Carmudi Monthly 009 | Page 21

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The inclusion of the red strip in the middle of the top grille, separates the Suzuki logo and the number plates, and adds to the sportier finish of the car. Strong shoulder lines along the side of the car gently curve as you approach the rear, creating depth in a once flat profile. The rear of the car takes on a boxier stance, but well proportioned and uncluttered. Suzuki have moved the rear roof spoiler mounted brake light to the rear bumper, F1-esque. The whole thing sits on 16” black and silver alloys, adding to the sportier stance and exterior appeal of the new Swift.

Another big change they’ve brought about are the rear door handles, mounted on the C-Pillar of the car, similar to the Honda Vezel. However, the black plastic extends back and acts as a separator between the roof and body, unlike the Vezel.

The Interior

The insides of the car have been completely rebuilt from the ground up. The new dash features a new layout, revised A/C vents, and features body colored inserts which help bring the cabin together. You get keyless entry and push button start, which is something you see more of across all car segments.

The styling is more akin to European models—an approach we are starting to see more and more out of Japanese models. The Climate Control controls have been completely changed and looks a lot better. The multifunction steering has a lot more functions, and can feel a little cluttered due to the setup, but it’s something you can quickly get accustomed to. Even the gear knob has got an upgrade and features polished black plastic alongside the usual leather, giving off a more polished finish to it.

The instrument cluster in front of the driver has also gotten a revamp, featuring separate covers for the speedometer and

rev counter, and an all new digital display between them. A few new features have been included in this new display, including a torque and power meter, as well as G-Force indicator (all very cool). You get a 7-inch Kenwood touch screen infotainment system (locally added), that gives you both bluetooth and usb connectivity, and is coupled with 4 door speakers which do a decent job of bringing the music vibes. You also get a reverse camera (also locally added), but visibility is pretty good so you can even manage without one.

The interior is wider than the previous version, and has more leg room. You aren’t going to be able to stretch out too much in the back seat if you are more than 5’5”, but it's sufficient to be comfortable. You do get some degree of recline in the rear backrests, which helps. The seating position does feel slightly lower, but that means you get some headroom. In terms of cargo capacity, you have about 265 litres of space in the back,

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