Suzuki Swift Hatchback (05-11) - Review

The fit-and-finish of the cabin is another area that's greatly improved over previous Suzuki products. The seats are trimmed in quality materials and give good support while the interior has an attractive and stylish look - it certainly doesn't feel like a budget car. Refinement is good too with wind and road noise well suppressed, even at motorway speeds - engine noise can be intrusive but this is only the case when the Swift is being pushed hard. Rear legroom is acceptable for short trips in the three-door, though the centre passenger has restricted room because of the transmission tunnel. As you'd expect there's slightly more space in the five-door.

With 213 litres of boot space the Swift offers adequate boot space - although alternatives like the Renault Clio and Ford Fiesta boast more. The luggage area is easy to access and unload though while the rear seats split 60/40 and fold flat for added room. Cubbyholes and cupholders are dotted around the cabin and there's a storage tray under the passenger's seat. The 1.5 GLX and 1.3 DDiS models also feature keyless entry for simple door unlocking/locking and engine start-up. With this system, there is no fumbling to insert a key in the lock or press a remote, all you need to do is have the key on your person and press the small black button on the door handle to unlock. Once inside the car, the ignition can simply be twisted to start and stop the engine

All models have a sporty-looking three-spoke steering wheel with audio controls - the column adjusts for height only but it's still easy to find a good driving position. Due to the upright windscreen, everything seems very close to you - in a good way. The clear, unfussy layout of the dashboard means all the controls are easy to find and it looks stylish too. The simple stereo is a highlight, while the rest of the switchgear feels robust.