Suzuki Swift Sport (ZC33S)

The Suzuki Swift Sport makes a clear choice that separates it from much of a 600-car catalogue: a turbocharged inline-4 engine driving the front wheels. That decision places it in a group of just 36 cars that combine an inline-4 layout with FWD, and it shapes both what the Swift Sport gains and what it gives away. It is not chasing the biggest numbers in the collection. Its place is defined by a different balance.

The numbers make that contrast clear. With 138 bhp, the Swift Sport ranks 596th for power among all 600 cars, placing it near the bottom of the catalogue for outright output. Its 0-100 km/h time of 8.1 seconds ranks 593rd, and its 210 km/h top speed ranks 581st. Those positions show a car that sits far from the catalogue’s performance extremes, yet its specification explains why it remains an interesting choice within a dream garage. The 1.4-litre turbocharged inline-4 produces 230 Nm of torque, with a compact hatchback body style and FWD layout forming the foundation of its character.

The Swift Sport’s standout feature in this collection is not a headline figure, but its combination of choices. Among the 600 cars, 58 use a turbocharged inline-4, and 48 come from Japan, while Suzuki represents a single entry in the catalogue. At a used price of £15,000, it also sits 582nd for price, meaning it is more expensive than 18 cars in this collection. Its cost per bhp is £109, a figure that reflects a car judged less by maximum power and more by how its engineering decisions fit together.

That makes the Swift Sport a distinct proposition beside the catalogue’s faster, more powerful and more expensive machines. A 2017 Suzuki Swift Sport with its 4/5 seater hatchback format, 1,373 cc engine and front-wheel-drive layout occupies a specific space: a turbocharged Japanese hot hatch built around a particular set of compromises.

For a garage built from 600 possibilities, the Swift Sport represents a move away from chasing the upper limits. It sits close to the catalogue’s lower end for power, acceleration, top speed and price ranking, but its drivetrain choice gives it a clear identity among the alternatives. Owning this one places a compact, front-driven turbocharged hatchback alongside the extremes of the collection, creating a garage where the smallest numbers can still have a defined role.