Supermini Shootout: Suzuki Swift Sport

Usually I try to disregard pre-formed opinions before I drive a car but if you're an avid tweeter you'll be mighty aware I'm rather keen on the Suzuki Swift, especially its sporty range-topper, the, er, Sport. I've sat in one, passengered in one, and read all the glowing reviews and group tests. Finally getting to drive one myself at SMMT, was it to be a case of never meet your miniature heroes?

Nope. 'Course not. So allow me to at last indulge a complete rundown of why the Swift Sport is such a blinder. For much the same reasons I chose the BMW 1M as my Car Throttle Car of the Year in 2011, the keep-it-simple, 'everything included' lack of options makes it a seriously good value proposition. 17" rims, iPod connectivity, tinted windows, xenon headlights and Bluetooth are all standard on the Swift Sport, making it a bargain at £13,499. Thankfully, it's not all show and no go - the engineers did their homework too. The 1.6-litre engine revs out 134bhp, just 13 up from the old (and excellent) Swift Sport. However, the Sport is light, and thanks to shorter gear ratios in the new six-speed gearbox, romps along like a police sniffer dog at Woodstock.

It's not got a squeeze-in-the-back turbo like a Mini Cooper S, but above 4,500rpm the Sport zips toward the limiter and sounds a bit naughty too. And, tipping the boxy body through some challenging turns in natural B-road territory, you find grip, feel, and above all fun, bubbling through the red-stitched steering wheel. The ride is a bit thumpy over the worst of Britain's tarmac, but much better than some of the supposed hot hatch kings, so you're more likely to chuck it at some corners without worrying you'll shake the quality stereo out of the dashboard.

So, a recap. Count these plus points off as we go. It's good looking, it's good value, it's good fun, it's quick enough, it's well-equipped, it's compliant enough to use every day, it's practical, and it's safe. Are there any down sides? Well, we're used to manufacturer fuel consumption numbers being made out of pure fairy dust and unicorn tails, but the Swift Sport also has an overoptimstic trip readout. Our test car was thrashed all day, and read 40.2mpg, but other journalists have found the pocket rocket actually drinks a gallon every 36 miles. Hardly ice-cap melting, really.

Make no mistake, Car Throttlers, the Suzuki Swift Sport is a fantastic package. It's pretty much the ultimate young driver's Swiss Army knife, do it all on a budget kinda-car. It's why as soon as I left the test car behind, I got home and reeled off an email to Suzuki asking to test one again for longer and to really discover what the SSS is like to live with every day. Not the quickest, and not the most premium, undeniably. But the best? For my money, absolutely. Well done Suzuki.

Car Throttle Cool Factor: 9 (and a half) / 10