With a Herculean effort to throttle the many-headed Hydra of environmental catastrophe with low emissions and super efficiency, the collaboration between Suzuki and Toyota has produced a self charging hybrid that you simply treat like a normal petrol car. The Suzuki Swace and Toyota Corolla Touring Sports are so similar that – cosmetic badging apart – they are twins. The big differences lie in price structure and how they are retailed. Suzuki dealers are often family owned as opposed to Toyota’s inclination towards corporate business: and the Suzuki is considerably cheaper than the Toyota.
Successful under both banners these cars are a classic gesture for our times. But the appraisal and judgement here is of the built in Britain Suzuki Swace AMZ4 Ultra CVT. It’s a splendid self-charging hybrid estate – which means no charging at night while you try to squeeze milliamps into the battery and no trailing cables to trip the unwary visitor to your property. There’s a smallish battery that drives the electric motor and takes its charge from recaptured energy through braking, so there are no worries about finding the nearest malfunctioning public charge point where the electric highwayman would have robbed you anyway. You just call at the parish pump and ask the attendant to ‘fill ‘er up’ with petrol.
So – is the new Swace a classic gesture for our times? Does it amount to nectar and ambrosia, or a disappointing tinful of processed rice pudding? Read on.
I am delighted to tell you that this is a car that serves up sweetness on a plate without the nasty afterbite of hefty fuel and fumes costs. It’s an outstanding family estate: and most importantly it is a great pleasure to drive. In my opinion it is a far better quality product than rivals from Peugeot, Ford, Renault, Fiat – and even with all the trumpeting about the VW Golf and ‘clunky door solidity’ I suggest the Swace wins hands down. You are also reassured by the 7 year, 100,000 miles warranty if you have it serviced at a Suzuki dealer..
With a jolt of volts, you’re on a roll (and it comes up ‘lucky six’ everytime) with a lucky double of power for propulsion when needed The 138bhp Hybrid Synergy Drive system comprises a 4 cylinder petrol engine and an uprated 73kW electric motor driving through a CVT transmission which conveys a feeling of a continuous powerband.
It’s not so much a hybrid, but more a way of life – and more a way of giving good sense a whirl. So – if you’re very green, the new Swace could be the start of a beautiful friendship for you. My pal Dr. Frankenstein – who has always had a healthy interest in hybrids – swears by his.
Way back in time (over half a century ago) the estate car was functional and ‘worthy’; but a tad mundane. Evolution changes things. Now, responding to demand for interesting and inspirational cars, the new Swace fulfils that demand. You get enjoyment behind the wheel and the mental relaxation of knowing you are doing the right thing for the right reasons, at the right time and at the right pace.
No sensible motorist wants to be up there with the fast lane ‘johnnies’, of course (for them perdition is just around the corner) – but, surprisingly, the new Swace is a deceptively smooth and rapid car. Near 115mph top speed is not that fast these days, but the zippy way it gets there is remarkable. And here’s another surprise. Suzuki claims an ultra modest ‘overall economy figure’ of 62.7 mpg. Driven sensibly and observing speed limits I easily achieved 75 mpg. (There are reports of over 80mpg).
To put things in perspective, five minutes ago a good sports car would struggle to 120 mph and over a long journey the driver would be exhausted. You’d do the same journey more quickly today in a Swace and arrive totally relaxed.
As for looks… styling of this very practical family estate is pleasant and appealing. Inside, it’s equally attractive. There’s comfortable and supportive seating and there’s ample room to stretch out in the front and adequate room in the back plus a particularly large luggage space. Naturally you are protected by a proliferation of airbags. Also guarding against disaster, electronic monitoring of car and driver slaps you on the wrist should you stray – which makes for top safety. There’s even an ‘e-call’ system that automatically alerts emergency services and gives your precise location should you be involved in a crash.
The top specification Ultra (£31,999) on test here, includes all the features for comfort, convenience and safety that you will ever need. You’ll also find the usual electrically powered adjuncts to modern motoring for the terminally atrophied. Typical Suzuki/Toyota fixtures and fittings say, good ergonomics, good quality, good assembly and bomb-proof durability..
Thankfully the battery pack under the rear seat doesn’t noticeably intrude on available space so nothing is compromised.
Having driven many test miles, your correspondent was impressed by the seamlessly smooth performance, secure handling and fine ride qualities: and the overall relaxing driving experience.
Whether bimbling in eco mode, whizzing in ‘responsive’ sport mode , or crawling in traffic on battery power alone, I contend that the time has come to jettison uncertain connotations that append to the ‘hybrid’ label and accept that Suzuki and Toyota have indeed ‘squared the cir bycle’, punched the ball in the eye, so to speak, and achieved what – for want of a better word – one might call ‘total motoring’.
In the twinning of internal combustion and ingenious electrics, the Swace is a bright spark in anyone’s language. This car deserves the imperial thumbs-up for spooning our future medicine in a sublimely acceptable way. The likes of Richard Hammerhead, Jim Maybe and Jeremiah Clark of Reverse Gear fame might be well advised to focus positively on a car like this rather than impractical nuclear powered ‘nonsense mobiles’. It is remarkably good
