Suzuki Swace

FIRST DRIVE Corolla-based hybrid estate follows the Toyota with a round of updates

- Alastair Crooks

YOU can look at badge engineering shameless 'copy and paste' reproductions of another brand's models, with little to no originality and creativity. Others might view cars like the Suzuki Swace as a practical, efficient, perfectly acceptable family car that just happens to be virtually identical to the Toyota Corolla Touring Sports, but for less.

Either way, Toyota's recent upgrades for its version haven't gone unnoticed, so here's the 2023 edition of Suzuki's hybrid estate. Gone are the old SZ-T and SZ5 trim levels. Motion and top-spec Ultra now make up the range, and we're driving the latter here.

Motion costs from £28,999 and Ultra £30,799, marking a £1,500 price increase for both models. Compare the Ultra with a similarly specced Corolla Touring and you'll have to pay an extra £746 for the original. For some, this cash saving might be too tempting to pass up, but for others the appeal of the ever-so-slightly more premium Toyota badge will be worth the added expense. Other buyers could be swayed by the finance deals on offer at any given time, or even the delivery lead times involved.