The new third generation Suzuki Swift has arrived in Finland.

The Swift is a small, affordable four-wheel drive car in the B-segment. For less than €16 400, you shouldn’t expect a premium car.

However, after a short test drive, the third-generation Swift is a viable option when four-wheel drive is essential and you don’t want to spend tens of thousands of euros on a car.

The car clearly has the feel of a smaller car. The steering is tight and precise and the driver has a good feel for the road. The manual gearbox is precise and the car has a slightly sporty feel to it.

Without a load, the car accelerates well and you can hear the engine well inside the cabin.

The car is not one of the quietest, but that’s partly due to the poor spring road surfaces.

The interior of the car has hard plastic surfaces throughout. Suzuki says this is a weight saving compared to having softer plastic parts.

The driver’s seat and steering wheel are adjustable enough for a driver over 180 cm tall. The car is registered for five people, but it won’t happily seat three adults in the back.

The four-wheel drive is powered by a 1.2-litre petrol engine. It develops 66 kW (90 hp) and maximum torque is 120 Nm.

Peering into the engine compartment, it was quite a surprise to see the engine itself and the ground beneath it. So there is plenty of space in the engine compartment and no big protective cover over the engine. This should make it easier to service.

Only available in four-wheel drive in Finland

The Swift is also available in front-wheel drive, but will only be available in four-wheel drive.

The new Swift is 3.84 metres long, a centimetre shorter than the old model. The width has increased by four centimetres (1.735 m) and the height of the four-wheel drive Swift is 1.52 metres, pretty much the same as before.

The chassis is completely new, with a wheelbase that has increased by two centimetres to 2.45 metres. There is also four centimetres more track width at both the front and rear.

The wheels are positioned further apart at the corners of the body, resulting in increased interior space in all directions. The new design has lowered the seating position, increasing headroom.

Additional body widths allowed the front seats to be mounted further apart, giving more space for front passengers.

Boot space has increased by almost a fifth to 265 litres. The rear seat is split asymmetrically in a 60:40 ratio, and when folded out of the way, the boot increases to 947 litres.

Lighter than before

The Swift’s new chassis is around 30kg lighter than the previous model. In addition, the body weight has been reduced by 40 kg compared to the previous model. The new Swift has a kerb weight of less than 1,000 kg.

The car is fitted with 16-inch alloy wheels with 185/55 tyres. The new Swift’s sporty appearance is enhanced by tinted rear windows (rear side windows and rear window).

In the cockpit, audio and many other functions are operated via a 7-inch colour touchscreen. A reversing camera for easy parking is also included.

The car’s media system also works with a mobile phone, as the system is compatible with Apple and Android systems. Mirrorlink also works.

This is definitely worth a look if you’re looking for a small, smart car with four-wheel drive.