WHAT CAR AWARDS - Suzuki makes it three with a price point win for the 6th time for the Swift Sport.

• Three-door Swift Sport wins ‘Best Buy’ hot hatch for less than £15,000 for the sixth consecutive year.
• Achieves 45.2mpg in ‘True MPG’ fuel economy test – more economical than official EC combined figure.

Suzuki celebrated again at the 2017 What Car? Magazine awards in London last night with the Swift Sport awarded a price point win for the sixth year in a row. The performance flagship of the Swift range was comprehensively judged by the editorial team and the final vote resulted in the three door model yet again receiving the ‘Best Buy Hot hatch for less than £15,000’.

First introduced in January 2012 and with more than 6,000 sold in the UK, the Swift Sport has a high standard specification that includes satellite navigation, DAB radio, USB connection and auto air conditioning.

Steve Huntingford, Editor of What Car? comments: “The Suzuki Swift Sport is a reminder of the way hot hatches used to be – and it’s none the worse for that. Whereas all of its rivals now have turbocharged engines that pull strongly from low revs, the Sport uses a naturally aspirated 1.6 that’s most rewarding when you thrash it. True, it’s ultimately not that fast, but this just means you can use every ounce of the car’s performance without having to fear for your driving licence.

"The Sport also feels light on its feet and, thanks to its diminutive size, you can push it hard even on narrow country roads without feeling like you have to breathe in when something comes the other way. Then there’s the car’s sensible side. Suzuki was runner-up in our most recent reliability survey, so the Swift Sport should prove dependable, and it returned a very respectable 45.2mpg in its real-world True MPG fuel economy test. Although we’d opt for the cheaper three-door model to keep the price as low as possible, a five-door version is available if you decide you need better access to the rear seats.”

Swift Sport is available in a choice of four standard metallic paint finishes and is also  equipped with seven airbags, cruise control, High Intensity Discharge headlamps, rear privacy glass and 17-inch alloy wheels. In addition to satellite navigation and DAB radio, the Sport also has voice recognition, Bluetooth and music streaming compatibility.

WHAT CAR AWARDS - Suzuki takes another best buy nod, this one is for the Vitara SUV.

Suzuki celebrated good news at the What Car? awards again last night with Vitara awarded a ‘Best Buy’ accolade for the second year in the small SUV class. The 1.6-litre SZ4 model was comprehensively judged by the editorial team and announced as the best overall model in its price bracket of less than £15,000.

Steve Huntingford, Editor of What Car? comments: “Despite a strong challenge from another Suzuki small SUV, the new IGNIS, the Vitara’s combination of generous space, a long equipment list, keen pricing and low running costs help it win this entry price point for the second year in a row. 

There’s no need to be any more frivolous than the entry-level 1.6-litre petrol engine. Not only is it sensibly priced, it’s easily strong enough to haul a family and luggage, and proved to be remarkably fuel efficient in our real-world economy test.

"The Vitara is good to drive, too. Its body is tightly controlled in corners, the steering is reasonably precise and the suspension smooths out the worst our broken roads can throw at it.  It’s an impressively roomy car inside – four adults will sit comfortably, with plenty of leg room. The boot is practical and generously sized, too, with a wide opening and a low lip. Entry-level SZ4 trim is very well equipped: 16in alloy wheels, Bluetooth, a DAB radio, a USB port, steering wheel-mounted controls, cruise control and seven airbags all come as standard.”

Vitara is proving to be very popular with customers in the UK with 11,500 sold in 2016. Suzuki’s ALLGRIP four wheel drive technology is available as an option on SZ5 models and is standard equipment on the 1.4-litre Boosterjet S model.

WHAT CAR AWARDS - Suzuki takes best buy awards for the Vitara and Swift.

Suzuki celebrated good news at the 2016 What Car? Magazine awards for the second time last night as the Vitara has also been awarded a ‘Best Buy at less than £15,000’ accolade along with the Swift Sport model.  In the Small SUV class and priced at £13,999, the Vitara 1.6-litre SZ4 was comprehensively judged by the editorial team and announced as the best overall model in its price bracket.

Jim Holder, Editorial Director of What Car? comments: “In SZ4 trim the Vitara doesn’t just sneak into this price category; it’s more than £1000 beneath it. Even then it comes complete with niceties such as climate control, cruise control, Bluetooth connectivity and a DAB radio.

“The 1.6 litre engine might not have a turbocharger but is smooth and more than capable in the Vitara. It’s also economical; our True MPG testers managed to get within 3.9mpg of the official figure. The Vitara drives well, too; the suspension is firm enough to resist roll without ever becoming uncomfortable and the controls inspire plenty of confidence. The five-speed gearbox is enjoyable to use, too. Practicality is a real strong point inside, with plenty of leg room front and back.”

Commenting further, Jim Holder added: “Cargo space is impressive in its size and also accessibility; the boot opening is wide with a low loading lip. The interior is also solidly put together, with piano black trim to add a little class. To top it all, there are also plenty of customisation options. It really is a complete package for very little outlay.”

Standard equipment for all models is comprehensive and also includes seven airbags, alloy wheels and front and rear electric windows. Suzuki’s latest ALLGRIP four wheel drive technology is available as an option on SZ5 models and is standard equipment on the recently introduced S model.

The new Vitara S provides a more sporting and dynamic character to the Vitara line up and is the first Suzuki to utilise its new BOOSTERJET technology. The engine is a 140PS 1.4-litre Direct Injection turbocharged unit (DITC), it has compact dimensions and offers 220Nm of torque available from just 1,500rpm through to 4,000rpm.  CO₂  emissions are 127g/km and just one gramme higher for the optional six speed automatic transmission.