Suzuki Swift Sport hatchback (2011-2017) | owner reviews: MPG, Problems & Reliability

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Pros: Lots of equipment. Great fun to drive. Cheap. Cons: Electrical faults. Driver window and infotainment unit stopped working, fixed under warranty. No where near stated MPG. Wheels are easily Kerbed.

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Yes Green thumbs up

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This will be one of the last of this model, a new one comes out in 2017 I think. Basically it's brilliant, has loads of mod cons, drives spot on not harsh at all yet zips around bends. The radio/nav/phone/USB/MP3/DAB is a delite to use simple functional and works. Which is how I'd describe the car. It really is great, knowing a little about mechanics I wanted something that would give me no problems so I was searching for something Japanese and petrol. Being a simple petrol engine without even a turbo, which is on almost everything now. You just know it's going to go on forever with no problems. To drive it's great even on motorways, sat at 70 ish with cruise on is a breeze, and when you want to hustle it down a B road it's spot on and can make ground much faster then it's stats would have you believe.

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Yes Green thumbs up

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Now that I've driven this little car for 4000 miles, I can give you some well formed opinions of it, so here goes... Comfort - excellent. Nicely sculpted front seats which are figure hugging, keeping you in place comfortably no matter how long the journey. I'm 6'2 and have no problems with head or leg room (passengers behind me need to be quite compact though!) Nice grippy steering wheel. Ride quality - although this car's springs and dampers are quite firm, it rides quite smoothly. On bumpy, uneven road surfaces it may jostle you but it won't jolt you. Performance - don't expect this car to give you a shove in the back just by pressing the accelerator - you've got to work the gearbox to get the engine on song. While it's quite content to plod along at 2-3000 rpm, it doesn't really come into it's zone until you take it over 4500 rpm. Once past this spot, it surges forward, and a pleasing growl can be heard from the exhaust. Great fun! Handling - WOW! This car is brilliant on the twisties. The steering's very accurate and precise, making it easy to select your line into corners or to make small adjustments. This little car tracks round corners with amazing accuracy, and if you keep the revs up, it's capable of cornering at insane speeds (Obviously I don't recommend this). Summary - Been totally reliable. Economical (50+ mpg if you take it easy) A much rarer sight than a Mini, and probably more standard kit than any sporty car in this price bracket. Dashboard/switchgear obviously not the same quality as Audi but I bet your average SSS driver is more likely to be grinning ear to ear than an Audi A1 owner!

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Yes Green thumbs up

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Overall very good car. Quite quick, nice VVT engine and nippy. Good on petrol. small boot but I knew that. Recent rattle in boot hatch to be investigated but apart from that my ONLY major complaint is how flimsy the rear bumper is. Interior plastics ok but could be better. Very happy !

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Yes Green thumbs up

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Very reliable, very quick, fully loaded. How they do it for the price amazes me. As say a Mini you pay a lot more money to "spec" it up, where as Swift Sport is fully loaded and very comfy and so so safe. Would buy one again without a doubt.

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Yes Green thumbs up

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Possibly the best deal for a hot hatch under £15,000. Owned it for a few months, and happy with everything it is giving to me. Gearbox could be a bit notchy when it is cold. Ave MPG at 43.5 now and expect better figure in the summer. Lack mirrors with indicators like its indentical twins in the oriental markets, but they do not have the 3-door version over there.

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

Yes Green thumbs up

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

No Red thumbs down

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

Yes Green thumbs up

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

Yes Green thumbs up

Tell us what you think about your car?

Have owned the car for less than a month although did have the previous sport model some 10 years ago. It is noticeable that the current model is quieter and more refined albeit there is still some road and wind noise especially from under the wheelarches when the roads are wet. Funnily enough the gearchange is a little bit clonky and not as good as on the previous model. What does remain however is the very good handling and performance for a non turbo engine. The value for money with this car is exceptional when you look at the price although i would have expected rear parking sensors to be fitted as standard. Similarly the build quality is ok again considering the list price. However how the car stands up to say 10 years use remains to be seen. The door hinges are creaking somewhat already.

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Yes Green thumbs up

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In the years that I have owned this car, apart from tyres etc, I have spent £29 on this car. It has never failed to start first time. It can be a little noisy, I have no problem with that, it isn't obtrusive. Yes the boot is small, I don't need a larger boot. It is very nippy when necessary. It may not have the panache of the Mini - which I also tried. But it does have Japanese reliability and a better sound system than the Mini.

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Yes Green thumbs up

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Well, I have had this car for over a week now, and I can say that It is a fast and fun little car! No problems, everything is very good and confortable, the new infotainment screen on the 2014 model is great too, as I said, I have had it for over a week and I am already in Love with it.

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

Yes Green thumbs up

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Great car, sports ride, quality built, loaded with sensible equipment, priced right.

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

No Red thumbs down

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

Yes Green thumbs up

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

Yes Green thumbs up

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

Yes Green thumbs up

Tell us what you think about your car?

Excellent handling. Excellent reliability, Relatively light on fuel. Value for money. Perky

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

Yes Green thumbs up

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I have owned my Swift Sport for 2 years in September 2016 and it is the best car I have had, I am 54 years old so not a boy racer, but it is quick enough for me, much faster than the official figures, fuel economy is okay it depends on how you drive, it loves to be revved and encourages you to go but is equally happy just pootling along, build quality is good, never let me down super reliable, would definitely buy another without doubt, 5 stars from me.

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Yes Green thumbs up

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We got the 5-door Swift Sport to replace a 3-year-old Citroen C1 which has a great revvy little engine, for more of the same straightforward whizz. It has not disappointed and the grip and handling have been a revelation. It actually feels a great deal safer and I found that the cost of insurance was the same. The seats are just as comfortable, the steering wheel also has reach adjustment, and the seat can also be raised or lowered so the driving position can be even better. I don't agree with criticisms of the interior which to me just seems restrained, with good steering wheel buttons and cruise control, everything being in exactly the right place. The package includes a very responsive touch screen, excellent Garmin sat-nav and everything is neat and brilliantly integrated. I also read somewhere that the gearchange had been considered 'almost baulky'. The six gears do have a well defined gate, with bias towards third and fourth, but I found that when this is respected the changes are a 'mechanically enjoyable' snick-snick. It averages 45mpg, can pootle very quietly at 2k revs, or cruise comfortably and quietly at 70mph and 3k revs, but it really comes alive and louder between 4k and 5k when conditions allow better progress. The cabin feels very stiff and stays flat in corners while the suspension soaks up the bumps. Transmission is very smooth and vibration minimal - superb all round!

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

Yes Green thumbs up

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This is my first Suzuki car, it's not too bad as a car just if your thinking of buying one beware. No after sales support dealers and the importer Suzuki Cars GB do not care. If your vehicle has a warranty issue they are reluctant to help or support you in any way. Attitude of this brand is 'well you got a cheap car what do you expect' this brand is a Japanese version of Citroën. I don't recommend you waste your money (like I have) buy something else with your money!!

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

No Red thumbs down

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I've owned the Swift sport for just short of a year now and i'm still in love with it. Ok, so it doesn't have the "hot hatch" power of the Fiesta ST, or Clio Sport for example - but it's nippy none-the-less and corners like it's on rails. I had a 2007 1.3 Yaris prior to purchasing the Swift Sport, and not only does it cost me the same in road tax, the same in insurance, i'm actually getting better MPG out of a car with 136bhp that loves to be revved. In the summer when I used the climate control now and again, I average'd 51mpg and throughout the winter with climate control on constantly, I'm now averaging 48mpg. Don't expect those numbers if you commute on a motorway however. My Swift Sport has just come through it's first service at 9,500 miles with no issues except for the door hinge needing some more grease, and it still runs like it's brand new. The car is very well spec'd for the price, and I'd highly recommend it to anyone looking for a compact car with a feisty nature. My only gripes are the lack of a notify light on the dashboard for when the headlights are on, and an auto-up function for the windows, but I believe the latter has been addressed in the latest NAV version.

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

Yes Green thumbs up

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Just bought this hot car. Previously owned a Suzuki with zero problems in 4 years. Compared VW, A!, Peugeot, and others. No comaprison with price, equipment, ride quality, and just plain fun. For the few others who own one - you now have a future classic.

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

Yes Green thumbs up

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Been a fantastic car, had no problems with it at all during the 60k miles it has now covered. The handling is very go-kart like, it will change direction with ease, no body roll and good feedback through the steering wheel. Economy has been great averages 40mpg during winter and just under 42mpg during summer. Build quality is high, no component failure and no interior rattles at all, servicing costs low, very impressed which I cannot say the same of a Mazda RX-8 I had from new, which was awful. I am now going to trade this car in for the new model I have been so impressed.

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

Yes Green thumbs up

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

Yes Green thumbs up

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

Yes Green thumbs up

Tell us what you think about your car?

Clunky gear change. Flat battery problems. Several rattles.

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

No Red thumbs down

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Leading up to purchasing my Swift Sport 5 door, I went through the traditional process of drooling over the various online reviews of the Japanese pocket rocket - punching the air with every positive comment about its handling, its practicality or its excellent equipment. But deep down, I harboured a slight niggling fear - hoping that the plethora of publications (including Carbuyer) weren't over-selling the cute little 'Uki which I was waiting on. But as soon as I planted my sweaty little palms on its steering wheel and took it out for its first spin - I knew they hadn't. Believe the hype - this is one of the most underrated hot hatchbacks on the market. It has its issues, no question. The boot (while adequate for a pleb like me) is only really big enough for a small weekly shop. The fifth centre seat in the five-door car is strictly for small children. And the speedometer in KP/H markets (i.e. mine) boggles the mind, with the nonsensical layout dictating that the marked speeds are displayed in increments of 30. Perhaps the biggest problem with the Swift Sport is its image. If the car is for a young family, then by all means go for it. But as a younger gent with multiple young gents for friends from the car scene, the comments came thick and fast almost instantaneously - many questioning my sexuality from the comfort of their V8s and Fast and Furious specification buzz-boxes. It's also a slug. Don't expect to be winning many drag races in one of these. Its fuel consumption is also a little average next to some of its rivals. But the poor consumption comes with a slight caveat. When you're in this car, 90% of the time you will want to be thrashing it - shooting down the suggested 44mpg figures as a result. It is a terrier, and you're the unsuspecting child who's walked into gran's sitting room with a tennis ball in your hand. It always, always wants to play. And who are you to say no when you feel how it drives. For something so visually slabby, it corners incredibly flat. Thanks to its exceptional base chassis, it's also great at giving you the feedback you need to push it through the bends. And with its superb brakes and its equally superb tyres - you'll have the confidence to do this every time there's empty asphalt filling your windscreen. And while the 1.6 naturally aspirated engine wont be winning any drag races, it's still peppy enough to produce a smile. What isn't illustrated in its specs on paper is how punchy the little guy is, with the Swift more than capable of gobbling up cars on the average motorway - making a cute little growl from its twin exhaust pipes along the way. And really that's the take-home message of the Swift Sport. If you're more interested in driver satisfaction and having a laugh than you are in sex appeal and posing, this should be a genuine consideration next to the all-conquering Ford Fiesta ST. PS: A turbo in the next one would be nice, Mr. Suzuki.

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

Yes Green thumbs up