There’s one car in my driving history that I’ve mentioned in passing but never really delved into. For a short period of time, while I was between cars, my father lent me his 1995 Suzuki Swift Cino. It couldn’t have been more different from what came before or after.
Dad had wanted a crew-cab pickup but stumbled into the Swift somewhere, priced dirt cheap. I was 14,000 miles away and couldn’t talk him out of it. My dad is a tall, solidly-built fellow and the Swift looked like a little clown car when he (or any other adult male) was driving it. Instead of a cavalcade of clowns crammed inside it, however, there were power tools, planks of timber, home improvement supplies and a multitude of other things. It was impressive seeing how my dad could wedge an ungodly amount of stuff in this tiny hatchback, particularly at election time when it was filled to the brim with A-frame signs. If you ever think you need a big car to haul stuff, have a chat with my dad.
My dad is a pretty firm believer in cars being mere vessels to get you from A to B so he never took any photos of the car. I didn’t really either, so please enjoy these shots of the Swift’s rebadged counterpart, the Holden Barina, as well as some photos of an identical model.
The Swift was cheap and easy on fuel so it worked for Dad. That is, until it began to not work. The battery was regularly on the fritz and, to get the car going, you had to pump the gas as you turned the key in the ignition. It was rather daunting when you were parked nose forward on a downwards sloping driveway. One of the windows was busted too, from memory.
My mother had long discouraged the idea of Dad getting a ute (pickup) because she’d had to occasionally drive his old company Hiluxes and hated them. Well, Dad succeeded in finding a car Mum hated to drive even more than a ute. No, this wasn’t some kind of devious stratagem to convince her a ute wasn’t that bad – he still is ute-less.
Fortunately for my mother, she didn’t have to drive the Swift that often. I, meanwhile, had to use it on a number of occasions. You know how they say it’s fun to drive a slow car fast? It’s often true but not in the case of the Swift. Its steering didn’t have power assistance, making even the simplest of manoeuvres a laborious affair. Its 67-hp 1.3 four-cylinder was also seriously lacking in grunt which made highway merging rather terrifying. As for overtaking, just don’t bother.
Thank goodness Dad’s Swift had the five-speed manual. Ok, the shifter was a bit notchy and it had that weird plastic, concertina shift boot, like seemingly every small Japanese car from the 1990s, that reminded me of Bookworm. But if the Swift felt leisurely with a manual, I can only imagine how horrifically slow the three-speed automatic must have felt.
It’s not that I had an aversion to small cars. My first car was a ’97 Holden Astra which, while a size above, was more than a class above: trim dimensions, peppy engine, great transmission. The Swift, however, felt so dinky. You sat lower to the ground and, while visibility was excellent, you felt so exposed and small. I’d just come from a Ford Falcon and was about to buy a Holden Calais, too, so here I was going from a modern, mid/full-size sedan to a late 1980s-vintage subcompact.
The Swift “Cino”, as it was renamed in 1994, was definitely feeling its age by the time Dad’s example first left the showroom. Its interior was dated in appearance if sturdy, down to the hard-wearing but uninviting cloth seats. The Swift Cino had a low price but so did the new Hyundai Excel (Accent), a much more modern-looking car that offered more metal for your money. The fresh and handsome Canadian-built ’95 Swift was restricted to North American markets, leaving us Aussies with the old car.
Hungarian production of this generation of Swift/Cultus actually continued until 2003 and European-market models were little changed during their lengthy run. This Swift was also offered with four-wheel-drive as the Subaru Justy.
Mercifully, Australia’s time with the Swift came to an end in 1999, the hatchback version of the Baleno (Esteem) briefly serving as Suzuki Australia’s entry-level model until the crossover-esque Ignis arrived in 2000.
We missed out on the North American Swift, sadly, but those of us outside of that continent got our payback in the 21st century when we received the genuinely excellent 2004 Swift while Americans received nothing and, possibly worse, Canadians got a rebadged Chevrolet Aveo.
Overall, I can’t complain about my brief time with the Swift. Dad had kindly lent me his car when I needed to get around town and I’ve always maintained that it’s important to drive a variety of vehicles to broaden one’s automotive experience. And though my next car ended up being rather disappointing, you have no idea how good it felt to be once again behind the wheel of something with power steering, power windows, a powerful engine, airbags and greater crash protection.
As for the Swift? It was eventually put out to pasture when it kept failing to reliably start. I have no idea how high the mileage was but, suffice it to say, it earned its keep. And this time I was there when Dad went looking for another set of wheels and I helped him pick something good – my old Liberty (Legacy). The best part? Mum actually likes driving it. Everyone wins!
Related Reading:
A vintage Australian review pitting the Swift Cino against rivals
Curbside Classic: 1991 Geo Metro XFi – The Pre-Prius Mileage Champ
Junkyard Classic: 1989 Suzuki Swift GT
My Cars of a Lifetime: #1 Astra, #2 Falcon, #3 Calais, #4 Liberty
“Dad had wanted a crew-cab pickup but stumbled into the Swift”
Your father looks for used cars like I do. You figure out what you want, then . . . you stumble upon something completely different, something you would never have gone out looking for in a million years. Which is why a car-hunt for me is a never-ending treasure of surprise and delight.
I must confess that a few of my best laid plans have often gone so awry as to have me motoring home in an unintended consequence.
In a very similar case, I think my van dilemma has finally ended (search-wise anyway). No, I haven’t gotten a Transit OR a Transit Connect, but rather something right in between that isn’t a Ford or Chrysler vehicle: a 2005 Chevrolet Astro (final year they were made). I first found it early in December when I was looking at various vehicles (vans & minivans in particular) on the CarGurus website; of all luck, it was the ONLY ONE of its kind that showed up within a 100-mile range of where I live. The dealership I found it at (B&L Auto Sales in West Columbia, SC) isn’t too far from my regular work commute, so I figured it would be a great opportunity to check it out. Boy was I sure glad I did: it already had a hitch receiver & trailer wiring installed (like my Ranger) and even had a functioning brake controller as well! A quick test with my 12V circuit tester confirmed all necessary functions worked in the trailer connector. Another pleasant surprise was that the rear seats had LATCH anchors for child restraint installation–I would’ve never thought any vehicle so old in overall design would have a feature like that. Here’s some more good news: the van had NEVER been wrecked. I felt like a kid in a candy store, until…several problems revealed themselves before & during the test drive: the van hadn’t run in such a long time that it needed boosting off to start the engine, the fuel pump needed replacing b/c the 27-gallon fuel tank was over 75% empty for who knows how long, the power mirrors, power locks AND parking brake didn’t work, half of the park light bulbs were out (2 on each side as I later found out at AutoZone), and the windshield wipers AND liftgate supports will need eventual replacement (it has the Dutch Doors). Another thing to note is that it has over 260k miles & like my Aerostar had been originally used as a rental vehicle (you can tell from some of the worn interior parts), but the sales people assured me that it had been well-maintained nearly its entire life; as far as the engine & transmission are concerned they weren’t flat-out lying–properly maintained examples are known to go at least 300k miles without needing major attention, & ironically that’s part of the reason GM quit making them. All the HVAC & radio controls work too, even the CD player! The price I paid for it was perhaps a little high for its questionable condition ($5354 including sales tax), but you would be hard-pressed to find anything in the Econoline, Transit, or Express range at a comparable deal; I wouldn’t trust a Chrysler minivan with the same amount of mileage either (transmission issues?). And that electric Microbus (the I.D. Buzz) is still 3-4 years away. If you know what to expect from a vehicle like this, it’s still a pretty decent buy & handles admirably for what it is (the 4.3L Vortec is a powerhouse when warmed up). The upgraded wheels & brakes in the 2003-05 model year range aid in the handling dramatically (I rode in a few older ones when I was younger). Tires are still decent too. What about my Ranger? It ain’t going anywhere: this will still be my primary commuter vehicle while the Astro will be reserved for weekend/holiday/vacation use (somewhat like my dad’s Expedition) once all the essential problems are worked out (some have already been resolved as of this comment). Getting rid of the Ranger now would be a mistake! Any necessary service & repairs (oil change, tire rotation/replacement, brake check, engine tune-up, etc.) can now be done in Batesburg-Leesville at Herlong Chevrolet (originally located in Johnston). What about my garage space? Never fear–there’s an old shed near my grandmother’s house that the Nissan Trailer currently stays under since there’s no room for both of my trailers at home; another space remains under that shed for the Astro to stay under during the week while I’m working; both it AND the Ranger will JUST fit due to having similar wheelbases (111-112″) & overall size–anything much longer, wider or taller would NOT fit!. A silver lining to all this is that if things don’t work out with the Astro, I already have a potential buyer from my insurance company (State Farm) who also has plans for a potential “adventure” van, like some of you guys here on Curbside Classic. With just some TLC & a little patience, I don’t think it’ll be half-bad.
Yep, it has over 260k miles on the odometer, but you would never know it just by driving it. And who is Bookworm?
I can’t decide whether I prefer the concertina shifter boot or the leather scrotum alternative. I think it depends on the car.
Was a Swift really rebadged as a Subaru Justy? I had no idea about that or that the Justy continued on in other markets after the first-gen run ended here (in the US.
We did get the Suzuki Aerio which, while panned when new, now seems to somehow get accolades as a sensible choice, likely in further comparison to the Aveo (which seems to actually be fairly durable for what they are).
I sometimes had the illogical notion that the scrotal modesty cover (which instantly makes it immodest when called such I guess, but I digress) made the shift look as if it would be ill-defined.
And yes, there was a Suzuki Swift sold as a Subaru Justy – I took note, naturally. It seemed that an oddball flim-flam 4wd wearing another makers’ name didn’t offer anything weirder than I already was, so I took no copyright or defamation action.
I’ve got old.
These were relatively decent devices when closer to new, and not slow (0-60 mph in 11 secs, 100mph or so for the foolhardy). Because their body presaged the tall movement to come, they had impressive room, and I recall unusually tall gearing meant they cruised quite well. I do also remember that their clunky ride would leave your ‘cino frothing everywhere on any road, and that any sort of enthusiastic wheeling was met with terminal gross understeer. I recall too that their structural integrity felt as if a large sneeze within might remove all the doors, but also that they are undaunted by huge mileages.
I’ve also driven a perfect, low mileage 3-speed auto, William. With airconditioning. And, well,…. I’ll be buggered if the thing wasn’t almost ok, around the ‘burbs below 50mph at any rate!
Justy, your comments always make me smile. “‘Cino frothing”, hah!
These were manufactured in Pakistan until a couple of years ago; when I was there in mid-2018, there was thousands on the roads, with only more Mehran (mid-‘80s Alto) and Bolan (late-‘70s Carry) being more popular from what I could tell—and both still in production, as far as I’m aware….
I went in a few as Ubers and they had air conditioning (it cost about ₨50 more to make sure the car had this important feature!) but basically no other options—not even rear seatbelts….
When it’s the equivalent of only a few AU$ per trip, I’m not complaining, though.
“The fresh and handsome Canadian-built ’95 Swift was restricted to North American markets, leaving us Aussies with the old car.”
Don’t worry, you Aussies did not miss much in regards to that one. It may have looked all nice and shiny and had airbags but it still was pretty miserable to drive. The later Esteem was no picnic ether.
Unless gas MPG and the dream of buying the cheapest brand new Japanese car on the market was your goal. There was no reason to buy this over the Geo/Chevy Metro…….Or a Mitsubishi Mirage
I have fond memories of zipping around in the old ’84 Swift I inherited when my ninety-something year old aunt gave up driving. The ’84 was smaller and lighter than the ’95 (600kg according to the registration papers), so the lack of one cylinder didn’t matter much – and the sound of that triple when you revved it! The car always seemed so willing you didn’t mind the lack of power; you could sense the car was giving its all. It was like a playful puppy. My daughter used it as her first car, and told of dropping guys in V8s at the lights because nobody expected a young girl in an old Suzuki to have such great reflexes – of course that only lasted for half a car length, but it’s a great story. As was the time she was running late for an exam at uni, and shot along the long, straight back roads at… well, lets just say a speed that would have cost her her licence. She told me 130, I’ve heard from others it was even faster – she must have been on the very edge of control.
Of the (few) cars I’ve owned, it’s the one I wish I still had. It’s still in the (wider) family, and has survived teaching five children to drive, so far.
I’m honestly surprised I didn’t find the Swift enjoyable to drive. I remember being tossed from side to side in the back of a classmate’s 85 Colt back in high school and thinking, “Wow, something small like this would be fun to drive!” But no, the Swift wasn’t enjoyable for me to drive.
Meanwhile, that Astra was a blast. So I guess I enjoy small cars, they just need to be a bit bigger and have power steering.
The Canadian contingent of these cars were no great shakes either Will.
I had a buddy who had an 89 Chevy Sprint which I think matches a second generation Swift but with only three chipmunks under the hood.
He had some health issues and could not drive for very long. I took him on longer trips.
The car was kinda fun on regular roads but the one trip I took it on the freeway was more than enough! It was the only time in my life I was scared of Volkswagens!
It died a typical Canadian death due to high salt intake and biodegradable steel ( gotta love those Canadian winters ) but as you said it gave me a different experience than driving the usual North American tanks.
I had a ’93 Geo Metro-branded version with the 1.0 three-cylinder in the late ’90s, it was my first non-clunker. One advantage since I was in my early-mid 20s is that I could drive it flat out, all the time. Another was with gas criss-crossing the $1/gallon mark I could fill it up from empty, buy a 20oz Coke and get change back from a $10. Maybe not so much of an advantage since I drank too much Coke back then.
Anyway, mine was the significantly lighter (shorter wheelbase) 3-door with the 5-speed and no a/c (ever), but you could also get a five-door automatic with a/c, still with that 1.0 3-cylinder…imagine how slow that would be.
I would hit it off with your dad, as I have a big soft spot for simple basic transportation devices. And especially for these.
You think these are slow? the Swift with the 1.3 four was considered a pocket rocket back in the day; as someone mentioned earlier they could snap off a 0-60 run in 10-11 seconds. That’s better than a lot of the V8 powered broughams and such of the 70s and 80s. These were a blast. And manual steering! What a treat! Probably the last car available n the US with that, so nice to actually experience the unfiltered feedback from a manual box. And they were so light, they sure didn’t need power steering. Felt like a go-cart steering compared to my Ford F100.
As I was saying, these were held in high esteem by small car nuts like me back in the day, because they were rare compared to the 3 cylinder Geo Metro which were everywhere, and must have outsold the Swift by 20:1 or so. But even they could be made to go, with the right approach: full throttle, all the way.
I really liked the four door, because with its longer wheelbase it was remarkably roomy. More legroom in the back seat than a shocking number of much bigger cars.
This is something of a spiritual predecessor of my xB1, and something I could have seen myself driving if my life had taken a different trajectory.
Aw, you kids who can’t seem to appreciate an incredibly honest simple but quick and willing little car without the accouterments of big modern cars. Power steering? Who needs it? A big engine? Just put the spurs to the willing 1.3. Were you afraid to really cane it? That’s what it’s begging for.
Everybody wants “purity” and is bemoaning the loss of the “analog experience” these days. And then BAM! they experience non-boosted steering and roll-your-own windows with no A/C and back to Mommy’s teat they go 🙂 Nobody really wants a 1979 BMW 320i, no matter how pure, undiluted, and “authentic” it may be. Give them a 2019 M340i every time…
To be perfectly honest though, the successor to this one IS a looker, comparatively speaking, at least to my eyes.
You would probably hit it off with him. You’re also both “build it with your own hands” fellows while I’m more a “pay somebody else to do it” kind of guy.
As I said to Pete, I was surprised I didn’t enjoy it more. You’d think non-power steering wouldn’t be as big a deal in a car this small but it bothered me. I can appreciate an honest/simple/small car but… just not this honest/simple/small, evidently. And I’ve never been afraid to really cane a car, trust me 😉
You’re right about rear legroom. Not too shabby for a car this small.
The hard starting explains why it didnt go very well, a simple tune up new plugs leads filters etc and it would have been a different car, if the engine turns on the key hard starting is not the battery.
As mentioned above these cars actually go quite well but you need to drive them,
If you ever think you need a big car to haul stuff, have a chat with my dad.
As long as the hatch is big enough you can cram a lot of things even in a small car. The day I moved out of Munich I took all of my remaining belongings just by folding the rear seat, and it was hardly the only time I’ve transported this much or more.
Why the hate?
If these were the norm, our relative happiness would be exactly the same as when 300 hp is the norm.
If these were the the definition of 21st century locomotion, we could kick hell out of climate change.
Paradise, CA might still exist
Mexico Beach would be more than a memory.
We are all adults. What motivates this constant desire for more power.
I really don’t understand it.
These 4 door Suzuki based models can easily handle 95% of any sane person’s needs. Rear leg room is amazing. Cargo capacity is amazing. You can cruise at 75. Fitting an anti sway bar makes them handle really well. 50 miles per gallon. You can fix them yourself. They run forever. There is room for your kayak or surfboard on the roof.
Why the hate?
But these aren’t the norm. And they were never the norm for me so it was a big shock, as I mentioned, to go from 2000s large sedans to this. I’m not saying it’s a bad car as it’s really quite good in terms of reliability and space efficiency and economy. If this car works for you, have at it. What do you drive, incidentally?
Frankly, horsepower numbers aren’t the be-all and end-all for me, either. I had an ’07 Calais with around 250 hp and an ’07 Legacy with around 170 hp and they felt equally fast, obviously because things like curb weight and gearing come into play.
It’s different strokes for different folks, Norm. Yes, this is all the car most people need. But try and tell a website of car enthusiasts that this is what they should be driving and they don’t need their Mustang/Silverado/etc. So sorry if I’m “insane” but I want something a little bigger, more comfortable, with more features and greater crash protection. I’ve tried bigger and better cars than this Swift and so I don’t want to go back to it.
As for your remarks on climate change, if I had the money I’d have a new Tesla and an array of solar panels at home to charge it so I could drive guilt-free. Some day…
You don’t want to take my comments personally, William. They were not aimed at you. You are not insane.
We have an ‘arms race’ going in autos these days and few benefit. Collectively we all lose.
We feel the need to protect ourselves from enormous pickup trucks and from 400 hp muscle machines, so we drive equally big metal and equally big power. Just for defense. This is insane and Paradise, CA and Mexico Beach, FL are among the casualties.
So somebody needs to comment about it.
I do own a 5 door Metro, so I do appreciate their virtues first hand.
Ideal starter car in this market; the few remaining are still being used for this purpose.