Affordable, economical, all-the mod-cons, clutch pedal and manual box, old-school handbrake and all-wheel drive – the last most logical car left on the market?
Some cars are more than the sum of their spec sheets. Some cars are hidden gems. Some cars are unexpected delights. Some cars actually make sense on multiple levels. Some cars are the new, £22k, 2025 Suzuki Swift AllGrip Ultra Hybrid tested here.
If you like eager little hatchbacks that will dart in and out of city gaps, provide usable passenger and boot space, engage you with heel-and-toe downshifts and cheeky handbrake turns, sip fuel while being refined at motorway momentum, and even scrabble over churned-up gravel while wading through rain pools. Then you’ve landed on the right road (off-road) test!
The Suzuki Swift Allgrip is definitely not the fastest, flashiest, or even the most high-tech supermini out there – but it might just be one of the smartest buys you can make today, especially if you live in the real world… with real weather.
I have previously reviewed the latest gen Suzuki Swift already, but this is the AllGrip and the very slightly increased space above the tyre in the wheelwell, suggesting a fractionally increased ride height, reveals this is the AllGrip all-wheel-drive.
It has the same, efficiently eager, hybrid system as in the 2WD model, but then the drivetrain only adds another 65kg (less than a passenger). Interior and boot space remain the same, though you lose a couple of litres from a marginally smaller fuel tank.
What Is AllGrip Anyway?
Suzuki’s AllGrip system in the Swift isn’t a hardcore off-road setup. It’s a viscous coupling arrangement that acts like a centre differential – sending drive to the rear wheels only when the fronts start slipping. Think of it as a safety net for the unpredictable British weather and the occasional off-the-beaten-path meandering. The AllGrip version gives you a touch more confidence in poor conditions without compromising the city-friendly dimensions that make the Swift such a doddle to drive.
Performance and Driving Feel
Let’s be honest: with a 1.2-litre 3-cylinder mild hybrid engine, 82bhp, and 112NM of torque, the Swift AllGrip isn’t going to set any lap records. The 0-62mph sprint is a leisurely 13.6 seconds, and top speed is 99mph. But that’s missing the point.
The joy of this car lies in its old-school analogue charm – a delightful 5-speed manual gearbox, a clutch pedal, an actual physical handbrake, plus analogue dials! You do get a small digital screen in the middle of the dash with various trip computer readouts, including power and torque bars, and speed in digits, but there are also rev and speedometer dials with actual needles – in this day and age!
Set off and initially, the engine growls with purpose as it literally tries to punch above its weight. As you rev up to the 6k redline, and work your way up the gears to get to speed, it settles to quiet sophistication. And you smile. It’s engaging in a way few new cars are allowed to be anymore.
Yes the clutch, gearchange and steering are all a tad too light, there could be more sharpness, feedback and heft from the helm, but remember this thing doesn’t carry an ambitious ‘Sport’ badge on its rump, it’s just a regular runabout trying to keep things interesting for those drivers that miss the old days.
The ride is impressively composed, well-controlled on the motorways, surprisingly grown-up on back roads, perhaps with a little more give to cope with broken roads, so take that, you potholes!
A Bit of Rough & Tumble
As part of this review, we got to take the Swift to Monster Mountain in Cardiff, a playground in a quarry. Slippery surfaces, mild inclines, water splashes – it took it all in stride.
In truth, a regular front-wheel drive Swift would have managed it all with a little coaxing. The AllGrip made it effortless, though. And from the wheel, you had no sense of the cleverness going on in the drivetrain as you picked your way through a pond and then immediately hooked a sharp 25-degree up a grassy incline. There was no sense of slippage at all.
Interior, Tech & Practicality
Inside, it’s business as usual. The Swift’s cabin isn’t posh, but it’s functional, solid and well-equipped. And it’s packed with everything you expect in a modern car from infotainment screens to six airbags and steering-wheel mounted remotes, but also luxury-level spec including adaptive cruise control, climate control, heated door mirrors, rear camera, cross-traffic alert, lane keep assist, LED lights etc.
The rear seats are still a squeeze for taller passengers (especially behind a 6ft+ driver like me), but it’s manageable for short distances. Boot space is a respectable 265 litres.
Fuel economy is strong at 57.6mpg combined – I saw 50mpg and I wasn’t sparing it! CO2 emissions of 110g/km mean it remains very wallet-friendly on tax.
Why the Swift AllGrip Deserves Attention
In a world where cars are becoming more sanitised, automated, and bloated, the 2025 Suzuki Swift AllGrip Ultra Hybrid is a breath of fresh air and genuinely one of my favourite new cars out there. It’s simple, honest motoring with just the right dose of modern tech and safety. Plus, for about two grand more than the standard Swift, the AWD provides peace of mind, and everyday robustness, all wrapped in a fun and frugal package.
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