Suzuki Swift Allgrip

Japanese all-wheel drive supermini is a niche choice, but will make a lot of sense for some customers

- Jordan Katsianis

SUZUKI has made a bit of a habit of cutting through the fluff in offering customers the sort of car they really need, not what they think they need. The new Swift Allgrip is a case in point, because while superminis from across the spectrum are being dressed up to resemble an SUV, or just turned into them wholesale, Suzuki is doing the exact opposite with its all-wheel-drive Swift, which wears its supermini clothes as something of a disguise.

Under the Allgrip’s cute bodywork, which is identical to that on the standard front-wheel-drive car, is a full-time all-wheel-drive system and extra ground clearance. It’s powered by the same 1.2-litre three-cylinder petrol engine with a small hybrid drive unit, matched to a five-speed manual; the two-wheel-drive car’s optional CVT gearbox isn’t available here.

Peak power is rated at a very sensible 81bhp, and there's just 112Nm of torque at a relatively lofty 4,500rpm (it is a petrol engine after all). But then there's only 1,047kg to move, so the 13.6-second 0-62mph time isn't actually all that far off the pace of similar superminis.

ESSENTIALS Suzuki Swift Allgrip Ultra

Price: £22,049 On sale: Now

Powertrain: 1.2-litre, 3cyl petrol hybrid

Power/torque: 81bhp/112Nm

Transmission: Five-speed manual, four-wheel drive

0-62mph: 13.6 seconds

Top speed: 99mph

Economy/CO2: 57.6mpg/110g/km

Size (L/W/H): 3,860/1,735/1,520mm