Maruti Suzuki Swift review - Engine and transmission |
Engine and transmission
There aren't many Suzuki engine one can crib about. Maruti engines have been good performers, right from the bottom of the pile, the 800. Performance and efficiency have remained Maruti traits, it continues to be that way with the swift too. Its a different animal to the esteem engine, although it share the block and the head. It pumps 87BHP, and red lines at 6700rpm. What we realised was immaterial of where the red-line is, you don't need to push this engine. There is a lot of torque available from very low down. Although not as gamely as the much lighter saloon, the engine is really nice and keeps the car pushing its nose well ahead of some bigger saloons if you happen to get into a tussle at the lights. Efficiency has plagued the swift, not because its an inefficient engine, but because more mileage is expected of most small cars. We have heard from owners that the car comfortably returns 13kmpl in the city and a decent 16kmpl on the highway. This although quite good for a car of 1300cc; is bit below the standards set by the esteem. but, one has to remember that this car weighs 135kgs more than the saloon and every kilo in excess is in the way of making sure that you are safer when you crash.
The best part about this engine the silence.. Right from the idle
zone all the way to the midrange, but later on there is a bit of engine noise penetrating the cabin of the car. The slick part about the car though isn't the engine. Its the amazingly short shift transmission. I was reminded of the Honda City. The transmission is also able to isolate engine vibrations from the gear lever to a great extent. Something you will feel in a car like the Wagon R. The gear ratios are also quite different from the saloon, the esteem. They have been changed to accommodate the different torque curve of the engine and Maruti seem to have done quite well. Gears 3 and 2 are extremely good for city driving. The clutch though was bit funny, and has a little too much play for my liking. This though is subjective and can be altered to suit your liking at your next visit to your friendly maruti dealer.
Review on the Design and interiors and the Ride and Handling |
![swift engine](javascript:openwin("largephoto.asp?imagename=swifteng.jpg&imagetitle=Suzuki Swift Engine"))
![swift exterior](javascript:openwin("largephoto.asp?imagename=swift3.jpg&imagetitle=Suzuki Swift Exterior"))
![swift interior](javascript:openwin("largephoto.asp?imagename=swiftint1.jpg&imagetitle=Suzuki Swift interior"))
![click to enlarge](javascript:openwin("largephoto.asp?imagename=swifteng.jpg&imagetitle=SuzukiSwift engine")){kind=link}
![click to enlarge](javascript:openwin("largephoto.asp?imagename=swift3.jpg&imagetitle=SuzukiSwift exterior")){kind=link}
![click to enlarge](javascript:openwin("largephoto.asp?imagename=swiftint1.jpg&imagetitle=SuzukiSwift interior")){kind=link}