Maruti Suzuki''''s Swift revolutionized the small-car market. Looks that were called radical and concept-car like make it stand out in a crowd. Suzuki''''s position as the world leader in manufacturing compact cars is well known. Keeping in mind the Indian roads, the suspension was modified and good ground clearance was provided. A 2005 debutante, the Maruti Suzuki Swift has won many awards including ''''the car of the year,'''' from various motoring associations like Overdrive, CNBC Autocar and BBC-Top Gear, for its comfort, safety features and concept car like styling. Competitive pricing, a sporty engine and unique design have made it a very tempting option in the hatchback segment.

For one it has given us a whole new view to the effects of a diesel engine in a small car. There was a perception that a diesel engine was least required in a small car and that it could hardly make a small car more cost effective to own. Then the Tata Indica came along and changed all perceptions. It showed that diesels could make a small car purchase a very wise choice indeed, no matter if it was noisy, clattery and sooty. The Swift diesel went one step further and actually introduced the concept of a performance diesel in a hatchback. It not just revived flagging interest in the diesel hatch market but created quite a storm.

Swift has a good number of competitors namely TATA Indica Vista, i10, Hyundai Getz, and Chevy SRV and U-VA.

Engine:
VDi is running one of the most advanced compact diesel engines in the world. The all-new diesel comes with the latest Direct Diesel injection System (DDiS). The turbo-charged 1.3 litre produces a power of 75 bhp at 4,000 rpm and 190 Nm of torque at 2,000 rpm. The low revving engine needs fewer downshifts in city conditions as there is ample power at low rpm.
Fire the diesel engine and the car shakes slightly but immediately settles down to a smooth idle. Vibrations are extremely well-controlled and at idle, this is the most refined diesel this side of Rs.10 lakh. However, as revolutions rise, the engine becomes more vocal. Cruising or at low revs, the engine sound won’t bother you in the least and in fact you will marvel how quiet it is.

Looks:
The concept car like styling of the Swift makes it standout spectacularly in traffic, while its compact dimensions allow it to squeeze into crowded parking lots. The desirability factor starts from the way an automobile looks and that is one area in which the new Suzuki excels.
The front end features ‘lifted-up’, vertically stacked headlamps and a raised bonnet line that meets new pedestrian safety norms in Europe. Well-defined, muscular wheel arches, a waistline that runs the length of the car, chunky C-pillars that suggest strength and all make the car as state-of-the-art as it gets. Add to that a wide footprint, fat rubber, a neat stance and you get the picture. This is one of those small cars that even those who can afford much bigger cars will appreciate.
There is an assortment of body rattles, which seems to be an inherent problem with the Swift

Interiors:
When you get behind the wheel of the Swift, you will really like the good driving position and every thing fall into place. The front seat is very comfortable even for long hauls. The seats offer good support but legroom and shoulder room is at a premium. The interiors are unchanged and that means the same comfy seats up front and the cramped ones at the rear. Diesel car owners will want more utility and will find the boot disappointingly small. What’s shocking is that the parcel tray is not standard and comes as a Rs.1500 option even on the top-of-the-line VDi ABS model.

The dashboard houses the instrument cluster, the glove box and central console, with slots for the music system, Air con controls, and so on. The centrally-located instrumentation display includes a tachometer, speedometer and digital odometer, as well as a clearly visible digital clock. The climate control system has an easily-operable large circular dial. The material and textures used for the dashboard and car interior are of good quality and make the ride feel opulent. The door trims and other consoles, too, are nicely designed. The driving posture is excellent as the driver’s seat has a height adjuster and a slide range that ensures driving comfort.

Ride and Handling:
The diesel rides better than the petrol since it has narrower but taller tyres. The damping and ride quality are good but sharp bumps and potholes thud through. In terms of ride quality, the Swift is hard-pressed to match the comfort or suppleness of the Chevy U-VA or the Hyundai Getz. Handling is agile and the car is responsive but lacks fluency on a twisty road.

Safety:
The high-end Swift comes fully loaded with added safety features and accessories including automatic climate control, driver seat height adjuster, 12V accessory socket in the luggage area, electromagnetic type tailgate opener, rear window wiper and de-mister, dual front airbags, Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) with Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD), keyless entry and seatbelt pre-tensioners (In the event of a crash, a pre-tensioner will tighten the belt at once, thereby preventing the occupant from a sudden jerk). Standard features on the base model include power steering, air-conditioning, brake assist, seat-belts for all seating positions, child lock on rear doors and side impact beams.

Fuel Economy:
With the 1.3 L Diesel Engine the VDi Model gives a mileage of around 14 kmpl in City and 18 kmpl on Highways which is very good.

Variants, Price and Colors:
The Swift Diesel is available in 2 variants- LDi and VDi Models.
The LDi version gets Air conditioning but misses out on power windows, central locking, tachometer, day-night rear view mirror, and hear this out and rear head restraints. The rather unfortunately named VDi  version is comprehensively equipped. The VDi version can be ordered with the ABS option while airbags are not available.
Swift comes in striking colors such as Solid Bright Red, Metallic Garnet Orange, Pearl Metallic Arctic White, Metallic Ozone Blue, Metallic Silky Silver, Metallic Iridium Gold, Metallic Azure Grey and Metallic Midnight Black.

Diesel Variants                                                   Price (Ex-Showroom Bangalore)
MARUTI SWIFT LDI (BHARAT STAGE III)                               Rs.4,66,895
MARUTI SWIFT VDI (BHARAT STAGE III)                               Rs.4,96,465
MARUTI SWIFT VDI (BHARAT STAGE III WITH ABS)            Rs.5,18,838

The Swift has Well-made interiors, Safety kit on offer and the Diesel version sets a new benchmark for economy and performance but the Interiors are surprisingly cramped, boot is small and it begins to rattle after a while.

Our Verdict
The performance is top-notch and the engine is eager and sufficiently powerful. Gearshift is smooth as silk and is a joy to operate and the steering response is crisp.

It has set a Benchmark for the Diesel Version Hatchback cars.