The all-new Suzuki Swift is stylish, decently equipped and relatively affordable. But its entry into the local subcompact hatchback isn't going to be one without challenges, especially considering it's going up against the likes of the Honda Jazz.
Ah, the Jazz--arguably the king of Philippine hatchbacks. You see them just about around every corner. And it's understandable: This Honda's flexible interior and good size make it a staple among urban drivers. The Swift is undoubtedly the fresher of the two, but does this make it better?
Immediately, the Suzuki is at a disadvantage when it comes to outright power. Its 1.2-liter gasoline mill--capable of 82hp and 113Nm of torque--simply pales in comparison to the Jazz's 1.5-liter engine (118hp and 145Nm).
The same goes for space, with the Jazz able to carry up to 384 liters of cargo compared to the Swift's 242 liters (though this jumps up to 546 liters with the rear seats folded). The thing is the Suzuki is considerably more compact at 3,840mm long. The Jazz measures 3,989mm in length--that's a sizeable difference.
For a better idea of how these two subcompacts stack up against each other, you can check out the spec-by-spec breakdown of each car below. So, would you take the Swift over the Jazz? Let us know in the poll below.
|
HONDA JAZZ |
SUZUKI SWIFT GLX CVT |
|
| Price (Philippine Peso) | 893,000 | 899,000 |
| Drive | FWD | FWD |
| Seating capacity | 5 | 5 |
| Engine | 1.5-liter gasoline | 1.2-liter gasoline |
| Power | 118hp @ 6,600rpm | 82hp @ 6,000rpm |
| Torque | 145Nm @ 4,800rpm | 113Nm @ 4,200rpm |
| Transmission | CVT | CVT |
| Brakes (front/rear) | Ventilated disc/drum | Ventilated disc/drum |
| Front suspension | MachPherson strut with stabilizer | MacPherson strut with coil spring |
| Rear suspension | Torsion beam withs stabilizer | Torsion beam with coil spring |
| Wheels | 15-inch alloy | 16-inch alloy |
| Tires | 175/65 R15 | 185/55 R16 |
| Airbags | Driver/passenger | Driver/passenger |
| Dimensions (mm) | 3,989 x 1,694 x 1,524 | 3,840 x 1,735 x 1,495 |
| Wheelbase (mm) | 2,530 | 2,450 |
| Fuel tank (liters) | 40 | 37 |
| Cargo capacity (liters) | 384 | 242 |
