Since the earliest vestiges of time, the mythical pursuit of immortality and eternal youth has captivated mankind. The Elixir of Life, known by various names but perhaps most famously equated with the Philosopher's Stone, became the subject of the Magnum Opus (The Great Work).
In our 21st century present, the Philosopher's Stone is probably most well-known for its Harry Potter association, as the whole practise of alchemy has (quite rightly) fallen by the wayside. But our pursuit for eternal youth hasn't.
Suzuki has launched the new Swift SE (Special Edition), a refresh of the brand's most renowned model. And while it may not be the fabled Philosopher's Stone, it most definitely will help you to recover your lost youth. Up close and Personal
Mechanically identical to the Suzuki Swift launched in 2011, the Swift SE retains most of its aesthetic qualities, with a couple of updates to keep it looking young and fresh.
The most noticeable change for the new hatch is the choice of a dual colour exterior, with a contrasting roof. The model we drove was Boost Blue Pearl Metallic with a white roof, but Suzuki also offers another four different colours as well. Together with the LED daytime running lights, 16-inch alloy rims, a new front grille and a unique fuel lid cover, the Swift SE definitely gains a more youthful and vibrant look.
In our 21st century present, the Philosopher's Stone is probably most well-known for its Harry Potter association, as the whole practise of alchemy has (quite rightly) fallen by the wayside. But our pursuit for eternal youth hasn't.
Suzuki has launched the new Swift SE (Special Edition), a refresh of the brand's most renowned model. And while it may not be the fabled Philosopher's Stone, it most definitely will help you to recover your lost youth. Up close and Personal
Mechanically identical to the Suzuki Swift launched in 2011, the Swift SE retains most of its aesthetic qualities, with a couple of updates to keep it looking young and fresh.
The most noticeable change for the new hatch is the choice of a dual colour exterior, with a contrasting roof. The model we drove was Boost Blue Pearl Metallic with a white roof, but Suzuki also offers another four different colours as well. Together with the LED daytime running lights, 16-inch alloy rims, a new front grille and a unique fuel lid cover, the Swift SE definitely gains a more youthful and vibrant look.
On the inside, there are also some modern updates. The seats in the Swift SE come factory fitted in a special trim comprising a mix of leather and suede, as well as silver stitching. The said stitching also carries on to the steering wheel and gear shifter. The mostly black interior makes for an understated, almost stealth-like atmosphere, but is accentuated with chrome instrument panels and door trim ornaments.
Most importantly, Suzuki has not messed around with the fundamental nature of the car, which is paramount to its appeal. Granted, certain aspects of the car definitely do show its age. The most obvious one is the dated media system and central console that reminds us of an oversized Nokia 8250. But that is superfluous in the grand scheme of things.
The Swift has a well-deserved reputation for being a fun, dynamic car that drivers love to and will inevitably modify, and we think Suzuki understands this. This goes some way to explain the lack of modern creature comforts, which will drive up the price of the car, whilst adding nothing to the car's fundamental attributes of dynamic performance, handling and fun.
Most importantly, Suzuki has not messed around with the fundamental nature of the car, which is paramount to its appeal. Granted, certain aspects of the car definitely do show its age. The most obvious one is the dated media system and central console that reminds us of an oversized Nokia 8250. But that is superfluous in the grand scheme of things.
The Swift has a well-deserved reputation for being a fun, dynamic car that drivers love to and will inevitably modify, and we think Suzuki understands this. This goes some way to explain the lack of modern creature comforts, which will drive up the price of the car, whilst adding nothing to the car's fundamental attributes of dynamic performance, handling and fun.
The Drive
Make no mistakes about it, the Swift is an absolute joy to drive. It is a car that hates to go in a straight line, even though it does so in an admirable form. 94bhp from the rev-happy 1.4-litre engine means that the car feels quicker than the listed 11.1-second century sprint.
The steering is razor sharp, the suspension is firm and responsive, and the chassis is incredibly well-sorted. This translates to great fun when going around corners, whether quickly or not. The seats also do a good job of hugging you as you take the car around bendy roads. Even the act of changing lanes feels like a minor event. And despite all the inevitable hooning about we had to do in the Swift SE, the car still returned between close to 15km/L, which is impressively economical.
Some may call the Swift a young man's car or a driver's initial foray into modding cars. Perhaps it may have a reputation for being an affordable beng-car but that's not a bad thing. The car is definitely primed for aftermarket enhancements, with the carmaker retaining the very core components of the car - the chassis, steering, suspension, etc., and giving drivers the freedom to modify the rest of the car to their tastes.
Make no mistakes about it, the Swift is an absolute joy to drive. It is a car that hates to go in a straight line, even though it does so in an admirable form. 94bhp from the rev-happy 1.4-litre engine means that the car feels quicker than the listed 11.1-second century sprint.
The steering is razor sharp, the suspension is firm and responsive, and the chassis is incredibly well-sorted. This translates to great fun when going around corners, whether quickly or not. The seats also do a good job of hugging you as you take the car around bendy roads. Even the act of changing lanes feels like a minor event. And despite all the inevitable hooning about we had to do in the Swift SE, the car still returned between close to 15km/L, which is impressively economical.
Some may call the Swift a young man's car or a driver's initial foray into modding cars. Perhaps it may have a reputation for being an affordable beng-car but that's not a bad thing. The car is definitely primed for aftermarket enhancements, with the carmaker retaining the very core components of the car - the chassis, steering, suspension, etc., and giving drivers the freedom to modify the rest of the car to their tastes.
Conclusion
The Swift SE is an elixir of life in two ways: it helps make the driver feel younger and youthful again, a reminder of the excitement and joy of driving a small, nimble and fun-loving car. With the growing trend towards sensible hybrid systems and practical crossovers, it is nice to be taken back to a more basic time when driving was just fun and nothing else.
But the new Swift SE is also an elixir of youth for the Swift model. On top of its youthful enhancements, a new model means a new COE, meaning that drivers who want a Swift have the option of adding at least 10 years onto the lifespan of the model. It essentially makes an old car new again.
For anyone who wants to turn back the clock and recover the exuberant joy of youth, driving the new Swift SE may just do the trick. And we are hard pressed to find a sub-$90,000 car that drives as well. While it may not be the mythical Philosopher's Stone, the Swift is arguably Suzuki's Magnum Opus, and it is young once more.
