A fun car at a tempting price - Suzuki Swift

And not only that but the sporty Swift which is based on the mid grade 1.2 SZ3 is currently available VAT free which representS a saving of over £2000 for the three door model that costs £10,899.

The SZ-L also has additional equipment and is available with either a blue or black body with a white roof but I would go for the black paintwork which looked really classy on the test car providing plenty of kerb appeal.

Extra kit includes LED daytime running lights and cruise control with rear spoiler and inside there is silver stitching on the steering wheel, gear gaiter and seats which also have a unique fabric design.

The 1.2-litre 93bhp engine is one of the most powerful in its class with low CO2 emissions of 116g/km costing £30 in annual car tax after the first year and the car returns a frugal 56.5mpg on the combined cycle.

It is also in insurance group 11E the same low group as the rest of the Swift range making it an ideal purchase for younger drivers who want a smart set of wheels at an affordable cost with plenty of driver enjoyment.

Top speed is 103mph and while the zero to 62mph time of 12.3 seconds might not seem too speedy the car is such fun to drive the acceleration feels much quicker than it actually is.

I drove the special Swift along fast roads through attractive countryside next to the England and Wales border south of Chester where it provided stimulating motoring that will have big appeal particularly to image conscious younger owners wanting a new car rather than a used motor.

The precise handling made cornering particularly enjoyable which helped to make this little Suzuki hatchback such a great car to drive and it also had a look off the Mini from certain angles with one observer actually thinking it was a Mini which can’t be bad.

With the Swift SZ-L Suzuki has managed to give the car the appearance of a hot hatch and yet retain all the attractions of the Swift with plenty of room for four and reasonable space for shopping or baggage.

Suzuki in the UK is enjoying a boom in sales and the Swift SZ-L will help to provide a further boost although this special edition is only available as part of a limited production run.

However, the car which enhances the sporty and fun to drive character of Swift has been selling so well that Suzuki which is still a family owned Japanese manufacturer might well be tempted to increase production of this model because of its popularity and sales potential.

My Verdict: A fun car at a tempting price.

Model: Suzuki Swift SZ-L three door.

Engine: 1.2-litre four cylinder petrol.

Output: 93bhp @ 6000rpm.

Transmission: Five speed manual.

Top speed: 103mph.

Acceleration: 0 to 62mph 12.3 seconds.

Fuel consumption: 56.5mpg combined.

CO2 emissions: 116g/km.

Price: £10,899.