Suzuki Swift practicality and boot space

• Passenger room is competitive with its supermini rivals
• Boot larger than last model, but still not the biggest
• Noticeably lower seating position than before 

Although this generation of Swift is shorter than before, it’s also roomier inside, thanks to having a longer wheelbase. So you get more legroom, and thanks to lower-mounted seats, which leave you a more reclined driving position than before, there’s more headroom front and rear.

Journeys with three adults in the back are best kept short, but there’s enough legroom and overall cabin width to offer rear passengers a surprisingly comfortable environment. Note however that rear electric windows are only available on the top-spec models.

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There’s an impressive assortment of cubbies and cupholders in the front cabin, too, even if the materials surrounding them does feel a little cheap. 

Otherwise the Swift has all the hallmarks of the supermini genre, being compact and easy to manoeuvre in confined spaces.

The boot capacity is 265 litres, which is 54 litres up from the previous-generation car – but it’s no class leader. It has a high loading lip, which makes putting heavy objects in more difficult than it needs to be. If you want a bigger boot, we'd go for a Renault Clio, Skoda Fabia, Dacia Sandero or Kia Rio.

Safety not the strongest of points

• Only a three-star Euro NCAP crash test result
• Rises to four on SZ5 and Sport versions
• Even more equipment fitted since 2017 test

When tested by the crash-testing experts at Euro NCAP, the Swift was split into two levels of competence: SZ3, (now defunct) Attitude and SZ-T versions, which do without much of the more advanced safety kit only scored a disappointing three stars. Plump for an SZ5 or Sport, where much of it is standard, and that situation improves to a more acceptable four-star rating - still lagging behind many of its tougher supermini rivals, though.

That lack of kit makes it difficult to recommend anything other than an SZ5 or Sport on safety grounds, particularly when you consider how much extra you get for your money. Those Swifts come with:

• Dual Sensor Brake Support - Suzuki's autonomous emergency braking system
• Automatic main beams
• Adaptive cruise control
• Lane-departure warning and prevention
• Drowsiness warning - set-off when the systems detect the car's weaving

More commonplace safety kit such as six airbags, ABS brakes and electronic stability control is standard across the whole Swift range.

For additional security, the SZ5 is also available with AllGrip, an intelligent four-wheel drive system that diverts power to the rear wheels when it senses the front ones don't have optimum traction. In reality, few people in Britain live in areas where this is a vital addition, so it's not a package we'd recommend - a set of winter tyres would be significantly less expensive.

WATCH: Suzuki Swift Hatchback Euro NCAP crash test video