It’s difficult to know how much influence the European end of the design process has had, but the result is a success, and unlike its predecessors this Swift has character. Its new look blends muscular (broad-shouldered wheelarches) and cute, which should increase its appeal. In profile the intersection of the Swift’s A-pillar and roofline, and the wraparound glass, are reminiscent of the Mini.
Move your gaze round to the front and you’ll notice the one aspect that really marks the Swift out – its width. At 1690mm it’s wider than all its city car rivals and wider even than most superminis from the class above. Only the Mitsubishi Colt has bigger hips. Of course, in this market extra width is a double-edged sword. It creates more interior space, better handling (because of a wider track) and more grown-up styling, but makes for poorer manoeuvrability around town and in car parks.
Mechanically, this Swift is more conventional than previous models. Its predecessor’s characterful three-cylinder engines are replaced by a pair of four-cylinder twin-cam units. There’s a 1.3 that produces 90bhp and 86lb ft, while the 1.5, with the benefit of variable valve timing, musters 101bhp and 98lb ft. Drive is directed through a five-speed manual or four-speed automatic gearbox to the front wheels. While the previous Swift had all-round independent suspension, today’s model uses a torsion beam axle at the rear. It’s a backward step for technology, but it frees space inside. Brakes are discs at the front and drums at the rear. The Swift has a five-star Euro NCAP crash test rating and, impressively, a top four-star rating for pedestrian safety.