the outgoing Swifts. The shoulder line now also flows neatly into the bonnet, with the new car’s swage line now fusing nicely with the top surface of the headlights.

This helps creates additional depth to its fascia, with ultra minimalistic (and smooth) surfaces tying all of the lines up-front cohesively. There are some visual links to the previous car (it shares a very similar grille shape), though Suzuki designers have added some Euro-esque touches for additional refinement.

With all the extra sculpting to its side profile, it definitely looks more modern than its predecessor, and the move away from the hidden handles of the old car should also make it easier to live with. Round the back, the spirit of the A2L lives on, albeit stripped down, then refined to appeal to a younger target audience. It is a handsome little car, and one that definitely looks more grown-up than the car it replaces.

The Multi-Layered Theme Continues Inside

The same ethos used to create the front fascia has also been used in the cabin of the Swift. The new dashboard has several planes, with the top surface and central infotainment screen existing on different levels. The aircon vent trim panels on both sides of the vehicle serve to not only add some additional colour and textural contrast, but are very sculpted to tie the dashboard together.

There is no shortage of storage cubbies in the car, and you’d be able to find room to put all of your belongings with little issue. However, I find the design a little too cluttered, and whilst the shut lines are consistent throughout, the cabin is made out of mostly hard scratchy plastics.

Having said that, the seats are actually very comfortable, and the elbow rest on the door cards have also been trimmed in a soft-touch material, similar to that used on the seats. Cabin space is also surprisingly decent for a car this compact, no doubt boosted by the fact that it doesn’t have a sloping roofline.

Even rear-seat occupants will not struggle for knee or leg room, and you’d probably be fine back there on longer journeys. With 265 litres of cargo capacity, the Swift isn’t the most ideal vehicle for carrying large amounts of stuff, but it’d most definitely do for its intended buyer on a day-to-day basis.

On-Road Goodness

There’s a charm to the way the Swift conducts itself. With just 82 bhp on tap, you’d not be breaking any speed limits in a hurry, so you can drive it spiritedly with high RPMs without ever worrying about demerit points. The only thing dampening the experience is its CVT- the drone takes away from the fun, and it’d be better off with either a torque converter auto or a manual gearbox.

Still, it isn’t all about straight-line speed in a compact economy hatch. With a sub-ton kerb weight, the Swift feels properly agile on its feet. It has also always had a MINI-esque approach to vehicular packaging, with each wheel pushed into its respective far corner in a bid to maximise cabin space.

This has the added benefit of agility, with front-end grip levels and road sensations transmitted to you via the steering wheel with surprisingly little (and non-intrusive) filtering. The power steering doesn’t sap away a lot of sensation, but it also doesn’t add a bunch of artificial weight as well.

There’s a pleasing analogue-ness when you find yourself perched behind the wheel, and you are also further treated to, as a result of its lack of mass and power, excellent fuel economy. On my three-day test drive, I averaged 18.1 km/l, not far off Suzuki’s homologated 20.4 km/l.

A Flashback to the Good Old Days

The fourth generation Swift is built for car buyers seeking excellent value. It does everything that a daily driven hatchback needs to do very well – be practical and efficient. Its physical characteristics also mean it can be surprisingly engaging to drive, all whilst being very cheap to run.

It is the ideal first brand new car for car buyers, and also happens to be one the most affordable, and certainly the most affordable combustion vehicle, new cars on sale in Singapore today. If it weren’t for the current COE climate, there’s no doubt that this will be a sub-S$100,000 car!

You May Be Interested In: 2021 Suzuki Every Turbo 660 Review