Hot Hatch - 12000 km report

Exterior The car is a looker, it looks simply outstanding from every angle + the pearl white and fiery red colours just enhance its sporty feel. However, The lxi model is quite basic to look at.

Interior (Features, Space & Comfort) The car has very classy, black and silver interiors with the best looking dials I've ever seen on a hatchback, however, rear seats are quite cramped and so is the boot. however, for a couple the car is fantastic, feels luxurious and front seats are quite supportive, in-case you have the sporty edge to drive.

Engine Performance, Fuel Economy and Gearbox Engine - this is where this car scores much more than any other car in its class, yes it does have a weak initial response, hoever, once the motor starts spinning, you could win a drag race against a car twice the price.

The engine is extremely smooth often making you believe at the red lights, that it is switched off and it is quite rev-happy too.

The power band of the new swift is such that it starts off giving you a twitch in the back and then relaxes a moment in the mid-range and then takes off again to give you fantastic levels of speed. The figures with this car are just astonishing.

It has a very small 1.2 litre, 88 bhp engine and still in its life of 12000 kms, I have done 190 Km/hr, driven it to goa from mumbai at an average of 65 km/hr, driven from mumbai to jaipur at an average of 85 km/hr and competed with cars like the skoda laura, bmw 3-series, vw passat, etc. This is truly a hot hatch.

Fuel economy: Entirely depending on the way you drive, I have clocked a maximum average of 11.6 km/ltr in a daily up-down from midc andheri to lokhandwala complex, which is next to impossible on any other petrol car. However, when driven hard, I have also done 7.9 kmpl on the same route in the same conditions.

on the highway, on Mumbai-Goa i clocked 17kmpl, on Mumbai-jaipur i clocked 19kmpl and on Mumbai-pune (hold your breath) 22 kmpl.

Ride Quality & Handling Ride quality of the car is quite decent in the city but wudnt win awards, it is enough to take you to your destination comfortably.

However, once on the highway, it is a very well planted car, light weight sometimes spoiling the fun and even at speeds of 150 you need to look at the speedo to realize it. however, past 150 the car does get a little twitchy and if not experienced could make the driver loose control.

Handling is simply fantastic with a 90% accurate steering which weighs well on speed, perfect suspension that allows you to take 90 degree turns at speeds of 120, which again wud be impossible on an i20 or brio or even the honda jazz for that matter.

Final Words If you are looking for a car that is FUN to drive and manages to pleasantly surprise you everytime, cheap to maintain and cheap to run. just go for the swift, don't even waste your time on any other car.

Areas of improvement Better space, little more weight and wider tyres and the swift would be perfect 10/10.

Fuel economy, styling, road grip, handling, top end performance, gearboxCramped rear seat, small boot, light weight, basic car, skinny tyres