Suzuki Swift Sport

Suzuki has improved the interior of the Swift Sport but it still is rather plain compared to most of its rivals. All Suzuki cars are focused around practicality and the Swift Sport is no different There are swathes of grey in the cabin and the new-generation model has a slightly more intricate styling on the dashboard. The circular air-conditioning vents are positioned above the infotainment unit. The air-conditioning controls are now bigger and easier to operate. There’s a standalone ‘off’ button to switch of the air-conditioner. But the function would have worker better, had it been incorporated into the rotary dial itself. However, it won’t be difficult to operate once the driver gets used to the operation.

The instrument cluster of the third-generation Suzuki Swift Sport is more prominent than in the earlier version. The deeper cowlings of the speedometer and tachometer add depth. The multifunction steering wheel doesn’t have an overwhelming number of buttons. The steering is of moderate thickness and is wrapped in perforated leather and glossy section in the inner lower quarter. 

Continuing with Suzuki’s tradition, the 2023 Swift Sport gets fabric seats. These are nicely comfortable and come with adequate padding. The Suzuki Swift Sport is a city-oriented, daily commuting car and the seats are nice for short-distance travelling. The bolstering, however is more prominent than its predecessor. 

Passenger and boot space 

The 2023 Suzuki Swift Sport is a compact hatchback and it would be wrong to expect sedan-like cabin space. But the car is still decently spacious. The steering wheel has a lot of fore-aft adjustment and the front seats, like in most cars, have the maximum space. Even taller drivers can find a comfortable driving position. That’s an improvement over the regular Swift that gets only a tilt-adjustable, non-telescopic steering.

The rear seat of the 2023 Suzuki Swift Sport is surprisingly spacious for a hatchback. There’s enough headroom and legroom for average-height Malaysians. Tall people too won’t feel uncomfortable. Three persons can comfortably seat at the back and the cabin never feels cramped. The rear seat itself is rather flat and the small central mound means that the car is spacious. The end-part of roof is depressed and occupants of the two outer seats may bang their heads a few times.

The ISOFIX child-anchor points can be easily accessed. There are no annoying flaps. The doors open wide enough and entry and exit of senior citizens is never a problem.   

The 2023 Suzuki Swift Sport comes with a 265-liter boot space. While that’s not one of the best in class, the boot is relatively square and deep to accommodate a few suitcases.

Comfort and entertainment

There’s a big storage tray for a large-screen mobile phone at the base of the dashboard. There’s a USB and 12V socket as well. There are two small cupholders and oversized door bins that can hold even 1.5-liter water bottles. The air-conditioner cools the car fast. The glove-box doesn’t have much space and most of it is taken up by the user manual. There’s a storage tray behind under the handbrake to keep knick knacks.   

The car comes with a 7.0-inch touchscreen infotainment unit with satellite navigation support.

The 2023 Suzuki Swift Sport doesn’t look aggressive from any angle. It was never meant to be. But it’s stylish and targeted at the younger audience. The car mostly retains the same look. There’s nothing very dramatic about its design. But it still manages to strike the right chord. The 17-inch alloy wheels look sharp. The subtle body kit, wrapped in matte carbon, does add a touch of boldness to the car, along with the dual exhausts and the rear spoiler. It’s a rather well-proportioned car that sits a bit high. The front grille, side skirts, lower lip and the rear bumper gets a faux carbon-fiber trim. The grille itself is a prominent and dominates the fascia.  

The car comes with automatic, LED projector headlamps with manual levelling, LED daytime running lights (DRLs). The fog lamps are halogen units with a limited travel distance. It gets diluted in the LED headlights. 

The 2023 Suzuki Swift Sport retains the flowing roof design. But the overall build quality of the car should have been better.

What are the dimensions of the 2023 Suzuki Swift Sport?

The compact hatchback measures 3,890mm in length, 1,735mm in breadth, and 1,495mm in height. The wheelbase is of 2,450mm. 

What is the ground clearance of the 2023 Suzuki Swift Sport?

The Swift Sport has a rather low ground clearance of 120mm since it’s based on the Heartect platform. Body roll is minimum and the car has a great balance.  

Suzuki makes some of the most fuel efficient cars in almost every segment. The 2023 Swift Sport has a claimed fuel economy of 6.1 liters/100km at a top speed of 205kmph. City numbers are expected to be lower.

What is the fuel tank capacity of the 2023 Suzuki Swift Sport?

The car comes with a 37-liter fuel tank. 

The 2023 Suzuki Swift Sport is a compact car. It’s less than 3.9 meters long. So driving in the town is very smooth and easy. The steering wheel and pedals feel light on urban roads. Even hard braking doesn’t cause much of a jerk in the cabin. The gearshift is free and moves smoothly. There’s a nice mechanical feel that will please driving enthusiasts.

Visibility from the driver’s seat is good. The rear pillars are thicker than average hatchbacks. But that doesn’t obstruct visibility. There’s a lot of steering lock and the turning radius is short. Turning sharp bends is never a problem with the Swift Sport’s compact dimensions. It’s easy to park as well. The standard reverse parking camera is a big help here. The display isn’t crisp, but it still serves the purpose.

The 2023 Suzuki Swift Sport is available in a single variant in Malaysia. It’s hauled by a turbocharged, four-cylinder, 1.4-liter petrol engine that produces 140PS maximum power at 5,500rpm and 230Nm peak torque at 3,500rpm. The motor is mated to a six-speed automatic transmission (AT). The new-generation Suzuki Swift Sport, unfortunately, doesn’t get any manual transmission option. But it does get paddle shifters. It doesn’t get any tiptronic function either and Suzuki has no plans to introduce it in the near future. 

The B-segment hatchback is mounted on Suzuki’s Heartect platform. Suzuki claims that this has improved the rigidity of the car’s chassis. High speed stability is claimed to be firmer and that was proved during the tests. The rear and front tracks are now 40mm wider. The new Suzuki Swift Sport now comes with a trailing arm that reduces deformation and body roll during sharp cornering. The car has a minimum turning radius of 5.1 meters.

The suspension setup comprises of MacPherson Strut with coil springs in the front and a torsion beam at the rear. The car runs on dual-tone, 16-inch dual-tone, five-spoke alloys wheels, fitted with 195/50 series Yokohama Advan A13C tires.

Is the 2023 Suzuki Swift Sport available in diesel?

No. The car is available with a turbocharged 1.4-liter petrol engine only.

The 2023 Suzuki Swift Sport comes with an impressive safety kit that includes lane-keeping steering, radar-guided cruise control, traffic sign recognition, tire pressure monitor, speed limiter, and rear cross traffic alert. The tires have nice road grip and stops instantly. The car comes with Suzuki’s Dual Sensor Brake Support.

The new-generation Suzuki Swift Sport doesn’t have an ASEAN NCAP rating. The standard version got a four-star rating in 2018.

How many airbags does the 2023 Suzuki Swift Sport have? 

The car comes with six airbags. 

How many cameras does the 2023 Suzuki Swift Sport have?

The hatchback comes with a single reverse parking camera. 

Value for money

At a starting price of RM 145,900, the 2023 Suzuki Swift Sport is rightly priced. It’s targeted more towards the youth, and buyers who want a bit more than a basic, entry-level hatchback. The pricing bracket will attract a select group of buyers who are ready to pay the price of a higher C-segment hatchback for a B-segment car. Running costs of most Suzuki cars are low and the Swift Sport is no exception. That also brings down the ownership cost.  

Warranty

The 2023 Suzuki Swift Sport is covered by a three-year/100,000km warranty, whichever is earlier. Cost of parts and labor are included in the coverage. Suzuki Malaysia also provides 24-hour emergency assistance service. 

Are original spare parts of the 2023 Suzuki Swift Sport available in Malaysia?

Suzuki has a countrywide service network. All genuine spare parts of the 2023 Swift Sport are available at the company’s workshops and service centers. 

2023 Suzuki Swift Sport vs Mazda 3 Liftback

The Mazda 3 Liftback is a segment competitor of the Suzuki Swift Sport. The Liftback is hauled by a powerful 2.0-liter petrol engine. It’s also among the most well equipped hatchbacks. The powertrain is fun to drive. The car comes with decent cabin space fit for three adult passengers. The interior isn’t impressive though with a lot of hard plastics thrown around. But at RM 143,000 the Mazda 3 Liftback is priced lower than the 2023 Suzuki Swift Sport. 

2023 Suzuki Swift Sport vs Ora Good Cat

The all-electric Ora Good Cat recently had its Malaysia debut. The running costs of the Good Cat is among the lowest in the Malaysian hatchback segment, courtesy the electric powertrain. The seats are comfortable for long distance travelling. The 500 Ultra variant, has a starting price of at RM169,800. Though it’s priced higher than the Swift Sport, the Good Cat is a better investment than the Japanese hatchback.  

2023 Suzuki Swift Sport vs Renault Zoe

Manufacturers are betting big on all-electric cars and the hatchback section has particularly seen a lot of activity in this regard. The Renault Zoe facelift debuted recently with a starting price of RM 165,000 for the ZE50 R110 model. The Zoe comes with sporty looks and some great equipment. It offers a refined driving experience and handling is easy. The Renault Zoe makes for a great city car with zero emissions. It’s slightly expensive than its other all-electric rivals.   

Is the 2023 Suzuki Swift Sport worth buying?

The 2023 Suzuki Swift Sport is an enjoyable car to drive. It’s also one of the best cars for daily commuting. The car comes with great mileage and maintenance cost is rather low. Suzuki is known to make some of the most reliable cars and Swift Sport is one of them. The build quality should have been better. But the Japanese manufacturer probably settled for better mileage and a softer body. The ease of maintenance and low cost of ownership makes the Swift Sport a great car to own.