MOTORING JANUARY: Suzuki Swace Ultra HEV CVT

George Loveridge Driving Around for Travel News Update

Launched in 2020, the Suzuki Swace is respectively a badge-engineered Toyota Corolla. However, this Suzuki looks a little bit sharper and boasts a lot of high-class features. As this model is about to be taken out of production, let’s see what one is like to live with. And is it something that you should consider?

If you have ever been taken home from a night out, then you have probably seen or even sat in the back of one of these. Generous rear legroom coupled with tremendous fuel economy means that these models make for fantastic taxis. But, they are so much more than that. Upfront we have a 1.8 litre, four-cylinder petrol engine, coupled to a 70kW electric motor. Driving the front wheels only via a CVT transmission, you will see a combined 102bhp. This does not sound like an awful lot, but when you consider that this family estate only weighs 1.4 tonnes, it moves about fairly well.

This example is a full hybrid. So when driving around, you will find it contemplating whether it wants to use the engine or the electric motor. I have to commend it in the way that it switches between the two propulsion systems. Hybrids of old were very clunky when making the switch. If it was not for a green ‘EV’ light on the digital driver’s cluster, you would be none the wiser. The CVT transmission does not like to be rushed, but it is appropriate for the power train.

On the road, the Swace is compliant but not performance-orientated. I found myself making long motorway trips in this vehicle. Namely, a 300+ mile drive from Newcastle to Newbury. In a straight line, it is perfectly acceptable to absorb the crashes and blows of the UK’s roads. However, when you turn off the motorway, you will find that the front end is very skittish and overall, there is an alarming amount of understeer through the bends regardless of how spiritedly you are driving. It is hardly going to be a B-road blaster, but I really lost any confidence in it when going around corners. It has to be said though, across many hours on the motorway, the Swace did prove itself to be a worthy travel companion. Thanks to 16-inch alloy wheels the road noise was minimal, and despite a largely plastic-cluttered and thin carpeted interior, I felt safe from the outside world.

Aesthetically, the Suzuki version is slightly different to the Toyota, but you would have to have two examples side by side to see the real differences. For an estate, it does have very little front ground clearance and you will notice this when going over speed bumps, even with an empty boot. Moreover, the driving position is extremely low, so low that you cannot see the front of the car from behind the wheel. Coupled with a black-on-black interior and a steep windscreen, you do feel very enclosed inside the vehicle.

Accommodation-wise, the Swace is well equipped. The door cards have nice padding for your elbows, as does the central armrest. I also like how we have got twin cupholders in the centre console, and additional storage in the door bins, if a little plasticky. You get adaptive cruise control with lane keep assist, which is rather aggressive I have to admit. The front occupants will find two-stage heated seats and dual-zone air conditioning. My favourite interior feature has to be the simplicity of the infotainment screen. Even though it feels like it is angled away from the driver somewhat, there are very few menus so you can safely operate it while driving. Another plus point is the wireless Apple Car Play, a feature still to be included on considerably more expensive vehicles.

With the rear seats up, we have got a 596-litre boot which is SUV territory. Furthermore, there is no option for a spare wheel, so you could easily fit an overnight bag under the spare wheel well. For tip runs and house clearances, the back seats fold flat to allow 1,232 litres of storage and a maximum load-carrying potential of 1,000kgs. I am not sure that the torque-starved engine could cope with that, but it is nice to have I suppose.

The George Loveridge Verdict

I was initially sceptical of the Swace. I did not quite understand it and was not a fan of how dark the interior felt. However, after nearly 100 miles across a week, I did learn to rather like it. The fuel economy is wonderful. Now that fuel prices are starting to relax, less than £50 will get you the full 450-mile range. The graphics on the digital driver’s cluster are a bit TV show highlights with plenty of swooping transitions, but that’s okay. A sensible amount of rear legroom is also available, another reason why taxi drivers love these. But, what really spoilt it for me was the way the front end washes out so easily in the corners. I did not exactly find out while being a hooligan either, it just happened! But now that Suzuki have pulled the plug on this one, they will have a lot of stock to clear. So you culd just grab yourself a very smart, comfortable and economical cruiser.


Price as tested: £31,999
Lead in price: £29,999
Average fuel consumption: 57.1 mpg
Range (petrol): 450miles
Engine size: 1798cc
0-60: 9.4 seconds

Performance 7
Handling 4
Transmission 10
Noise 6
Economy 10
Ride and Comfort 8
Accommodation 5
Styling 7
Brakes 8
Finish 6
TOTAL= 71%

Index/Home page
 

READERS' COMMENT

All comments are filtered to exclude any excesses but the Editor does not have to agree with what is being said. 200 words maximum

No one has commented yet, why don't you start the ball rolling?