Suzuki Swift Allgrip review by Chris Rees

“The term ‘Swifties’ doesn’t just
refer to dedicated Taylor Swift fans
but also to drivers who appreciate
Suzuki’s compact all-wheel drive
hatchback...”

THINK OF A 4x4 and it's impossible not to conjure up an image of a butch-looking SUV, ready to assault some daunting off-road terrain… or more likely, an assault on the eyes. let's be honest, not many SUVs are good lookers; and few are ever taken into the rough.

While Suzuki makes its fair share of SUVs, including the Jimny, S-Cross and Vitara, it also produces an all-wheel drive version of its small hatchback, the Swift. It's one of just two cars in its class with 4x4 — the other being the Toyota Yaris GR, which is at the opposite end of the weeny hatch market, being a very high-performance hot hatch costing Ł47,545. In contrast, the Swift Allgrip (for so it is named) costs less than half of that — a mere Ł22,049.

Not that the Swift lives up to its name. In no way is it a hot hatch, unlike the late great Swift Sport of which I have very fond memories. With just 82bhp from its 1.2-litre three-cylinder non-turboed mild-hybrid powerplant, and handicapped by heavy 4x4 gubbins aboard, it can't even reach 100mph; and the 0-62mph 'dash' takes a tortoise-like 13.6 seconds (the front-wheel drive Swift manages a perkier 11.9 seconds and 106mph).

“There’s nothing else
quite like the 4WD
Swift hatch.
Sure-footed in slippery
conditions, Suzuki’s
all-wheel drive compact
hatchback offers a lot of
grip for the money...”

But the way it delivers its performance is full of old-school charm. The thrum of the triple-cylinder petrol engine is lovely — and less obtrusive than many engines of its ilk — while the mild hybrid system gives you a bit of oomph to fill in any torque gaps.

Also old-school is its five-speed manual gearbox. You've got to love a manual 'box, especially when its shift action is so precise and well weighted. And, check this out: it's got an old-fashioned pull-up handbrake lever, something that's almost disappeared in this age of electric handbrakes.

Some may ask, why consider 4x4 in a small hatchback? Well, if you live in a rural area where grip is valuable on wintry roads that often don't get cleared, it can be invaluable. Suzuki's Allgrip is a fully automatic, permanent 4WD system that transfers additional torque to the rear wheels when required via a viscous coupling. And, just like a pukka 4x4, the Allgrip setup incorporates a proper mechanical rear differential.

But is it any good for the rough stuff? I got the chance to find out while testing the Swift Allgrip on mountain roads in Wales. On loose gravel surfaces it's more than capable; and is a decent tool up steep inclines, too. However, even though Suzuki raises ground clearance from 115mm to 140mm for the Allgrip model, it isn't enough for really tricky off-road work.

On black-top, the Swift behaves very well. It's light weight makes it a deft handler, one that responds keenly to steering inputs with a pleasing lack of body roll. The steering is light but offers decent feedback on the road. You don't really notice the Allgrip four-wheel drive system working but then it's there more for safety than Colin McRae-style rallying antics.

One thing I'm not so keen on is the quality of the ride. While it's decent around town, at speed it's more unsettled — here the Allgrip is noticeably less compliant than its 2WD sister. And while the engine is decently refined, you'll certainly notice wind and tyre noise at motorway speeds.

Despite really hammering the Allgrip on my road route, the average fuel economy didn't dip below 50mpg. Drive gently and over 60mpg should be possible.

To sit in, the Swift feels taller than most rivals and you definitely have better visibility than in most small cars thanks to the large windows and upright roof pillars, plus you get a reversing camera and rear parking sensors as standard. Sure, the little Suzuki does feel built down to a price inside and there's quite a lot of hard plastic, but its design looks appealing and build quality appears to be very solid.

The 9-inch central touchscreen is well sited but a tad slow to respond. As for space, there's tons of headroom and enough legroom for six-footers to travel comfortably in the rear. The 265-litre boot is about average for a small car.

Overall, the Swift Allgrip offers great value, especially when you consider how much equipment you get as standard, and should be very cheap to run. If you need 4x4 and want a small car that doesn't look like a Tonka toy, the Swift Allgrip is really your one and only choice. ~ Chris Rees

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