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SO, I have a learner driver in the house – again. Now to decide. Should I buy her a new, entry level vehicle that has warranties and roadside assistance and all the necessary power and safety features to get her to her university of choice 600km away from home?
Or should I buy a second-hand vehicle, which might be bigger and more powerful, but with more kilometres on the clock and no service plan – as was the case with my first car when my first job was far away from my home town.
Every morning I had to stop halfway to work in the rainy Cape Town weather to put water in the tank or run the risk of overheating.
I ended up using the bus service most of the time.
So, at this stage I am leaning towards brand-new and while studying up on my options, it was interesting to note that the test car I have driven for this week’s Express on Wheels, the upgraded Suzuki Swift, was also chosen by News24 and Wheels24’s Ryan Bubear as one of five great budget-friendly options for learner drivers.
And at a starting price of R184 900 it was the least expensive of the five options given. The criteria for the best buys chosen for this Wheels24 article was that the vehicle should be relatively affordable with a budget cap of R205 000. In addition, its standard equipment list should include non-negotiable safety features such as ABS and dual front airbags. As a result, cars with poor crash-test ratings (structural integrity of the body shell), were avoided.
The reasons for the Suzuki Swift 1.2 GA being chosen for the article were: (and I quote from the article) “The Swift is a lovely little vehicle, light on its feet and simple to drive. Even this base GA model features electronic stability control and a pair of airbags, while the 1.2-litre engine offers more than sufficient peak outputs of 61kW and 113Nm.
“The standard rear parking sensors will come in handy for a new driver, too.”
And after test-driving the new Suzuki Swift, I have to agree that it does offer a whole lot of value for money, a fun and safe ride and peace of mind. Even the GA model, which is the entry level model , has a lot of valuable features.
The models higher up are equipped with more comfort features and are available in a funky, modern dual tone exterior – which is quite good looking.
I test drove the higher end GLX, model (R222 900) and among the impressive features were the user-friendly touchscreen with reverse camera and keyless entry with stop/start button.
The interior is very practical with enough storage spaces, and the boot is the size that one would expect in this market segment.
It offers a light and easy drive with gear shifting that is easy on the arms; it is stable on the open road and has very good list of safety features. And very importantly: its 1.2-litre (61 kW, 113 Nm) is very frugal with fuel (stated at (4,9 litre).
Every little bit helps when you have a student at university.
Suzuki launched its updated Swift in April in South Africa.
The five-model range consists of manual (Man) and automated manual (AMT) transmission models and three specification levels, namely the GA (Man), GL (Man and AMT) and GLX (Man and AMT).
All models are equipped with Suzuki’s 1.2-litre K12M petrol engine and are built on the lightweight and rigid HEARTECT platform.
The upgraded Suzuki’s exterior only received a few nips and tucks and retains the overall exterior look of its predecessor. Keeping up with the times is the fact that the GL and GLX models, as mentioned before, offer the option of new dual-tone colour schemes.
Safety and security
All automated manual models (AMTs) now receive hill hold assist as standard. The most significant addition to all the models in the Swift range is electronic stability control (ESP). This is added to the standard list of safety equipment, which includes SRS front and passenger airbags, ABS-brakes with emergency brake assistance (BA) and electronic brake-force distribution (EBD).
All models are also equipped with ISOFIX anchor points for child restraint systems, central locking, safety belts fitted with pre-tensioners and force limiters, and an immobiliser and alarm system.
Features
All models feature electric windows, air conditioning and central locking, with the GL models adding fog lamps, an audio system with USB and AUX inputs, a tachometer and electrically adjustable mirrors.
The GLX models replace the standard air conditioning with climate control, add keyless access with a Start/Stop button and replace the 14” wheels with polished 15” alloys.
In addition, the GLX has also added electric folding side mirrors.
This model also has Suzuki’s high-resolution colour touch screen with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and a reverse camera.
The high-resolution reverse camera displays its image on the touch screen infotainment system.
On the GLX, you can specify any of the tone-colour options and the buyer will receive attractive, new 15-inch polished alloy wheels.
Every Suzuki Swift is sold with a two-year/30 000km service plan and a five-year/200 000km promotional warranty.
Price:
. 1.2 GA Manual: R184 900
. 1.2 GL Manual: R203 900
. 1.2 GL AMT: R218 900
. 1.2 GLX Manual: R222 900
. 1.2 GLX AMT: R238 900
