Suzuki Swift - The Cars We Need Now!

No one is better than Americans at blurring the lines between wants and needs, and the sudden upheaval in the car market is proof of that. In the past few months of this year, small-car sales have shot up, while sales of large SUVs and pickups have dropped sharply. American car buyers' needs haven't changed; consumers have just realized that they never actually needed those gas guzzlers in the first place. And now they're seeking ways to contain their fuel bills.

Fact is, a small, economical hatchback is all the car most of us need most of the time. The Suzuki Swift is a practical car that addresses what consumers really need: simple transportation. As an added bonus, the Swift strokes a few of our wants, too-it's downright adorable, a complete hoot to drive, and available with some of the toys from the big boys. Things like steering-wheel-mounted radio controls, keyless entry, air-con-ditioning, and power windows aren't real needs, but they're features many of us really want.

The first three generations of the Swift were sold here from 1984 through 2001, occasionally badged as Chevrolets and Geos, Sprints and Metros. They offered remarkable fuel economy, their window stickers promising as high as 53 mpg in the city and 58 mpg on the highway. The fourth-generation Swift (pictured here) isn't sold in the United States, and it isn't quite that easy at the pump, but it's the kind of car many Americans-especially those who are Suzuki dealers-could use right now. Luckily, an all-new fifth-generation model will return the Swift nameplate to the States in 2010 as a 2011 model.

The current Swift has been on sale around the world since 2004. It's almost fourteen inches shorter than the new Honda Fit but more than two inches longer than a Mini Cooper. Four adults can ride comfortably, provided they don't have much luggage (there's not much room behind the rear seats). Because the Swift is a hatchback, its back seats fold down, creating a large, usable cargo space.

The Swift is offered with a choice of four-cylinder engines displacing 1.3, 1.5, or 1.6 liters. The high-revving, cammed-out 1.6-liter powers the Swift Sport, and with 123 hp arriving at a lofty 6800 rpm, it isn't messin' around. Even the 100-hp 1.5-liter is, well, swift. It has a meaty torque curve thanks to variable valve timing, and short gearing helps the Swift feel even quicker than its ten-second 0-to-60-mph time suggests. And unlike penalty-box economy cars of yore, it's not at all scary at its 115-mph top speed.

In fact, if there's one thing that the Swift is, it's fun. Driving it reminds you that light cars can have authentically light controls without the need for feedback-numbing assist systems tuned to overboost to compensate for a heavier vehicle's heft. It reminds you how much fun we used to have behind the wheel-how satisfying it was to rev the bejeezus out of a willing little four-banger; how exciting it used to be to drive at crazy high speeds like 75 mph; and how much fun it was to go forty miles on a single gallon of gasoline.

Introduces 2009 Honda Jazz

In today’s climate of high petrol costs, small cars are rapidly increasing in popularity as Aussie motorists move away from large cars and SUVs to something a little more frugal.

The timing then for Honda’s Australian release of the second-generation Honda Jazz could not be more perfect, as its spacious interior, light weight and thrifty engine line-up looks to be just the thing to give cash-strapped motorists some relief at the petrol pump.

The look of the 2009 Honda Jazz may be familiar to most of you, but the sheetmetal is all new. It’s a little chunkier than the outgoing model and the front now sports an almost Civic Type R-ish visage. The tailgate is a little less squared-off than the old model too and the sides are a little more dynamic than the featureless slabs of the 1st-gen Jazz, thanks to more pronounced rear fender flaring and a few strategically-placed body creases.

The new Jazz comes in three trim levels: the base GLi with a 73kW 1.3-litre engine, the more powerful VTi which comes with an 88kW 1.5-litre inline four and side and curtain airbags; and the top-spec VTi-S, which adds a sportier front and rear bumper, side skirts, cruise control, leather steering wheel and 16-inch alloys to the VTi’s equipment.

ABS brakes with electronic brake force distribution and dual front airbags are standard across the Jazz range, however you’ll need to check the box for an optional Safety Pack if you want side and curtain airbags on the GLi.

While sub-100kW power outputs wouldn’t even excite your great-grandmother, the new Jazz’s engine lineup’s biggest drawcard lies indisputably in its fuel economy. The 1.3-litre sips just 5.8 litres per 100km when equipped with the 5-speed manual, while the 1.5-litre needs just 6.4 litres to travel the same distance with the same gearbox.

The 2009 Jazz can also be optioned with a newly-developed 5-speed automatic, the only one of its kind in the compact car segment. The automatic VTi-S also gets a pair of steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters for rowing through the ratios.

The suspension has also undergone some changes for 2009. Steering geometry has been revised to endow the Jazz with a 9.8 metre turning circle, while new suspension bushes and a redesigned rear torsion beam improve handling.Honda Australia has made no mention of when the exact release date is, or of the pricing for the various models, but we’ll be sure to let you know as soon as the information comes to hand.