YOU may need to look twice to spot the differences, but – trust us – they’re there all right, for the fourth-generation Swift is bigger, safer, quieter and more comfortable than its big-selling predecessor. Indeed, the Japanese company is making quite a statement on how mature an evolution the new AZ-series model is, since the stylish supermini now scores an ENCAP five-star crash-test rating across the range. For the money, you can’t buy a safer new baby car than that. But will the samey styling put people off? It doesn’t seem to have hurt the Porsche 911 and BMW Mini, and Suzuki reckons the same will be true for its modern light-car icon.

Suzuki EZ Swift
Released: Feb 2005
Ended: Jan 2011
Family Tree: SwiftNOTHING short of a revolution, the third-generation Swift ushered in a new engineering-led era for the Japanese company, elevating the light car to near class-leading levels for dynamics, performance and value – a first for Suzuki. With a fresh, bold appearance and a sporty interior to match, the EZ-series proved to be an instant and unexpected success, resulting in long waiting lists and frustrated customers – another Suzuki first! Only a single 74kW/133Nm 1.5-litre twin-cam four-cylinder petrol engine was offered here on the volume selling base and S models (GL and GLX in Queensland), mated to a five-speed manual or four-speed automatic gearbox. A performance version was added in October 2006 – the Swift Sport – with a 92kW/148Nm 1.6-litre engine, firmer suspension, body kit and five-speed manual-only transmission. Sales kept steady throughout the life of the car (helped along by a raft of special editions), with around 65,000 buyers entering Suzuki showrooms by the end of the EZ’s model life in early 2011.
Get the full story: Sharp pricing, handling, styling and equipment levels back Suzuki's new Swift hatch
Facebook Twitter Instagram