Suzuki Swift Sport: First Look

Do Not Miss It!: Our comprehensive First Drive Review of the 2018 Maruti Swift

UPDATE: Everything you need to know about the new Maruti Swift

The Tokyo Motor Show is all about 'beyond the motor,’ which is why it's a concept galore. Combing through the whacky stuff, we checked out something closer to home.

The all-new Swift is set to make its way to India next year. Rough chance of us getting this version but save for the motor, most of the package isn't all that different from the standard car.

Here's a brief overview of what's changed:

Space
The Swift is finally spacious enough for the family. Seating two six-footers one behind the other is no hassle. Heck, even with the seat set to my height (6.5ft) a person of roughly the same height was able to fit behind, albeit with no knee room to spare. There's also decent headroom and even with the black cabin, it doesn't feel claustrophobic.

Quality

That's still a typical Suzuki affair. Although, it's certainly a notch above the outgoing model, but isn't as good as say, the VW Polo.  The doors feel light and on par with the Baleno.  Both cars share the same Heartect platform but the Baleno will still be the better family car of the two, while the Swift is quite evidently for younger buyers.

There are no soft-touch elements but the finish quality is consistent throughout the cabin. A few contrast-coloured plastic elements on the dashboard and doors liven things up while the digital air-conditioning console is a cool retro-modern touch. The Swift Sport at the Tokyo Motor Show had an aftermarket Panasonic head unit but you can bet your beard the India-spec will get the SmartPlay.

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Specs
We're expecting mildly updated versions of the Swift's existing engines when the new-gen arrives. But for reference, the Sport gets a 1.4-litre Boosterjet turbo-petrol engine with 140PS/230Nm on tap. If Maruti Suzuki were to bring the Swift Sport name to India, it could be with the same engine as the Baleno RS.

Game On?
The new Swift is definitely a force to be reckoned with, if its sporty avatar can be this practical. We do expect a price premium but it certainly feels like a considerably better car to live with than before. Here's hoping we drive it soon!