Suzuki Swift versus Mazda 2 and Honda Jazz

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  1 / 24 Small But Mighty

  Superminis used to be affordable runabouts for getting from point A to point B.

  But over time, consumers’ demands have increased, so these little hatchbacks have had to become more than just cars that get you from point A to point B. They had to put the “super” in “supermini”.

  The three cars we’ve assembled here need no introduction. The Honda Jazz, Mazda 2 and Suzuki Swift are household names in Singapore. Be it regular drivers or enthusiasts, these models will be mentioned whenever hatchbacks are the topic of conversation.

  The Mazda 2 and Honda Jazz have been around for quite some time, and their popularity from one generation to the next goes to show how well received they are.

  Both hatchbacks have styling that appeals to a wide audience, and are each powered by a naturally aspirated 1.5-litre engine. Both are also known for their sportiness and keen handling. They are also reliable, which is a characteristic that every driver appreciates..

  Poised to challenge the Mazda 2 and Honda Jazz is the latest Suzuki Swift, which is the only contender in this lineup with a turbocharged engine.

  How well does the Swift perform? And will its overall package meet the “small” needs of supermini buyers in Singapore?

  Continue reading to find out what we think about these cars.

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  2 / 24 Suzuki Swift – Engine

  Suzuki’s turbocharged 1-litre 3-cylinder with 110hp and 160Nm has the most torque, and its soundtrack brings the widest grins to the driver’s face.

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  3 / 24 Suzuki Swift – Gearbox

  Swift’s 6-speed automatic is the most responsive and has the most satisfying manual-override function, too.

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  4 / 24 Mazda 2 – Engine

  Mazda’s 1.5-litre 4-cylinder with 114hp and 149Nm feels the punchiest and offers the most enthusiastic response when revved.

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  5 / 24 Mazda 2 – Gearbox

  Mazda’s 6-speed automatic is the smoothest of the trio, but is the only gearbox here without paddle shifters.

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  6 / 24 Honda Jazz – Engine

  Honda’s 1.5-litre 4-cylinder with 129hp and 155Nm has the most ponies, but could be more refined at higher revs.

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  7 / 24 Honda Jazz – Gearbox

  Jazz’s CVT is as smooth as Mazda’s 6-speed auto, but sounds workmanlike when the car is driven hard.

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  8 / 24 Suzuki Swift – Ride & Handling

  Swift’s ride quality is the most pliant, but its helm takes some getting used to due to its artificial weight and feel.

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  9 / 24 Mazda 2 – Ride & Handling

  Mazda has the group’s best balance between comfort and control, thanks to a chassis capable of taking high-speed corners without breaking a sweat.

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  10 / 24 Honda Jazz – Ride & Handling

  Jazz is surprisingly agile despite being the tallest of the three hatchbacks, but its ride is correspondingly the firmest.

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  11 / 24 Suzuki Swift – Cockpit

  Most stylish and driver-friendly cockpit has clearly labelled controls and a unique flat-bottomed steering wheel for a sporty touch. Swift’s locally fitted infotainment unit offers Apple CarPlay, but not Android Auto.

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  12 / 24 Mazda 2 – Cockpit

  Mazda 2’s cockpit is the most solidly built and feels like it could outlast the car’s COE. The leather seats are also the grippiest and most supportive.

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  13 / 24 Honda Jazz – Cockpit

  Jazz offers the most space for the driver, plus the most commanding driving position and the greatest all-round visibility. The infotainment system could be more intuitive, though.

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  14 / 24 Suzuki Swift – Meters

  Motorcycle-inspired gauges with racy red backlighting are the sportiest of the group and sure to please keen drivers.

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  15 / 24 Mazda 2 – Meters

  This cluster is the most ideal for newbie drivers as it displays just the right amount of information, so that they don’t feel overwhelmed.

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  16 / 24 Honda Jazz – Meters

  Dials are the clearest and easiest to read at a glance, and like the Swift’s, remain readable even under harsh lighting conditions.

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  17 / 24 Suzuki Swift – Backseat

  Swift’s wheelbase is the shortest of the trio, but its backseat is, surprisingly, wide enough to accommodate three average-sized adults.

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  18 / 24 Mazda 2 – Backseat

  Mazda 2 has the longest wheelbase but the least efficient packaging, which means it’s better at accommodating two adults than three. The lack of doorbins also makes this space the least practical of the group.

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  19 / 24 Honda Jazz – Backseat

  Roomiest cabin in this company is also the most versatile thanks to the Jazz’s unique seats, which have backrests that fold flat and squabs that can be flipped up.

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  20 / 24 Suzuki Swift – Boot

  Swift’s 264-litre capacity (rear seats up) has the lowest internal height below the parcel shelf, limiting its usefulness to smaller and lighter bags.

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  21 / 24 Mazda 2 – Boot

  Mazda 2’s 250-litre boot (rear seats up) is the only one without wheel-arch intrusions, enabling users to maximise the space. The boot light is the largest, which makes sorting/organising items at night easier.

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  22 / 24 Honda Jazz – Boot

  Jazz’s 354-litre volume (rear seats up) is the most useful and easily swallows bulky items such as prams and folding bikes.

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  23 / 24 Mazda 2, Suzuki Swift and Honda Jazz – Keys

  Mazda 2 key (left) is the longest and least pocket-friendly; Swift’s device (middle) is the lightest, but its little buttons can be tricky to press; Jazz’s fob (right) feels the sturdiest and its relatively big buttons have the clearest markings.

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  24 / 24 Last Word

  The new Suzuki Swift is a good choice for anyone who enjoys driving. Key to its compelling performance are the lightweight chassis and punchy drivetrain, which features a turbocharged 1-litre 3-cylinder engine paired to a 6-speed automatic.

  The Swift is also roomier and more practical than before, although its backseat space still loses out to its two rivals in this story.

  Big boys who love to soup up their small toys would find that the Swift probably has the most potential for modification. More significantly, with a list price of $78,704, it is the most affordable of the three contenders.

  The Honda Jazz RS is a terrific all-rounder. It may not be the sexiest or the sportiest hatchback here, but in every other respect it either beats or matches its key competitors.

  The Jazz’s strongest points are its impressive roominess and incredible versatility. If these are your top priorities when shopping for a new supermini, then the Honda hatch should be your first choice.

  This jazzy number, however, could do with a more refined cabin which is less prone to wind noise on the highway, and a quieter transmission.

  The biggest obstacle to Jazz ownership is the pricing. Listed at just under $98k, it is significantly more expensive than the other two cars.

  The Mazda 2 isn’t the most powerful and doesn’t have the roomiest interior. But it has the best combination of performance, handling and refinement in the context of this comparison test.

  The Mazda 2’s cabin is both well-built and well-insulated, making it a surprisingly pleasant expressway cruiser.

  The 2 is also ahead of its two rivals in terms of driveability, offering the most responsive motor and smoothest gearbox.

  All in all, this Japanese supermini is super convincing. Too bad the Mazda’s $90k asking price is closer to the Honda Jazz than to the Suzuki Swift.

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  Why the Mazda 2 is an ideal car for the swinging single

  Mazda 2 review

  Honda jazzes up the Jazz hatchback

  Latest Suzuki Swift Sport is lighter and quicker than the previous one

  Read more

Small But Mighty Superminis used to be affordable runabouts for getting from point A to point B. But over time, consumers’ demands have increased, so these little hatchbacks have had to become more than just cars that get you from point A to point B. They had to put the “super” in “supermini”. The three cars we’ve assembled here need no introduction. The Honda Jazz, Mazda 2 and Suzuki Swift are household names in Singapore. Be it regular drivers or enthusiasts, these models will be mentioned whenever hatchbacks are the topic of conversation. The Mazda 2 and Honda Jazz have been around for quite some time, and their popularity from one generation to the next goes to show how well received they are. Both hatchbacks have styling that appeals to a wide audience, and are each powered by a naturally aspirated 1.5-litre engine. Both are also known for their sportiness and keen handling. They are also reliable, which is a characteristic that every driver appreciates.. Poised to challenge the Mazda 2 and Honda Jazz is the latest Suzuki Swift, which is the only contender in this lineup with a turbocharged engine. How well does the Swift perform? And will its overall package meet the “small” needs of supermini buyers in Singapore? Continue reading to find out what we think about these cars. Suzuki Swift – Engine Suzuki’s turbocharged 1-litre 3-cylinder with 110hp and 160Nm has the most torque, and its soundtrack brings the widest grins to the driver’s face. Suzuki Swift – Gearbox Swift’s 6-speed automatic is the most responsive and has the most satisfying manual-override function, too. Mazda 2 – Engine Mazda’s 1.5-litre 4-cylinder with 114hp and 149Nm feels the punchiest and offers the most enthusiastic response when revved. Mazda 2 – Gearbox Mazda’s 6-speed automatic is the smoothest of the trio, but is the only gearbox here without paddle shifters. Honda Jazz – Engine Honda’s 1.5-litre 4-cylinder with 129hp and 155Nm has the most ponies, but could be more refined at higher revs. Honda Jazz – Gearbox Jazz’s CVT is as smooth as Mazda’s 6-speed auto, but sounds workmanlike when the car is driven hard. Suzuki Swift – Ride & Handling Swift’s ride quality is the most pliant, but its helm takes some getting used to due to its artificial weight and feel. Mazda 2 – Ride & Handling Mazda has the group’s best balance between comfort and control, thanks to a chassis capable of taking high-speed corners without breaking a sweat. Honda Jazz – Ride & Handling Jazz is surprisingly agile despite being the tallest of the three hatchbacks, but its ride is correspondingly the firmest. Suzuki Swift – Cockpit Most stylish and driver-friendly cockpit has clearly labelled controls and a unique flat-bottomed steering wheel for a sporty touch. Swift’s locally fitted infotainment unit offers Apple CarPlay, but not Android Auto. Mazda 2 – Cockpit Mazda 2’s cockpit is the most solidly built and feels like it could outlast the car’s COE. The leather seats are also the grippiest and most supportive. Honda Jazz – Cockpit Jazz offers the most space for the driver, plus the most commanding driving position and the greatest all-round visibility. The infotainment system could be more intuitive, though. Suzuki Swift – Meters Motorcycle-inspired gauges with racy red backlighting are the sportiest of the group and sure to please keen drivers. Mazda 2 – Meters This cluster is the most ideal for newbie drivers as it displays just the right amount of information, so that they don’t feel overwhelmed. Honda Jazz – Meters Dials are the clearest and easiest to read at a glance, and like the Swift’s, remain readable even under harsh lighting conditions. Suzuki Swift – Backseat Swift’s wheelbase is the shortest of the trio, but its backseat is, surprisingly, wide enough to accommodate three average-sized adults. Mazda 2 – Backseat Mazda 2 has the longest wheelbase but the least efficient packaging, which means it’s better at accommodating two adults than three. The lack of doorbins also makes this space the least practical of the group. Honda Jazz – Backseat Roomiest cabin in this company is also the most versatile thanks to the Jazz’s unique seats, which have backrests that fold flat and squabs that can be flipped up. Suzuki Swift – Boot Swift’s 264-litre capacity (rear seats up) has the lowest internal height below the parcel shelf, limiting its usefulness to smaller and lighter bags. Mazda 2 – Boot Mazda 2’s 250-litre boot (rear seats up) is the only one without wheel-arch intrusions, enabling users to maximise the space. The boot light is the largest, which makes sorting/organising items at night easier. Honda Jazz – Boot Jazz’s 354-litre volume (rear seats up) is the most useful and easily swallows bulky items such as prams and folding bikes. Mazda 2, Suzuki Swift and Honda Jazz – Keys Mazda 2 key (left) is the longest and least pocket-friendly; Swift’s device (middle) is the lightest, but its little buttons can be tricky to press; Jazz’s fob (right) feels the sturdiest and its relatively big buttons have the clearest markings. Last Word The new Suzuki Swift is a good choice for anyone who enjoys driving. Key to its compelling performance are the lightweight chassis and punchy drivetrain, which features a turbocharged 1-litre 3-cylinder engine paired to a 6-speed automatic. The Swift is also roomier and more practical than before, although its backseat space still loses out to its two rivals in this story. Big boys who love to soup up their small toys would find that the Swift probably has the most potential for modification. More significantly, with a list price of $78,704, it is the most affordable of the three contenders. The Honda Jazz RS is a terrific all-rounder. It may not be the sexiest or the sportiest hatchback here, but in every other respect it either beats or matches its key competitors. The Jazz’s strongest points are its impressive roominess and incredible versatility. If these are your top priorities when shopping for a new supermini, then the Honda hatch should be your first choice. This jazzy number, however, could do with a more refined cabin which is less prone to wind noise on the highway, and a quieter transmission. The biggest obstacle to Jazz ownership is the pricing. Listed at just under $98k, it is significantly more expensive than the other two cars. The Mazda 2 isn’t the most powerful and doesn’t have the roomiest interior. But it has the best combination of performance, handling and refinement in the context of this comparison test. The Mazda 2’s cabin is both well-built and well-insulated, making it a surprisingly pleasant expressway cruiser. The 2 is also ahead of its two rivals in terms of driveability, offering the most responsive motor and smoothest gearbox. All in all, this Japanese supermini is super convincing. Too bad the Mazda’s $90k asking price is closer to the Honda Jazz than to the Suzuki Swift. Why the Mazda 2 is an ideal car for the swinging single Mazda 2 review Honda jazzes up the Jazz hatchback Latest Suzuki Swift Sport is lighter and quicker than the previous one