Suzuki offers diplomats an award-winning range of cars combining style, exceptional reliability and great value

The small car experts

In 1909, Michio Suzuki founded a business producing weaving looms in Hamamatsu, Japan, to capitalise on the booming silk industry. It evolved as a company over subsequent decades, and diversified into producing automobiles, which saw the Suzuki Motor Corporation established in 1954, a vehicle manufacturer now renowned across the globe as the ‘small car experts.’

Suzuki’s ‘Yaramaika’ spirit, (translated as ‘Let’s do it’) was deep-rooted in the Enshu region where he came from. Together with his determination to drive forward, Michio quickly began researching vehicles produced overseas, gaining a wealth of knowledge to enable him to build his first car.

With the help of his young engineering team, many of whom were in their twenties, and using several European models for benchmarking, as well as an Austin 7 from the UK, Suzuki launched the Suzulight minicar in 1955. It was a compact and light vehicle weighing just over 500kg and was powered by a 360cc, 15PS two cylinder, two-stroke engine. Fitted with independent coil spring suspension and rack and pinion steering, it was way ahead of its time.

In 1963, Suzuki started to sell motorcycles in the UK before later moving into retailing cars. Its wholly owned subsidiary, Suzuki GB, which is headquartered in Buckinghamshire, is today represented by an established franchise dealer and authorised repairer network that spans the length of the country. The brand’s product range counts seven different fuel-efficient and low emission models, starting with the practical Celerio city car, and culminating with the S-Cross family crossover. With a constantly evolving product line-up, the vehicle manufacturer has welcomed, in only the last few months, the latest 1.4-litre turbocharged Swift Sport hot hatch, the 2019 model year Vitara compact SUV – the most technically advanced Suzuki ever made, and the fourth iteration of the small and lightweight Jimny off-roader.

The Suzuki Swift supermini

The five-door Swift supermini has become renowned for being enjoyable to drive, and is an ideal car for the daily commute or to travel between social engagements. Built to the highest standards at Suzuki’s Sagara production facility in Japan, over six million Swifts have been sold across the globe since 2005, such has been its success. The latest third generation of the ever-popular model, which was recently crowned in the top three of the Urban car category of the 2018 World Car of the Year awards, is lighter and more powerful than its predecessor. It’s available in three well-equipped trim levels, namely the entry-level SZ3, the SZ-T, and the top-of-the-range SZ5.

A choice of low emission and economical engines

With the option of a five-speed manual or six-speed automatic gearbox (SZ5 grade only), Swift is powered by the three-cylinder 111PS 1.0-litre Boosterjet direct injection turbo and 90PS 1.2-litre petrol Dualjet engines, which return a high level of fuel economy for owners. Available on the SZ5 grade, Suzuki’s hybrid system regenerates a lithium ion battery using energy harvested from deceleration and braking to power an electric motor that aids with acceleration and improves fuel economy, resulting in the delivery of up to 65.6mpg (combined) and ultra-low CO₂emissions of 98g/km (when measured by the NEDC method).

ALLGRIP four-wheel drive for added control

The range-topping SZ5 can be configured with the renowned ALLGRIP four-wheel drive technology (manual transmission only) for drivers who need to travel on surfaces that may not be paved, or for extra traction on wet or icy roads. It is a ‘permanently on’ and fully automatic system that transfers additional torque to the rear wheels when required, thereby providing added user control and reassurance.

A compact and stylish exterior

The Swift’s stylish exterior, which can be personalised with a choice of ten eye-catching solid and metallic body colours and dual tone, is compact in size at just under four metres long (3,840mm) and less than two metres wide (1,735mm). The current Swift offers an emotional appearance together with a muscular and well-grounded look. Blacked-out A-pillars and vertically arranged front and rear lamps are just some of the stand-out attributes, whilst the wide and aggressive front grille, as well as the supporting bumper grille character lines, all express strength. Furthermore, a comprehensive range of accessories is available for customers to make the Swift their own. These include body decals, a rear spoiler and parking sensor kit.

A spacious and well equipped interior

The latest generation and lightweight ‘HEARTECT’ platform minimises the size of the engine compartment, meaning that the spacious, sporty and functional cabin provides a generous level of head and legroom for occupants sitting in the front and rear. There’s a sizeable 265-litre boot to match, and capacity can be further extended to an impressive 579 litres when the back seats are fully reclined. For convenience, there is plenty of storage throughout the cabin courtesy of the passenger glovebox, front compartments with USB and power sockets, cupholders and door pockets.

The driving position in the Swift grants excellent all-round visibility, and to provide added comfort whilst at the wheel, the centre console has been turned five degrees towards the driver. In addition, the front seats have an optimised shape and spring position with heightened side bolsters, and the new design steering wheel comes with an ergonomic ‘D’-shaped section.

Every variant of Swift comes complete with a value for money interior specification as standard and the trim can also be customised. For example, the SZ3 variant with a 1.2-litre Dualjet engine and manual transmission is fitted with air conditioning, a leather steering wheel, privacy glass, a DAB radio with Bluetooth connectivity and four speakers, LED daytime running lights, body-coloured door mirrors and front electric windows. Similarly, the mid-range SZ-T, available with a 1.0-litre Boosterjet engine and manual transmission, adds a rear view camera, 16-inch alloy wheels and front fog lamps. When upgrading to the SZ5, buyers receive, amongst other equipment, automatic air conditioning, 16-inch polished alloy wheels, satellite navigation, a keyless entry and ignition, rear electric windows, LED headlamps and combination rear lamps, adaptive cruise control and six audio speakers as well as Suzuki’s advanced safety technology including Dual Sensor Brake Support (DSBS) which can automatically brake the vehicle if it senses an collision is going to occur.

Smartphone connectivity to keep in touch on the move

The Swift model uses the very latest technology to help drivers stay connected. The audio interface for both SZ-T and SZ5 models has a Smartphone Linkage Display Audio (SLDA) with a large and intuitive seven-inch touch panel display that doubles up as a reversing camera on the SZ-T and SZ5. The system also allows the driver to use certain smartphone applications with MirrorLink, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connections. Apple CarPlay is the smarter and safer way to use iPhones in the Swift. Apart from making calls, it facilitates receiving directions for optimised traffic conditions, listening to music, accessing email, text messages and much more.

Safety technology to stay protected

As with every Suzuki model, safety is of course of paramount importance, and the Swift adopts Suzuki‘s Total Effective Control Technology (TECT) concept that provides a high level of protection in the event of a collision safety. Moreover, there are front, side and curtain airbags, and ESP® (Electronic Stability Programme) to help ensure stability while driving. Hill hold control, high beam assist and lane departure warning and automatic braking come as part of the specification on the SZ5.

For more information on purchasing the Swift through the Suzuki Diplomatic Sales Programme, please call 01689 825506, e-mail sales@adc-export.co.uk or visit cars.suzuki.co.uk