Hybrid Suzuki Swace estate on sale for £27,499

• On sale now for starting price of £27,499
• Uses 1.8-litre petrol-electric hybrid engine
• Second model launched as part of the Toyota-Suzuki partnership

The new Suzuki Swace estate is now on sale with a starting price of £27,499. It’s a hybrid estate based on the Toyota Corolla Touring Sports. It’s the second model to come from a partnership between the two Japanese companies, after the Toyota RAV4-based Suzuki Across.

In terms of the styling, the Toyota influence is clear. Like the Across, most of the styling is shared with the Toyota equivalent. The Swace gets a new front bumper with a wide grille - like the Suzuki Swift - with sharply defined air intakes either side, plus changed badges. Seven colours are available.

The interior is shared between the two cars too. The entry-level Swace SZ-T gets a seven-inch infotainment touchscreen with DAB radio and Bluetooth, plus Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, as standard. Heated front seats and steering wheel are also included, along with a pair of USB ports and ambient interior lighting. Safety features include a rear parking camera and radar cruise control.

Higher spec SZ5 models start from £29,995, and get an array of upgraded safety technology including smart door locking, park assist, front and rear parking sensors, blind spot assist, and rear cross traffic alert. Wireless smartphone charging is also included.

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Suzuki says the Swace offers an impressive 596 litres of boot space, which is the same as the Corolla, and if you fold down the rear seats, a vast 1,606 litres of load space is available.

The Swace is only offered with a 1.8-litre hybrid powertrain, shared with the Corolla and other models like the Toyota Prius, which produces 120bhp. Suzuki has confirmed that CO2 emissions will start from just 99g/km, which will mean a company-car tax band of 22% for 2020/21. Claimed fuel economy is up to 64.2mpg, which is similar to the Corolla estate with the same engine, while 0-62mph takes 11.1 seconds.

The car will come with three driving modes - Eco, Normal and Sport - plus a range of safety kit including auto parking assistance, collision avoidance, blind spot monitoring and lane-keeping assist.

Read our Suzuki reviews or see where the Corolla Touring Sports places on our list of the best company cars.