2018 Suzuki Swift RS Turbo Review

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.