Is It A GENUINE Hot Hatch? Suzuki Swift Sport 2018 Review

Suzuki has been banging its drum very hard over the new Swift Sport. So much so, that the Japanese brand has stated that the third generation model is a 'GENUINE' hot hatch. Is it though? I drove it recently to find out.
The big change from the old is the engine. Long gone is the naturally aspirated 1.6 petrol engine; in its place is the same 1.4 litre turbocharged Boosterjet engine used in the Vitara S. It's only gained 4 extra bhp (138), but with an increase of 230Nm of torque, it's got 70 more than before.
0-62 is far from dazzling though as it's 8.1 seconds and the top speed is 130mph. This doesn't seem very fast on paper, but hopefully the driving sensation will make up for it...
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Music Credit:
Third Eyes - Text Me Records/Bobby Renz
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[@dgbservices6049]

In my opinion, the swift is probably the closest you can get to an old-school feeling hot hatch. I mean 970 kilograms is unheard of these days! Good review.

[@CarObsession]

Thanks Damien, glad you liked the video, thanks for watching.

[@darthjb25]

I just bought this car ! Perfect in any way !! About this movement in central console does not exist !! Maybe is this particular car man check it out !! I was so surprised when I saw it in your review and I immediately checked mine but mine is rock solid !

[@ronshephard9429]

Not the dashboard scratch test again. Why does every reviewer go on about something you only ever touch when wiping it clean.

[@CarObsession]

Hi Ron, thanks for watching. I think I may have answered this before - it's a good way to denote quality. Those kind of plastics, just feel cheap and nasty.

[@ronshephard9429]

Yes, you did and as I repeated before, very few people touch the plastics on a dashboard and I'm pretty sure that there are lots of cars with soft touch dashboards that are crap to drive.

[@CarObsession]

Well, I wouldn't say 'lots' but I get your point. However, like I say, it's a mark of quality. It shows that quality materials are being used, whereas in this case, they are quite low rent materials. This is perfectly fine in a cheap car, but this car isn't as cheap as it used to be. Plus, that movement in the centre console is disappointing, you have to agree with me on that one, surely? It's not even as if it requires a lot of force either.

[@ronshephard9429]

Yes, I totally agree and it's one of the reasons I am going for the Seat FR Sport next month. My original choice was the Suzuki Swift Sport but you have helped me change my mimd, thanks. Oh! and I believe that the Seat has a scratchy dashboard too, albeit with slightly better quality. Keep up the reviews, they are excellent and informative.

[@CarObsession]

Thank you for the feedback Ron 😀 I'm glad you have enjoyed my videos, and that they have been of help.

[@inter7373]

Its ALOT quicker than the stats say

[@gt4our]

Why so expensive in the UK? Cost me $28500 New Zealand dollars which works out 14500 Pounds. Also feels way faster than the official figures say.

[@brianjacobs8839]

I owned German and Italian hatchbacks that made more power than my current ZC32s Swift Sport. Non of them was as fun to drive as the SSS especially around the mountain twisties in my part of the world. I also value the great reliability that my Swift Sport provides. Great review. IMHO the Championship Yellow is the best colour 😉

[@arielatomhc]

I just bought a 2019 model. First impressions are easy and comfortable to drive which might explain the quite exhaust. Slow as a drag car but fast on twisty roads. Lots of electronics and displays to learn how to use.

[@williamsmith-ob6kv]

Ur reviews are great. Full of facts and real world driving experiences. Defo subbed. By the way. That is the least 'hot hatch' car ever seen. Even the word suzuki doesn't muster up the feeling of amazing cars.

[@CarObsession]

Hi William, thank you so much for the great feedback? Also, thanks for watching and thanks for subbing

[@CarObsession]

Hello everyone, thanks for watching my review of the Suzuki Swift Sport. For some reason, there is a little 'blip' at 1:51. Not sure what's caused this as it wasn't present when I edited it, so it appears to be a small technical glitch. So in case you're wondering, I do know it's there, but I'm unable to fix it, not unless I re-upload the video, although that may not fix it. Other than that little hiccup, I hope you enjoy the video!

[@bishy33]

Very balanced review, I'm currently looking at getting one, test driven the new ST which I wasn't totally sold on tbo, even with an approx 10% discount on an ST3 with a few extras like LED lights, met paint the performance pack etc etc was nearly 23k. I have been offered a new Swift sport for around £16100 and at that price it makes a lot of sense. I'm hoping to test drive one next week so see how it goes. A bit of digging around the net it seams that the swift punches a bit higher than quoted by Suzuki, 0-60 in the low 7's and i've seen dyno's of it hitting over 160bhp which in a small light car is ample i'd say?

[@user-wl7nb3np6i]

Swift sport is a beautiful looking car especially in the speedy blue as seen in your review . I myself own a swift attitude it's 5years old it hasn't got the performance or running costs as the sport but it's the closest car to it and it's far more cheaper to run in today's money's

[@WTRGK]

Good review man! This car has soooo much aftermarket potential which makes it well worth the money in my eyes. Many easy fixes. Better exhaust note? Fit a new system, high flow cat and headers. Sporty feel? Lowering springs. Depends on what's on the market and how the car feels stock, but stiffer antiroll bars could be an idea. Oh, and also - the fact that they're slapping turbos on these from factory now! So much tuning potential! Run more boost and you'd be gapping cars that have heaps more grunt, especially in a 950~kg unit. I might put the Swift on my wishlist for Santa! Such an underrated little beast. Keep up the good videos 👍

[@CarObsession]

I can see where you're coming from, but by the time you've spent the money modding iyt, you probably could have bought a standard Fiesta ST and got change, and I know what I'd rather do. Also, the new version of the Swift Sport costs over £21,500! Thanks for watching.

[@jamiep61]

Great Video Review. I like the New Suzuki Swift but I agree the Interior should feature some soft touch materials

[@CarObsession]

Hi Jamie, thanks for watching, and thanks for commenting.

[@oddities-whatnot]

Best car reviewer on KZbin. Just watched a review of the same car on AutoTopNL, and it was the most negative video ive seen in ages. You Sir, would make a good car salesman.

[@CarObsession]

You must have the wrong person ;) Joking aside, I really appreciate that feedback, that's high praise indeed! Thanks for watching Ernie.

[@loveitorscrapit6673]

Great little car. Thumbs up.

[@piprobinson6575]

I take your point buddy, but my center console is rock steady.

[@lifeisastruggle5517]

if it came with automatic gearbox and steering wheel paddle shifters that would be really nice

[@mohammedbouhend7084]

Compare to the previous model, suzuki raised the bar in the one but still is a bit far from being called a genuine hot hatch in my opinion. Thanx for the great review ;-)

[@CarObsession]

Hello Mohammed, thanks for commenting, and of course, thanks for watching.

[@mikk9149]

What would u choose to buy? The Swift sport 2018 or a fiesta st line 140hp 2018?

[@CarObsession]

Hmm very tough call... The Swift Sport comes with more kit and I think it's a bit better long, but I'd say the ST Line was a bit more fun. You can't go wrong with either, though. Thanks for watching.

[@oddities-whatnot]

ST more expensive, and yes more power, but...this is a traditional four cylinder with turbo, and for me thats more favourable.

[@neilndebs]

I think the old one was much better looking!

[@Hustwick]

Reviews a cheap car ... "The quality in here isn't fantastic" ... [sigh] ...

[@CarObsession]

Is it cheap, though, Rick? At the time of filming it was £18,000 (it's actually £18,499 now, if you exclude the £1,000 customer saving), and the interior isn't as nice as the Ford Fiesta ST-Line or the SEAT Ibiza FR. Thanks for watching Rick 👍

[@stevedaniels2010]

How often do you touch the top of the dash? And is soft touch a mark of quality , I have a 28 year old vw polo with hard touch plastics everywhere and is still in great shape. It's 18k with some great features , good example of a motoring journalists being to picky.

[@CarObsession]

Hi Steve, thanks for watching. I can see where you're coming from but I just think it could do with a nicer dash. Yes, you could argue it's picky, but I'd argue it's better to be picky than not picky enough. I hope you enjoyed the rest of the review 👍🏽

[@TRPGpilot]

@@CarObsession You missed the point in all your responses to the dash. Nobody that knows anything about cars is concerned about the touch of the dashboard. Its not a tactile part like the door handle or the steering wheel. This video is 5 years old and still, now in 2024, car reviewers are still banging on about the SSS hybrid not having 'soft touch plastics' on the . . . dash board . . .

[@CarObsession]

@@TRPGpilot Point taken, thanks for your comment.

[@TRPGpilot]

@@CarObsessionIt was a great review all things considered. I'm in the market for one and am no stranger to Suzuki, hence me watching. Thanks much, Have a great day.

[@CarObsession]

@@TRPGpilot Thank you 😊

[@stevenhearnden6103]

Still think the old one fitted the brief better ie - technically a warm hatch.

[@CarObsession]

I also think the old one has got more character to it as well, although this is the better car. Thanks for watching Steven.

[@hez84UK]

This or a mini cooper 1.5? Around the same age?

[@CarObsession]

Easy, the Swift Sport, better value, cheaper to maintain and more reliable. I work in a German Car Specialist repair garage and we always have Minis in... We had at least four in last week for investigation/repair work. Thanks for watching 👍🏽.

[@hez84UK]

@@CarObsession wow thanks for the reply... And I had my heart set on a mini haha

[@richardbryant3169]

No it's not a hot hatch compared to golf gti, but nether the less I bet its fun to drive and not going to break the bank.

[@CarObsession]

I can see where you're coming from, but to be fair, you wouldn't compare this to Golf GTI. A Polo GTI would be a better comparison. Thanks for watching Richard.

[@KGDHMF]

Drive the katana version. See if it's better than the base sport model

[@CarObsession]

I would love to, but I don't think that's available in the UK. Thanks for watching.

[@KGDHMF]

@@CarObsession aw shucks. I would have hoped for a review of that sense there isn't any reviews of it, even in Dutch .

[@Birmingham_racing]

It doesn’t have enough power to be a hot hatch. You can buy a fiesta 1 litre eco boost with that kind of power would you consider that a hot hatch? A warm hatch at best good car with enough power for a young driver

[@CarObsession]

I see where you're coming from, but it definitely feels more powerful than what the official figures tell you. Does it feel faster than the ST-Line I tested earlier this year? I would say so. Thanks for watching pal.

[@Birmingham_racing]

Car Obsession that’s just the low down torque but these cars are more about handling anyway. I remember tiff needle absolutely loved the first swift sport for its handling

[@ThePedroDB]

Pretty much every other road test I have read/watched has said that Suzuki has spoiled the fun factor and driving pleasure with this variant of the Swift Sport. I'll be sticking with my Mk.1 Sport.... if I'm honest ;-)

[@72gav68]

ThePedroDB I had the Mk 2 Sport and now have this new Turbo Sport. Had it for 7 months and done 8,000km. To be honest I couldn't go back to the Mk2 Sport. Turbo to me ,has upped the fun factor and is way faster than the Mk2. In Australia, tests have shown 0-100km/h low to mid 7's. Also once you are in it driving the way it's supposed to, you don't think about or notice the hard plastics.

[@lh5522]

Not sure about anyone else, but I never scratch the dashboard and think "ooh, scratchy plastics!"

[@CarObsession]

Hi there, thanks for watching and thanks for the comment 👍🏽.

[@Eccentricplum]

Same. I just purchased one, I couldn’t really give a tart about the plastics. It’s all about the drive! Little cracker

[@mikuelable]

I think the auto is 7.8

[@CarObsession]

Hi mikuelable, thanks for watching. We only get the manual version in the UK, not sure about other markets.

[@timjenkins8538]

Nice car but I think for a proper hot hatch experience I'd rather get a 2016 fiesta st with plenty of change left over

[@ThePedroDB]

Totally agree @Tim Jenkins

[@MrZekToR]

Definitely a hot hatch. It might not have 200 HP like some of its closest competitors. But it does have superior weight - or lack of it. I know for a fact, that in-gear, a Mk7 and Mk8 Fiesta ST is no quicker. On premium fuel, the Swift Sport actually makes 120 Kw, which is 163 HP. This is because the Swift Sport has an adaptive ECU and can 'tune itself' for more power on higher octane fuel. Work out the power to weight ratio and it easy to see that the Swift Sport can easily match the Fiesta ST when it comes to performance. It's silly to judge whether a car is hot hatch or not, purely by the engine power output. You have to consider the entire car. When it comes to weight, the Swift Sport is superior against both Mk7 and Mk8 models of ST.

[@CarObsession]

Hi there, thanks for watching, and thanks for the comment. However, I'm dubious about your claim that the in gear performance would be the same as the Fiesta ST, having driven all three cars.

[@MrZekToR]

@@CarObsession This is absolutely true. I know this for a fact, as I have this exact Swift Sport and have diced with both Mk7 and Mk8 Fiesta ST's. Also of note, the Swift Sport has an adaptive ECU from the factory. The Japanese found that when using premium unleaded fuel - the car made 10 more horsepower. I run Esso Synergy 99+ octane in my car - and it is noticeably quicker. When using good quality premium fuel - the power output is closer to 163 HP. Even on regular unleaded, the car has been getting up to 155 HP. Much better than Suzuki's claimed figure of 140 HP. If you then calculate the power-to-weight ratio - it's easy to understand how the Swift Sport can indeed match the stock Mk7 and Mk8 Fiesta ST's.

[@marklightfoot9113]

Sorry but the only word I can use to describe this offering from Suzuki is bland ☹️

[@CarObsession]

Fair enough pal, each to their own - thanks for watching 👍🏽.