Who would have thought there would come a day when shopping for a Suzuki is a patriotic alternative? But, that’s precisely the case in case you select the brand new Swace property.
The Swace is the second instance of the brand new collaboration between Suzuki and Toyota. The primary was the spectacular Throughout plug-in hybrid SUV, which is near-identical to the Toyota RAV4 PHEV.
The automobile makers have gone down the identical badge-engineered route with the Swace, which is constructed alongside the Toyota Corolla Touring Sports activities on the Japanese large’s plant at Burnaston in Derbyshire.
Once more, you must look arduous to tell apart the Suzuki and Toyota variations. In truth, other than Suzuki badging inside and outside, the one apparent exterior distinction is the Swace’s tweaked entrance bumper and grille design.
It’s the same story inside, the place the dashboard, devices and infotainment have been transplanted nearly totally.
To be truthful, in case you’re going to clone an current family-sized property automobile, the Toyota Corolla Touring Sports activities is a good start line as a result of it’s an ideal all-round bundle.
The Swace will do battle with property variants of the Ford Focus, Vauxhall Astra (additionally British made), Seat Leon, Kia Ceed, Volkswagen Golf and Skoda Octavia.
Suzuki’s determined to maintain issues easy with its model. There are simply two trim ranges, SZ-T (£27,499) or SZ5 (£29,299), one alternative of engine and 7 color choices.
Normal gear with SZ-T consists of seven airbags, dual-zone computerized air con, an 8.0-inch touchscreen, heated entrance seats and steering wheel, a rear parking digital camera and autonomous emergency brakes (AEB).
Vary-topping SZ5 provides sensible door locking, clever park help, entrance and rear parking sensors, blind spot monitoring, rear cross site visitors alert and wi-fi smartphone charging.
The infotainment system isn’t as flash as some rivals, however works properly. The one disappoint is the shortage of built-in sat nav (making the “Map” short-cut button on the left of the touchscreen redundant), so it’s simply as properly that there’s Apple Carplay and Android Auto connectivity, so you’ll be able to mirror your smartphone.
Elsewhere, the inside is engaging, options loads of soft-touch plastic surfaces and is properly put collectively. There’s additionally a lot of house, so no drawback transporting adults within the again.
The beneficiant boot measures 596 litres behind the rear seats, extending to 1,606 litres with them flipped down.
The Swace combines a 1.8-litre petrol engine with a small battery and electrical motor to supply 120bhp. The self-charging hybrid powertrain (no must plug it in) is shared with the Corolla and different Toyota fashions, together with the Prius no much less.
Whereas the 0-62mph dash takes 11.1 seconds, gasoline economic system is a excessive as 64.2mpg and CO2 emissions are as 103g/km.
Drive to the entrance wheels is by way of CVT computerized gearbox and there are Regular, Eco and Sport drive modes, plus EV Mode which can be utilized for brief distances, and is particularly helpful in slow-moving site visitors or manoeuvring in residential areas early within the morning or late at night time.
The one slight fly within the ointment is the CVT, which like all such gearboxes doesn’t wish to be pushed too arduous. If you happen to do plant your proper foot, the refinement of the cabin is disrupted till the engine settles down. In different phrases, the Swace is a good cruiser.
The change from pure electrical to hybrid petrol is seamless, whereas the experience is easy. The steering is sharp and the dealing with stiffens up a little bit in Sport mode, however in any other case is just not as dynamic as some rivals.
That stated, it’s clearly constructed for consolation and economic system and it achieves simply that. Take it simple, and 50mpg is sensible day in time out, whereas 60mpg may be very achievable.
Only one remaining level value contemplating. The Swace has a typical Suzuki three-year/60,000-mile guarantee, plus a five-year/60,000-mile bundle for the hybrid tech, whereas the Corolla Touring Sports activities has a five-year/100,000-mile guarantee.
Verdict: The all-new Suzuki Swace is a handsome, generously-equipped, sensible household property automobile that’s stress-free to drive. Spacious, secure and cozy, it’s in-built Britain.
Suzuki Automobiles
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