Suzuki’s new Swace station wagon: It’s the same, just different

It’s really up to you. Buy the Toyota Touring Sports (you and me discount) or the Suzuki Swace (also you and me discount). Because there is not much difference between them.

really shouldn’t say to buy either as there are other competitors for the pair on the market – like the Skoda Octavia, Ford Focus etc.

The thing about the Suzuki and Toyota models, however, is that they are almost identical. There isn’t much in between in terms of price either. Depending on the equipment, the Corolla costs between 29,850 and 39,115 euros ex works, the Suzuki from 30,995 euros.

If I review and compare spec levels for you, there’s a good chance you’ve found something else to do before I’m halfway done. Suffice it to say they’re fairly well matched, with choices geared towards what you prioritize in your car.

My apologies for the rather lengthy introduction, but it is intended to explain that the Swace is being supplied by Toyota to Suzuki under a special business arrangement between the two companies. In plain language it is a Corolla with a Suzuki emblem and several details.

As Suzuki explains, “It’s based on the Toyota Corolla hybrid station wagon platform with distinctive design changes and is made in the UK with exports to Europe.”

Usually car companies tend not to emphasize the fact that their car is based on a competitor’s platform. So fair dos to Suzuki for making it very clear that they are using another company’s underpinning to make some changes and hope that customer loyalty to the brand will inform their decision. Apparently, the 1.8-liter hybrid powertrain is also from Toyota.

There are a number of hurdles that the Swace (pronounced “Swaysee”) faces in making their first foray into the real estate market.

The first is that Toyota is a major player and people will most likely look at their car before the Suzuki. It’s just a matter of the number of outlets they have. Although Suzuki is well respected and praised for its reliability, it commands a much smaller market share across all models.

Second, the bigger guns are more visible on the street and command attention, so trying to sell a property against them is bound to be difficult.

And then there is the historical phenomenon that we hardly ever buy real estate in this country. Suzuki disagrees and says they have seen a significant increase. Perhaps people are fed up with muscular SUVs and crossovers and want to drive something quieter to pursue their family and lifestyle pursuits. I just feel like the numbers are small enough anyway.

How did I find the Swace and would I buy it?

It’s big and roomy and reasonably comfortable, but I definitely wanted more support from the seats (yes, ol’ loin-growl was having one of his weeks).

The hybrid system includes a 1.8-litre petrol engine and an electric motor, and while I drive fairly vigorously but don’t have that much luggage or that many passengers, I was counting on consumption not far from the officially quoted 4.4 litres /100 km away.

See, there’s no way to tell this is anything other than a well-dressed, hard-working engine with lots of specs for the price.

I don’t know if you could call it a lifestyle property.

Regardless of what you decide to do with it, you get 596 liters of luggage with all the seats folded up and 1,232 with the rear ones folded flat. The rear seat can be folded down in a 60:40 ratio.

For some reason, I figured cup holders would start springing up like mushrooms: two in the front, two in the armrest, two in the front door, and two bottle holders in the back. So you have no excuse for not being hydrated.

Technically, there was no outstanding performance range. The suspension was a little too soft for my liking and there wasn’t much momentum to be felt. Why should there be? Who wants a stunning property to translate their family to? Well, a bit of grit and panache wouldn’t have gone amiss, I suppose.

No, what I got for the days I had it was a thoroughly no-fuss machine. Oddly enough, despite its length, it was just brilliant to park. So much so, that I even impressed myself in one maneuver, squeezing into an impossible gap on a busy street north of the city in a mad rush.

I can’t say I was mad at the car. In context, it’s perfectly workable. It might lack that bit of sparkle, but it carries a lot of interior space. And I might like their interiors more than the Swace because I’ve driven so many Corolla hybrids. I really don’t know, but it wouldn’t hurt to take a look.

fact file

Suzuki Swace SZT CVT, €31,620, 1.8-litre hybrid station wagon, €190 tax, 4.4 litres/100km. Entry 30,995 euros: On-the-Road including options 31,620 euros. Specification includes: Radar Dynamic Cruise Control, Auto High Beam, Steering Assist, Vehicle Roll Alert, 2 ISOFIX Child Seat Anchorages; 3 child seat tether anchorages, drive mode switch, 8″ touchscreen, 7″ color LCD info display, energy monitor, reversing camera, power adjustable heated front seats, dual-zone air conditioning, fog/rear fog lights, 16″ alloys, roof rails.