Suzuki Swift D

SUZUKI Swift 1.3 16v DDiS

5-dr

Top speed: 102 mph

0-62 mph: 14.2 secs

Power: 69 Ps

Torque: 125 lb ft

Combined: 61.4 mpg

CO2 emissions: 122 g/km

Price: £9,999

THE Swift diesel is a bit of a sheep in wolf's clothing and fans of Suzuki's funky supermini who want a cheap-to-run alternative to the sporty wagon will not be disappointed with this super-frugal car.

The 1.3-litre DDiS turbocharged diesel engine is a perfect fit for the small Swift. Available in the five-door model this is a highly practical little car. If you spend a lot of time on the road, but aren't necessarily a long-distance traveller this car will suit your budget. It is capable of 61.4mpg on the combined cycle. It is great news for the cash-conscious motorist. And despite diesel being almost £1 per litre at the pump, you'll soon realise a big saving on your transport costs because of its frugal nature.

I really enjoyed driving this car because it felt really torquey and powerful. It drove quite effortlessly and had power across a good rev range. A five-speed manual transmission offers a good deal of control over the power and its short shift gives the car a really sporty drive.

It is quite noisy because of the diesel engine and the fact that it is a small car. It doesn't detract from the driving pleasure, however, and I got the feisty little wagon up to the red plenty of times. Tearing up the tarmac was quite a joy.

On delivering the car back to the dealership I made sure I gave it a thorough workout and took the 'scenic' route, taking in plenty of sharp bends and straights. It was fantastic.

I can see diesel really taking off in small cars. I used to have doubts about small cars with diesel engines but the Fiat Punto with the Multijet engine proved me wrong. They're capable, fun and prove you can have a big fat juicy cake and eat it in the knowledge it's almost calorie-free.

The safety conscious Swift diesel has a Euro NCAP 4 star rating for occupant protection and a taut, responsive chassis, matched to comprehensive equipment levels: front, side and curtain airbags, radio/CD player, remote central locking and immobiliser, electric front windows, electric and heated door mirrors, steering wheel-mounted audio controls, and tinted glass.

And because the specification is equivalent to the GLX petrol model, the diesel Swift features air conditioning, alloy wheels, and front fog lamps. Only the petrol-engined model's keyless entry is absent.

Also, it doesn't bleat out at you that it is a diesel when it is just sat in the car park. The only real tell-tale sign is a little DDiS badge. To the untrained eye, it's just as sporty as the next Swift.

As well as being cheap to run, owners won't have to pay out a fortune to insure it, either – the Swift 1.3 DDiS has been awarded an insurance group rating of just 4A.