I’ve become a Swifty after driving Suzuki’s supermini… it’s agile, economical and blissfully simple to drive

FIESTA. Micra. Punto. Rio. Popular superminis. All of them dead.

If manufacturers don’t think they are worth replacing, do people still want a simple manual supermini? Suzuki says yes.

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In fact, Suzuki hopes this new Swift will sell more than the old one, by mopping up buyers of those deceased hatchbacks who need a new replacement.

It’s got five doors, five seats, five gears, three pedals. A formula small car buyers have trusted for decades.

And one Suzuki is dead good at. Especially the “small” bit.

Small 4x4s, small crossovers, small hatches.

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Tell you why it’s so good at engineering for compactness and light weight.

At heart, this is a motorbike company.

I’ve been to Suzuki’s HQ in Japan and you can barely hear yourself think above the noise of their two-wheel test riders screaming round the private track.

The Swift is ultra-light for a modern supermini. That’s sometimes a negative.

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Hit a speedbump too fast and it launches like a pogo stick.

But mostly it’s a major positive.

The Swift is terrifically agile on twisty roads and roundabouts, with a cheeky sense of fun.

Lightness also makes it super-economical. Even when you wring its neck. Which at times you’ll have to do because there isn’t much out and out power.

Yet it always feels like an enthusiastic puppy.

Part of that is the mild hybrid assistance for the engine.

When you accelerate, the electric helper motor uses no petrol but acts a bit like a turbo.

Yup, unusually there is no actual turbo.

Enthusiastic puppy

There’s also no socket – it’s not a plug-in hybrid.

It’s blissfully simple to drive, despite the smart engineering going on.

Buyers have always loved Suzuki reliability.

It has all the electronic safety kits the law now demands, and more.

Radar cruise control and a reversing camera, f’rinstance.

You can use its own satnav or your phone’s through the dash screen.

Pretty comfy cabin

But the screen doesn’t do every function.

You still get actual buttons for the climate control and assist systems.

And these days, that actually makes it feel more expensive than cars that have you fumbling with the screen.

It’s a pretty comfy cabin, and actual adults fit in the back.

They’ll need to pack light, mind, as the boot is where the Swift’s smallness really comes home to roost.

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Still, if you need to park or drive in tight spaces, small is good.

And best of all, the price is scaled down to match.

Ten things YOU should know as a car owner

To help you feel more confident as a car owner, here are ten things you should be familiar with about your vehicle:

• When is your MOT due? Find out here
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• What do dashboard warning lights mean?
• Is it illegal to drive without road tax?
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• How to change the address on your driving licence
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