1997 Suzuki Swift Review

New paint colors (Victory Red and Bright Teal Metallic) and new seat coverings are the only changes to the 1996 Swift.

This is it. This is the car for those of you who need to buy a new vehicle but don't have much more than the lint in your pockets to spend. Suzuki Motor Corporation, more noted for its mini sport-utility wagons and motorcycles, had you in mind when they developed the Swift.

Calling Suzuki's entry-level hatchback Swift borders on false advertising and misrepresentation. Fortunately for Suzuki, the Swift has other attributes that keep consumers from filing a class action lawsuit. The most noticeable is its price; the Swift can be had for under $9,000. Heck, these days most people spend more on used cars without warranties than you'll pay for the Swift with its three-year/36,000 mile worry-free coverage. What's more, the Swift offers amazing gas mileage: 39 mpg in the city, 43 on the highway. Yes indeed, the Swift promises to be a cheap set of wheels no matter how you slice it.

The Swift has a more recognized cousin, the Geo Metro, that tends to show up in rental fleets as the $19.00 per day special. The Metro costs slightly less than the Swift and offers a mind-blowing 50 mpg on the freeway. If you opt for the Metro, however, you will have to make do with a car that has a three-cylinder engine that produces a measly 55 horsepower. On that basis alone, we recommend the Swift. Although no drag-racer, the Swift offers 15 more horsepower via its additional cylinder.

The Swift is one of the few choices left for Americans who need inexpensive transportation and a warranty. In this category we feel that the Swift is the best choice. You better have great looks and a sparkling wit though; this car is unlikely to attract many dates.