WHATCAR?
Suzuki Swift
1.2 Mild Hybrid Ultra
As daily transport for a gear-laden videographer, this small hatchback has found itself well out of its comfort zone at times. But it has coped valiantly
Swift willingly carried Kiall and his kit to video shoot locations
IF I HAD to borrow a song title from my car’s namesake to sum up what it’s been like to live with, I’d probably go with All Too Well. Or I might even say it’s been beyond my Wildest Dreams. That’s right: running this car has officially made me a Swift fan – just of the Suzuki rather than Taylor variety.
When I first took delivery, I was a tad nervous that the 1.2-litre petrol engine with mild hybrid electrical assistance (the only option available) might prove a little too weedy for my needs, being endowed with only 82bhp and 83lb ft of torque. However, in reality the Swift felt nippy in town and had no trouble keeping up with the ebb and flow of traffic on faster roads, even though it’s not exactly lights-out-at-Silverstone when you put your foot down. I liked the light steering, slick manual gearbox and wellcontrolled ride, too. The only thing I’d change about the driving experience is the amount of noise that enters the interior at higher speeds.