Not a particularly big fan of continuously variable gearboxes, can Al Suttie be won over by the Suzuki Swift CVT?

Suzuki Swift Mild Hybrid Ultra

List price (BiK): £20,809 (26%) CO2: 108g/km Economy: 58.8mpg Test efficiency: 59.4mpg

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Monday

It’s not that long since I had an enjoyable week with the latest Suzuki Swift mild hybrid. That car had the fine five-speed manual gearbox, but the car that has arrived this morning sports the CVT (continuously variable transmission) automatic. This is rarely the ’box of choice for me, so it will be an informative few days to see if Suzuki can hit the mark where others generally miss.

Tuesday

Whichever gearbox you choose in the Swift, all come with the same 82hp 1.2-litre three-cylinder engine. The auto transmission adds 45kg to the weight of the Swift, but it’s still a light car by modern standards by tipping the scales at 984kg. Even with the extra heft, the auto model is quicker against the clock from 0-62mph, taking 11.9 seconds to the manual’s 21.5 seconds, and it feels nippy around town this morning.

Wednesday

On more open roads today, the Swift Mild Hybrid Auto makes relaxed work of a mix of A-roads and motorway. The faster stretches are not its most natural habitat and there’s a bit more engine noise than I’d like, but it pulls easily and the CVT ’box is much less prone to the drone and high engine revs of similar transmissions.

Thursday

Regardless of what gearbox is fitted to this latest Swift, it’s a fun car to drive thanks to its low weight. Nimble in town and with a ride that eases over the general melange of surfaces, it also shows a fun and flirty side on country roads like this afternoon’s route home. The steering is direct, there’s good grip and balance, and the brakes are also ideally matched to the car’s dynamic credentials.

Friday

With a fair few miles under the wheels of the Swift now, the fuel gauge has made little effort to drop down its scale. This is encouraging when the tank holds a maximum of 37 litres. On the hybrid side, the car doesn’t offer any EV-only driving range, but it does smooth out any dips in the petrol motor’s delivery so the Swift always feels relaxed and linear as you pull away.

Saturday

When you spend a chunk of your working life swapping between different cars, you become expert at spotting where manufacturers have thought to hide the starter button and gear selectors. In the Swift, there’s no such find-the-controls game to be played as it has a proper ignition key and, joyfully, a traditional automatic gear selector that works with the oiled precision that adds a sense of quality to the Suzuki’s well-made cabin.

Sunday

Time to tot up the figures as the Swift’s fuel gauge is, after a fair few miles, now dropped to almost a quarter tank. In my time with the car, it’s worked out at 59.4mpg, which I thought was good as the manual claims an official 64.2mpg. Turns out this CVT version has exceeded its claimed consumption – not by much but with no effort on my part. That’s a win in anyone’s book and has won me over to this particular iteration of the CVT gearbox.