Maruti Suzuki Swift

This is the car that changed the face of Maruti. The Swift revolutionized the small-car market. Looks that were called radical and concept-car like make it stand out in a crowd. The peeled-back headlamps with a tight grille section and curved hood give it a modern look while the rear is bulbous and manages to look in sync with the overall design.

The downside however is that Swift is tight on space. The seats offer good support but legroom and shoulder room is at a premium. The rear passengers will find it rather uncomfortable owing to limited travel of feet under the front seats and lack of headroom. The interior looks good and all the controls fall to hand easily but the plastic quality could have been better. Some odd rattles inside the cabin also play their part in irritating the occupants.

All Maruti-Suzuki engines are pretty refined and rev-happy in nature and the Swift’s is no exception. There are two engines on offer: 1.3-litre petrol and a 1248cc Fiat-sourced diesel which warms up to a smooth idle from a clattery start. The performance is top-notch and both the engines are eager and sufficiently powerful. Gearshift is smooth as silk and is a joy to operate and the steering response is crisp.

The Swift suffers in the ride quality department – the Chevy U-VA and Hyundai Getz offer better comfort levels. The damping is quite acceptable on regular roads but slightly severe treatment makes the suspension start acting up, jostling the passengers around. Handling is the sportiest among hatchbacks but the experience would have been a lot better had the tyres been better and wider. Swift, both in petrol and diesel guise, is phenomenal on mileage numbers. The petrol delivers 13kpl overall whereas the diesel stretches this number to 15kpl.

The Swift is a perfect tool to negotiate the traffic of urban jungle and makes for an entertaining drive. Space is at a premium and the plastic quality could be better. But you cannot take the positives away from this looker. It is cheap to run and maintain and has engines that will satisfy the price-conscious bloke who yearns for performance.