Suzuki Swift Sport review – the back-to-basics drivers' hatch - Interior and tech
Honest, simple and mature, the Swift Sport remains an affordable evo favourite. More standard kit ups value for money
Interior and tech
To set the tone inside, the Sport gets bolstered seats and contrasting stitching as standard. ‘Sport’ lettering stitched into the seats and metal-look pedals help to confirm the car’s focus. It's neat but hardly exciting, and some of the Suzuki's bargain price tag can be explained by the downmarket-feeling plastics used widely throughout the cabin.
There’s lots of standard kit, too, with a leather-wrapped steering wheel – complete with controls for media and Bluetooth – climate control and keyless entry and go all included. In fact, all options available in the Swift range are included as standard on the Sport, making it a proper ‘kitchen sink-spec’ model. And now, with DAB and satnav joining the list, you get even more for your sub-£14k warm hatch.
The small touchscreen is refreshingly responsive - its pace shames the SYNC system used in the Ford Fiesta - and the sound system is impressive too. But the infotainment voice recognition's inability to understand simple commands can get frustrating; we left it alone and opted to stick with the steering wheel mounted buttons for radio and phone control.
As in many sporty hatchbacks, the height-adjustable seat could lower a little more - actually, we wouldn't mind trimming a good two inches from its height - but there is at least a wide range of adjustability with the height- and rake-adjustable steering wheel.
Five-door models also get an extra seat (rear middle) added to make the Sport a five-seater. These rear passengers get electric windows, too. Oddly, the Swift manages to pull off the five-door look rather well, so for the added practicality it brings, it’s an understandably popular option.
