The sale of light cars under $25,000 has fallen by 47 per cent this year, the difficulties of meeting increased safety standards and maintaining an attractive sticker price sees the number of light cars shrinking. Suzuki’s Swift five-door hatch remains in the top four, a perennial favourite that has just received a mid-life update. Six models starting at $18,990 drive-away with the sporty 1.4-litre turbo Swift Sport, 29,990 in six speed manual $31,990 in auto both drive-away. Driving the manual reinforced my thoughts on what a fun car it’s always been. The Sport now $2,000 dearer but gaining more tech and features to compensate for it – with five-star safety and a five-year/unlimited kilometre warranty it now has the features that we used to talk about on much dearer models.

But importantly it’s the driving that makes the Swift Sport so much fun. I was really sorry to give it back after a week – a really nimble, easy to drive sporty hatch with abundant power, great steering, in short trim taught and terrific to drive, an easy clutch in a package weighing less than 1000 kilos. Refreshed with revised bumper and grille and new 17-inch alloy wheels the latest Suzuki Swift Sport gains a new digital speedo, rear parking sensors, also radar cruise control, autonomous emergency braking, blind spot warning and rear cross traffic alert.  Downsides, the need for 95 RON petrol and the lack of a spare tyre.

I’m David Berthon

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