Swift v MINI shoot out

Suzuki's Swift Sport and the MINI Cooper go head to head with Tiff Needell drivin

[@timwrk]

Swift sport anytime! Same fun without breaking your bank account. Forget icon, driving a 'legendary' car doesn't make you a legend

[@weedaviec]

Swift is an awesome little car. I had one exactly like that for a year and miss it dearly.

[@ridhwanramzi4773]

I drive a 2008 swift 1.3 and it's so much fun! Hope to be able to buy a sport 1.6 in the future!

[@carloszenteno7039]

I have a Swift sport with repro, filter injen intake, remus, coils, 170 hp fantastic

[@fritz2513]

How is it doing? Sounds like a lot of fun!

[@bombaclaat]

Japanese cars = solid quality and style.

[@MrWilliam.Stewart]

Some say, that Suzuki Swift Sport is still doing the same lap times around that very track, while the BMW Mini is living out its retirement in the scrap yard.

[@Rashnu09]

@NumeroUnoUberMoose no he says its quicker than the c2 vtr which is automatic and only 110bhp

[@M1F2R3]

I had the choice of any car for my birthday as long as the engine is no more than a 1.6, i chose the swift, a few of my friends have mini's not sure what engines, but i love my swift, it is epic around corners & I live in the countryside.

[@thejunior9497]

Should’ve asked for the polo gti, pretty sure it came with a 1.4t 180hp. Anyways what do you drive now?

[@stefanr00]

@02kellt1 Its my first too! Bought it new with just about everything on it. It is pure comfort. Even when taking it on holiday and driving it for 2000 km..

[@onarollbabygmail]

Originally, I wanted a Cooper, I realized it's so expensive. That's why I laid my eyes on the Swift. MINI has better handling, but I'll get almost the same performance and better BHP. I'll go for the Swift. BTW, a Suzuki Swift costs about Php 730,00 and a MINI Cooper costs about Php 1.7-1.9 Million! That's a LARGE difference considering how close they really are.

[@mipmipmipmipmip]

the mini seems to have the Peugeot-based 1.6 engine, could be trouble...

[@SweatyyBrit]

Loved my 55 swift 1.3, picking up my 07 Civic Type R GT next friday morning. Hell yeah!!

[@TheDalitis8]

I own both a Suzuki Swift Sport and a Honda Integra Type R DC5. I love me some Japanese cars.

[@ketoras]

the suzi is a fantastic car

[@AMPATL]

You're right, my first car was a Mini. I loved that car. And you're also right to agree with Hammond/Clarkson/May's opinion about BMW drivers. But have you driven a Mini? The new one? It's a hoot. Seriously. The new car captures the go-cart feeling of the original. It's utterly brilliant.

[@sablade68]

rep to alfybaby64, have you driven a mini one or cooper s? A cooper S is brilliant, a much more exciting drive than my mates boxter S. a classic mini nowadays is a potential death trap

[@AMPATL]

Next question: Who would win in a race? Sabine Schmitt or Vicky BH?

[@2plus2isTom]

Swift is my 1st car, it is the shit beats all cars in its price range

[@RicardoSS85]

@RoniisH Dude, he's a professional racing driver and he raced in Formula 1...

[@re20bt]

yes you're right there, a lot of new model japanese cars are based on european styling but it really is apples and oranges. japan is also (way) behind in diesel technology because diesel-powered vehicles are frowned upon and banned in most major cities (i know because i live here). personally i think hybrid technology is a long way from being practical, and diesel is by far the better option (the mpg on diesel is MUCH better overall, no matter what the stats tell you)

[@marshknute]

"OK, maybe the speedometer is getting a bit on the large side these days..." I would wager that the speedo is normal sized but is comparatively larger in the diminutive Mini!

[@Leeburns652011]

@02kellt1 same its the first car i bought and i have driven 4 other cars, vw polo = shit , ford fiesta = nice to drive , renault clio = not much went wrong considering its french but imo i love my swift

[@ketoras]

mine have 134 ps i love this babe

[@AMPATL]

Yeah, but let's ask the big question: Which car would pass the Kristin Scott Thomas test? Hmmmm...

[@nathan87]

wow, I am so going to buy a mini now because it beat a suzuki by 1.9 seconds in a single lap track race.

[@calebleong5853]

.19 secs

[@celt67]

Don't get me wrong..I love Clarkson and the lads. No-one..NO-ONE presents a show with the Cinematograph excellence and humour that Top Gear can...but I read these comments to find out what people think of the car on show...not some fanboys (usually too young to drive or just stupid) who can't see past Top Gear. Fifth Gear is an excellent program, and folk need to realise that.

[@pedalman]

To be honest I haven't driven the BMW "mini" I'm sure it is a brilliant handling car just like all BMWs seem to be. my gripe with it is how people have bought into this idea of mass advertising that it is a modern mini with 60s credentials when it clearly is a totally new (medium size) car from the ground up. I dont know any stastistics but side by side the original iconic mini looks half the size......but I know which one Id rather be in a crash in though !

[@pedalman]

Yes Tiff was a racing driver....... lets have a list of his achievements , a list of what he won to prove it .

[@rius64]

Good job 5th Gear

[@M1F2R3]

Same, my first car also, why would I want a Mini seriously ? It is for people who don't take life seriously, plus... there is a supercharger for the Swift now :P

[@visir337]

...and then over to the price...

[@DualofChaos]

the grand vitara is good too

[@JPacheco91]

My mom want´s the new suzuki gran vitara... i am trying to convince her to buy the swift sport.

[@jtomos]

I just bought my Swift today. :) Well, not the sport version, "only" a 1.5 GS with all factory accessories.

[@Gerwin_dutchie]

jtomos the 1.5 is fast enough too right! 😄

[@MrAniruddhajog]

y dnt dey launch swift sport in india??:-(

[@coolerdude44]

the swift looked more fun

[@pedalman]

On the nurbergring schmitt no contest , I wouldn't bet on schmitt everywhere else though, could be a close call....but what does it matter they are all presenting motoring programmes including Tiff, if they were any good at all they'd be pro racers.

[@pedalman]

The BMW mini is NOT an icon, the original mini IS the icon, remember how long the original stayed the same shape? never had to be changed........lets see how long the BMW non mini ( which is very big compared to the original) stays the same shape.

[@celt67]

and.......? whats your point ?

[@englishacoustics]

Oh please, don't kid yourself...

[@dankmcdankface]

i still prefer the swift though

[@steve75112]

TIFF is the best

[@darthvickster]

i think the swift looks nicer and the interior is better!!better value for money.

[@theduke65]

Top Gear is an amazing show, but yes it does have trouble reviewing small cars. Fifth Gear reviews smaller cars more often, but is generally quite dull. I'd rather watch Top Gear any day. As for this test, I'd still take a Suzuki Swift Sport any day, it looks better (come on the Mini is like a tiny box on wheels) is more funky (who needs a stupidly large speedometer anyway) and considering its £1.5k cheaper at least, who cares about 0.9 seconds?

[@timorgano]

/signed

[@GCkidd]

that guys a bastard but he sure can drive.

[@Rashnu09]

@NumeroUnoUberMoose LOL slower? swift 0-60 8.9 secs FACT. C2 VTS 0-60 8.3 FACT. Alsothe swift is group 9 insurance where as the vts is group 8

[@EvoLar]

not very scientific but if true the Swift is rather good

[@HR-od9fl]

Swift all day, bulletproof car, mini horrible engine and garage will be your best friend... Not lol

[@racekidishere]

u r damn right, British and Japanese car shows are better, 5th gear & Best Motoring r 2 of my favors. unique whips, pinks, & some NASCAR programs r the shows i dislike.

[@pedalman]

BMW "Mini" by name only, not by size or history. It resembles the original mini not one jot !!

[@AMPATL]

The Suzuki is a car. The MIni is an Icon.

[@techstyle123]

there s no way that mini is faster than the swift...swift is faster , better to handle...

[@stanbernadino]

lol!

[@Nirdiwakar]

.19

[@re20bt]

... and unfortunately you're very wrong. japanese cars are workhorses and much cheaper.... yes the german cars are more refined and a much better drive but they're a LOT more expensive, have ludicrous depreciation and don't age well at all (tried getting parts for earlier models?!)

[@SammyJ21]

I'd stick with my fabia vRS :D

[@ThePhiltastic]

the mini is a BMW that says everything

[@StockholmDashcamOfficial]

He's not a very good driver this guy...

[@Mongoose1358]

wow, i would have got something else, a suzuki isn't exactly the coolest car to show off to ur friends..

[@Rashnu09]

@02kellt1 beats all cars in its price range?! my C2 vts will rattle that swift everywhere.. and its alot cheaper

[@MrThingy3]

I had a Cooper and agree they are a fantastic car but way too over priced, pound for pound I'd sooner have the Swift, BMW are just a bunch of greedy Pig's, every single thing is an extra whilst the Swift comes with many standard features for less money, I'd have the swift anyday.

[@forza267]

yea tiff MIGHT be able to beat clarkson but guess what clarkson isnt the one testing the vehicles...the stig is...and guess what...in a race, the stig could make himself a pizza while taking a piss and beat tiff driving any day.. oh and while im at it....we do watch top gar....but after we have watched every single one and are awaiting BBC to put more out we have to spend fractions of our free time watching the shitier Fifth Gear just so we can rant about how shitty it is.

[@M1F2R3]

I dont need to show off, people stare at what I have anyway :)

[@celt67]

All those bleating about Top Gear...go watch Top Gear fucking videos then, and stop boring us with your predictable cliched comments. P.S. Although I love TG, Tiff could outdrive Clarkson in his sleep.

[@sablade68]

top gear is boring same every week

[@concorde1350mph]

mini is better handeling than the swift because mini are renown for this and they are race again and mini will win if you want a race against a mini get the classic it would shit on both cars swift or new mini

[@J4m3z1]

Did it occur to you that the guy in the Cooper S you beat didn't realize you were trying to race him but he was just on his way back home after a long hard day at work? There isn't a cat in hell's chance the Swift Sport could beat the Cooper S. The Swift Sport is 125bhp, the Cooper S is 180bhp. You have a good car so please regain your common sense.

[@hatchett6368]

Its not a cooper s, this is the standard 116hp cooper.

[@mpizos]

this test sucks...swift sport is much quicker and driveplay is much better..pff...

[@pedalman]

Vicky annoys me with her over confident "IM A WOMAN AND CAN DRIVE REALLY WELL". We know you can well but please stop this show of false modesty while your body language and expressions overflows with annoying confidence.

[@MrSangkuriang85]

swift looooser...

[@Rashnu09]

@number9ninja beats all cars in its price range?! my C2 vts will rattle that swift everywhere.. and its alot cheaper