Suzuki Swift Sport Takes On The CT Olympic Pentathlon

There's no motorsport in the Olympics, but we've enjoyed having a pucker hot hatch in the Car Throttle garage this week, so we've subjected it to our own gruelling pentathlon. Five disciplines, one car, and either medals, or the walk of shame to finish. Is the Suzuki Swift Sport we've already subjected to the Young Apprentices worthy of being an honorary Team GB member? On your marks, get set... let's go!

The Marathon (long distance cruising)

The Swift isn't built for this event, but it's not bad at the long-distance slog. A sixth gear means the engine doesn't buzz at motorway speeds, and despite looking like a van owned by Postman Pat's tearaway brother, it's not dogged by wind noise either. Plus, there's cruise control so you can just relax into the drive. An unexpected Personal Best from the SSS there.

Score: 5/5

The Gymnastic Rings (technical ability)

Looking good for the Swift Sport here: there's only one model, and it's crammed with cool kit. You get Bluetooth phone interactivity, a CD/Radio that's iPod and MP3-friendly, air-con, climate control, electric windows, electric heated mirrors, heated front and rear screens, and seven airbags. Basically, you get plenty of buttons, which is great. What isn't so great is that it's no Audi A1 inside. My hard-used press car had a few rattles niggling away inside, and as easy-to-use as all the kit is, stuff like the radio hissing at LOUD volume levels shows that money has been spent on the car's performances, not posh-ness. Still, it didn't harm my enjoyment of Watch The Throne too much. Dat sh*t cray.

Score: 3.5/5

The Cross-country (B-road killer)

It's a new world record! Matching the personal best of the great French athlete 205GTi of the Eighties, the Swift Sport just loves B-roads. Its stiffened suspension keeps the car flat but never leaves your head bounding into the acres of headroom, and you'd have to be trying way too hard to get it into an airborne triple-jump. The 134bhp engine revs away like it wishes it idled at 6500rpm, and it's quick too: I caused an unsuspecting BMW 120d all sorts of problems as I monstered my B-road commute - you know who you were going backward in my mirror, in the black Beemer, mate...

Believe the hype. The Swift Sport is fab to drive. It's been set up by someone who loves hot hatches, but knows young people need to be able to afford to insure and run the bloody things.

Score: 5/5

The Weightlifting Event (luggage capacity)

It's a case of dropping the bar just as it was heading for gold for the Swift Sport here, because in some ways it's great at shouldering big loads. Its boxy body means there's a silly amount of headroom, and the rear seats are above average for mates' accommodation - your better half will stay as such for longer if they had to ride as back row bandits in the SSS than an Alfa Romeo MiTo or Mini, for example.

However, where it's robbed room from is the boot, which is pretty pokey at 211 litres. It's fine for a squashy bag, but this isn't a road-trip-happy hatch, unless you're going solo. Then again, there is less room for your gear to roll around as you belt along your favourite road...

Score: 3/5

The Fundraiser (price)

Thankfully, you don't have to get sponsored by McDonalds to own a Swift Sport. The £13,499 pricetag is a bargain - okay it's not as plush as an Audi, but it's about half the price too, and you get all the kit as standard. More importantly, insurance isn't as bad as some hot hatches at Group 19, and then there's the Swift's almost tee-total attitude to fuel. The engine sounds and goes way too good to not nail to the redline, but I got 305 miles from a tank, which works out at 33mpg. On a long motorway run when I calmed down, I got that up to over 40mpg. This is easily the cheapest hot hatch to run by a country mile, and it means guilt free smiles per mile per gallon.

Score: 4.5/5

The Podium

So, closing ceremony time. The Swift has scored, from a possible 25 points, maths fans... 21. That's a sensational 84% approval rating from the Car Throttle judges, and well worth a top step podium place.

Suzuki has nailed the Swift Sport, and it can add the Car Throttle medal to its huge haul of praise. If only it were British...