Driveline Fleet - car leasing. All you've gotta do is drive!

  • Home
  • About
    • About Us
    • About Car Leasing
    • About Car Financing
    • About Ex-Lease Cars
    • About Novated Lease
    • Why use a car lease company?
  • Lease New
    • Utes
    • SUVs
    • Small Cars
    • Medium Cars
    • Large Cars
    • EVs & Hybrids
    • Prestige European Cars
    • Vans
    • People Movers
    • Special Enhanced Vehicles
    • Trucks
    • Plant & Equipment
  • Ex-Lease & Used
  • Services
    • Fleet Management
    • Car Accident Management
    • Fuel Card
  • Resources
    • Customer Reviews
    • Downloads
    • Blog
    • Driveline Tutorials
  • Contact
    • Find a Consultant
    • Auckland
    • Christchurch
    • Napier
    • Tauranga
    • Wellington
    • Whangarei
  • 0800 275-374
Menu
Home » Blog » 2018 Suzuki Swift RS Turbo Review
2018 Suzuki Swift RS Turbo Review

2018 Suzuki Swift RS Turbo Review

By Lianca van Oudtshoorn | 11 September 2018 | Posted in Reviews

The 2018 Suzuki Swift RS Turbo Review will put the smile back on your dial says Colin Bower. Check out his review below.

 

 

It all started with an email from one of my clients, who was looking to lease a small office runabout car. His shortlist included the Suzuki Swift.

I arranged a test drive for them and awaited the outcome with interest. The next communication comes from Graeme at Tauranga Suzuki and I quote:

‘Just had your client in to drive the Swift RS.  He commented that it was too quick for the person they have in mind. Everyone will want to drive it. Did not have time to drive GLX will come back tomorrow if they have time. Asked if you could quote on GL and GLX Swift – like the size and image of Swift

My client reiterated that they had really liked the ultra-modern features and pricing of the Swift RS but felt that it was just too powerful and would be a magnet for speeding tickets. I thought hold on… how can a one litre vehicle be ‘’too quick’’ compared to 1.6 and 1.8 litre models?

In my fifty plus years in the motor trade, I can’t recall a previous occasion where a client had complained about a new model being too fast, so it was clearly time I familiarised myself with this enigma.

Working at Driveline does have its perks as I quite often get a call to drive new to the market cars. However, the Swift RS Turbo had snuck by me and so my curiosity piqued. I arranged to pick up a demo model for the weekend.

I suppose I should have been unsurprised by what I was about to experience given the similarity of spec to my previous Charade GTti turbo race car. My daughter Tasha and I ran it in production class at Pukekohe and sealed hill climbs in the late nineties. If you are having a bit of a giggle, just Google and you will find some interesting GTti history including international Safari rally wins and more recent exploits of the same car in the hands of the original owner’s son follow link

Quote: “Many underestimate the car’s performance because Daihatsu is a bit of a nana brand, but the GTti had many WRC title wins in the early 90’s and this car won the local production car class seven years running, so I was quietly confident of what it was capable of,” Hart says

Anyway, back to the future. After picking up the Swift, headed off over Pyes Pa to Ngongataha (Lake Rotorua) and the entertaining Hamurana road to Okere Falls where we had some lunch then back to Tauranga via State Highway 33.

First Impressions

Yes, this was definitely on a par with the feeling that we had turned back the clock to 2000 when we parted company with the Charade. I could immediately see the power to weight ratio gave the RS an amazing turn of acceleration. With a direct-injection turbocharged three-cylinder engine of 1.0L producing 82kW of peak power, and 160Nm from 1500rpm, I soon had a huge grin on my dial and my long-suffering wife started freeing up her elbows for a little rib action.

Unlike the GTti Charade, there was no noticeable torque-steer, ride harshness or noise, but responsiveness and low-end torque was really familiar. I soon started to appreciate the latest safety features of this pearler wee car, in particular the adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning, key-less entry,  great backing camera and even auto high beam.

What a fun car to drive, with practical space, great seating position and cat-like handling. This is a performance bargain in my book – add to that fuel economy of 5.1L/100km, 5 Star ANCAP and 5-year drive-train warranty and Swift RS fits solidly in to ‘bang for your buck territory’.

 

We have 5 Suzuki Swift RS Turbo models available on our Smartlease at $396 a month. So, if you’d like to find out more, give us a call on 0800 275374 or email us on info@driveline.co.nz and we will touch base with you pronto.

Search our vehicles

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Related articles

2021 Kia Sorento Review

We had the opportunity to take a closer look and test drive the all-new Kia Sorento. Our first impression of the vehicle … More »

All new Mazda CX-30

Mazda New Zealand has decided it can't wait for lockdown restrictions to lift and has debuted it's latest small SUV … More »

Review | Mitsubishi Pajero Sport

Mitsubishi has gone full 'Beast mode' on the Pajero Sport for 2020, giving it a new, more Triton-esque face and jamming … More »

Latest posts

2021 Mazda BT-50 is set to impress with new lineup

The battle is on between the crossover SUV’s

WHICH SUV SUITS YOU?

Categories

  • Buyer Tips & Tricks
  • Case Studies
  • News
  • Reviews
  • Smart Deals
    • Citroen
    • Dodge
    • Fiat
    • Ford
    • Foton
    • Holden
    • Hyundai
    • Isuzu
    • Kia
    • LDV
    • Mazda
    • Mercedes Benz
    • Mini
    • Mitsubishi
    • Nissan
    • Peugeot
    • Renault
    • Skoda
    • Ssangyong
    • Suzuki
    • Toyota
    • Van & Ute Specials
    • Volkswagen
  • Uncategorized

Our Blog

  • 2021 Mazda BT-50 is set to impress with new lineup

    WITH roots extending back to the domestic launch of the Mazda B1500 B-series truck in August 1961, the BT-50 line... Read more »

  • The battle is on between the crossover SUV’s

    The Nissan Juke squares up to the Skoda Kamiq and SEAT Arona in the battle for the supermini-SUV crown. The... Read more »

  • WHICH SUV SUITS YOU?

    Whether it’s time to upgrade from a sedan or wagon, or as a socially acceptable move downscale from a full-size... Read more »

  • Which Van suits your needs?

    We have done the research for you on the differences on these Vans.Whether you need a Van to transport tools... Read more »

  • Need an SUV?

    We have a huge range of vehicles and our consultants will help you figure out what’s the best vehicle for... Read more »

  • 2021 Kia Sorento Review

    We had the opportunity to take a closer look and test drive the all-new Kia Sorento. Our first impression of... Read more »

Quick Info

  • Home
  • About Us
  • About Car Leasing
  • About Car Financing
  • About Ex-Lease Cars
  • About Novated Lease
  • Fleet Management
  • Fuel Card
  • Blog
  • Why use a car lease company?

Quick Search

  • SUVs
  • Utes
  • Small Cars
  • Medium Cars
  • Large Cars
  • EVs & Hybrids
  • Prestige European
  • Vans
  • People Movers
  • Short Term Lease
  • Trucks
  • Plant & Equipment
  • Ex-Lease & Used
0800 275-374
  • Click Get a quote
  • Find Find a consultant near you
  • Email info@driveline.co.nz
  • Facebook
  • Rss

Copyright © 2011-2021 Driveline Fleet Ltd. All Rights Reserved | admin | EVOLVE® marketing agency