Suzuki’s popular Swift hatchback has been around for a while, building up a devoted following who appreciated its nimble driving feel and its value-for-money specification.

The latest version builds on that good reputation, and is slightly larger, offering more interior space, higher equipment levels and new, more economical engines.

The Swift is priced from £9,995 to £13,245, comes in both three and five-door and with a 1.2-litre petrol engine. A 1.3-litre turbodiesel engine makes its debut in June 2011. Specification levels are SZ2, SZ3 and SZ4 — the latter being my test model and priced at around £12, 250 in three-door form.

The new engine features Dual VVT (variable intake and exhaust valve timing) that gives better response. It offers 93 hp, a top speed of 103 mph and a 0-60 mph time of 12.3 seconds, not quick by class standards. However, the upside is that it offers a combined fuel figure of 56.5 mpg, around 8 mpg better than the outgoing 1.3 litre engine.

The diesel unit due in the spring will offer 67.3 mpg, though the purchase price may be close to £1,000 more so you’ll need to do the maths to work out whether you’ll be better off with diesel – normally you need to do more than 15,000 miles a year to really gain much financial benefit from diesel. However there is a good argument that the greater torque available from low revs means that diesels are better suited for our more crowded roads.

The Swift drives nicely, though rather sedate in acceleration and you do need to work the gearstick quite a lot to maintain speed up hills or cross-country. If you spend most of your driving day in an urban environment then this does not matter that much. It’s only on the open road or cross-country where this becomes more noticeable. On the plus side, the Swift is fluent and agile to drive, with good ride comfort and assured handling.
 
Standard equipment is very good: multi airbags, electric front windows and door mirrors, remote central locking and a stereo radio/CD player with USB port feature on all models, while the SZ3 adds alloy wheels and air conditioning. SZ4 versions gain auto air conditioning, fog lights, push-button start, cruise control, Bluetooth connectivity, and automatic headlights.

The car is neatly styled, looks smart and sporty from the outside, and the cabin is well designed, with good quality and durable-looking trim materials. It feels a more expensive car than it is whether you look at the external style or the interior fit and finish. There is also decent space for front and rear occupants, and the boot is a reasonable size too, though the load-lip is rather deep. It all adds up to a smart and stylish urban supermini.

FOR: Value for money spec, good fuel economy, nimble driving feel.

Against:  Leisurely performance from 1.2 litre petrol model.