Meet the Fleet

The Diesel Car long-term reports in every issue give you the lowdown on the most important cars on sale today – here’s a reminder of how some of our testers fared last month.

Suzuki Swift 1.3 DDiS SZ3

Driven by Keith Adams

When the fourth generation Suzuki Swift emerged in petrol form last year, it attracted excellent reviews from the road testers – but more importantly, buyers have welcomed this all-over evolution. It’s retained all the qualities that marked out the last one – great ride, handling and value pricing – but improved it in the weaker areas, such as rear seat legroom. But we were lacking a diesel model, and thankfully, this situation has now been rectified.

Here’s a quick recap. The new power unit comes from a joint venture between Suzuki and Fiat/GM. It’s an Indian built engine shared with the Vauxhall Corsa and Fiat Punto Evo, and produces a whopping 140lb ft of torque. It’s this figure and not the 74bhp power output that hints at what promises to be a lively driving experience. Currently, the diesel Swift is only available in high-spec SZ3 trim, and that means 16-inch alloy wheels, air conditioning, iPod compatibility and a trip computer (with awkward on-dash buttons). And all that adds up to an appealing entrant in the supermini sector.

The Swift’s been working hard during its first month on the fleet, undertaking a number of long runs, including one – four up – to North Wales. And it’s here that the additional interior passenger space really comes into play. Shame the boot – seats up – is so small. All those who have driven the Swift have commented favourably about its go-kart like steering and its excellent ride. And despite being so new and so tight, the engine’s efficiency is clear to see, with an average fuel consumption of 59.6mpg. Criticisms? There are few – the main being throttle lag and sharp off/on boost transition, and clangy doors. So far, so good – we like the Swift.

Ford Grand C-MAX Titanium 1.6 TDCi

Driven by Ian Robertson

When the fourth generation Suzuki Swift emerged in petrol form last year, it attracted excellent reviews from the road testers – but more importantly, buyers have welcomed this all-over evolution. It’s retained all the qualities that marked out the last one – great ride, handling and value pricing – but improved it in the weaker areas, such as rear seat legroom. But we were lacking a diesel model, and thankfully, this situation has now been rectified.

Here’s a quick recap. The new power unit comes from a joint venture between Suzuki and Fiat/GM. It’s an Indian built engine shared with the Vauxhall Corsa and Fiat Punto Evo, and produces a whopping 140lb ft of torque. It’s this figure and not the 74bhp power output that hints at what promises to be a lively driving experience. Currently, the diesel Swift is only available in high-spec SZ3 trim, and that means 16-inch alloy wheels, air conditioning, iPod compatibility and a trip computer (with awkward on-dash buttons). And all that adds up to an appealing entrant in the supermini sector.

The Swift’s been working hard during its first month on the fleet, undertaking a number of long runs, including one – four up – to North Wales. And it’s here that the additional interior passenger space really comes into play. Shame the boot – seats up – is so small. All those who have driven the Swift have commented favourably about its go-kart like steering and its excellent ride. And despite being so new and so tight, the engine’s efficiency is clear to see, with an average fuel consumption of 59.6mpg. Criticisms? There are few – the main being throttle lag and sharp off/on boost transition, and clangy doors. So far, so good – we like the Swift.

SEAT Exeo ST Sport Tech 2.0 TDI

Driven by Adam Sloman

The words ‘Can I borrow your car, please?’ should, in my opinion, always be treated with caution. So when my wife Sarah uttered them one morning, I was somewhat hesitant. Not because she isn’t a good driver; quite the opposite. It’s more that when it comes to our cars, I am something of a neat-freak. It’s a rarity for me to been seen in a dirty car, inside or out. So you can imagine my horror at the state of the Exeo’s interior upon its return.

The back seat was worst off, with half-eaten sandwiches and fruit (courtesy of my 18-month old daughter) littering both the seat and carpet, while up front I found two empty drinks bottles, and a selection of baby wet-wipes, tissues and more besides.

The interior of the Exeo is, however, made of stern stuff. Cleaning it up was a simple affair and shows just how well this car copes with family life. It’s encouraging that the interior materials stood up to a vigorous clean as I removed the crumbs, half eaten fruit bars and smashed banana from the leather upholstery. The dog-hair from the boot proved a bit more of a challenge, but after about an hour or so, the car looked as good inside as it did when it arrived back in January. Cleaning the outside took a lot less time to get sorted and after a quick rub-down with a wash-mitt, the Exeo was back to its best. That is, until the next time she grabs the keys…