By Aurelia Mbokazi-Kashe
It’s hard to believe that Suzuki’s nifty Swift has been around for 20 years. Over the years, it’s become a beloved small car, offering excitement without breaking the bank. With its big personality in a compact package, it’s fair to call it iconic. The Swift appeals to young and old alike, allowing drivers to enjoy it without feeling judged for sticking to a modest budget. Beyond launch events, I’ve mostly come across the Swift as a rental car. I’ve rented it several times, especially when vacationing in South Africa’s stunning coastal towns.
Last week’s launch in Stellenbosch felt like a mini holiday, especially with the scenic drive through Somerset West and Franschhoek. The team at Suzuki went all out to celebrate the Swift’s arrival, especially in a market that’s rapidly changing with Chinese automakers challenging legacy brands. They didn’t hold back, letting us drive the Swift all day, with fun activities along the way that perfectly matched the brand’s spirit.
First impressions
At first glance, the new Swift looks much like the third generation launched in South Africa in 2018, which went on to sell around 66 000 units. With just a few small updates here and there, it still looks and drives like a Swift. I guess the motto is, “why change a winning formula?” It’s cute, with curves in all the right places. The updated interior, including a nifty digital screen in some models, will definitely appeal to Swift loyalists.
The Drive
Unlike regular car launches, where the drive starts at the airport, this one was perfectly choreographed. We were whisked from the airport by bus to Hazelden wine farm, where a pop-up coffee shop had been set up. A flash mob, made up of stunning people who could easily be Swift drivers, suddenly broke into a performance, completely surprising the journalists –especially those with little sense of humour who thought it was cheesy. After a quick presentation, we headed over to choose the cars lined up on the edge of the beautifully manicured grounds.
My co-driver and I settled into a top-of-the-range manual gearbox model and instantly fell in love. The steering wheel felt solid and premium, a nice touch. Although the interior is small, as expected in a B-segment vehicle, it didn’t feel cramped, and I really appreciated the height-adjustable driver’s seat – well done, Suzuki. On the road, the car felt light to drive with great performance. It’s not trying to be a sports car, but it handles very well and feels more like a bigger car on the road. We noticed this when overtaking taxis, whose drivers were living up to their reputation as a menace to other road users. As we made our way to Elgin Railway Station, the Swift zipped up passes and exceeded my expectations. Once we got there, it was time to test the Swift on a gymkhana course – but I totally chickened out.
The activities
On our way back, we switched to a CVT transmission for a drive through the famous
Franschhoek Pass. Unlike the manual version, the CVT had a bit of lag and made a strange noise when changing gears, which wasn’t ideal. But we weren’t in a rush, so we took our time and enjoyed the stunning surroundings. We stopped at Kumanov Perfumery in Franschhoek, where we had the fun task of mixing our own fragrances to feel iconic. The owner kept us laughing with some one-liners. While I enjoyed the experience, my mixologist skills were a bit off. Fortunately, my colleague Prashirwin nailed it and represented Xploreza brilliantly. With just one sniff of his perfume, Madame Daniela instantly approved.
As we drove to the hotel in Stellenbosch, we were satisfied, and even the lengthy roadworks couldn’t dampen our spirits. The Suzuki team nailed the brief and made us feel just as iconic as the Swift.
