THE Swift has always been the chirpy young cockney sparrow of Suzuki’s range.

With a cheeky grin upfront, low insurance ratings, fuel-sipping engines and light, nippy zip-about-town handling, it never seemed to have a care in the world.

The ‘all-new’ Swift is different. The compact hatchback has gone through its teenage rebellion, graduated from university and entered the big wide world, but it’s still got a smile on its face.

Overnight it has grown up and bristles with equipment that not so long ago was the sole preserve of luxury cars.

Enter seven airbags, electronic anti-lock brakes, electronic stability program and a top-of-the-class five-star NCAP crash test rating, all as standard on a car that is carefully priced from about £10,000.

Ease your wallet open a little further and take a step up to the top-grade SZ4 test car and the specification reads like a list that the MD might drool over when choosing his next executive saloon.

Let’s face it, with equipment ranging from automatic air conditioning, Bluetooth audio with music streaming capability, electric front and rear windows, push-button keyless start, automatic headlamps, rear privacy glass and cruise control, small car buyers are being spoilt rotten.

Powering this seriously well-equipped and stylish package is a more powerful and cleaner petrol engine which, at a stroke, uses less fuel and emits lower emissions than its larger 1.3-litre predecessor.

Pushing out 94 horsepower, the 1.2-litre Euro 5-compliant powerplant offers day-to-day fuel consumption easily topping 50mpg and £30-a-year road tax. Drive with a featherlight touch, as a team did in the 380-mile 2010 MPG Marathon, and 68.1mpg is on the cards.

Thankfully, this burgeoning equipment list and an increasing emphasis on both safety and the car’s green credentials have not snuffed out the youthful spark that has made the model so popular. The Swift is as spritely as ever, with taut handling to match a quietly composed ride.

The new model has even more space inside and has grown slightly in length with a couple of inches increase in wheelbase and a small increase in height. Inside, the design is both more grown-up, with black as the keynote colour with accents of silver, while looking much classier.

Instrumentation is a crystal clear array of glowing red needles on a black and silver background, and the steering wheel has sprouted a clutch of buttons to control everything from the audio system and cruise control to the Bluetooth phone link.

The new Swift must be doing something right, as it impressed those 20 hard-to-please hacks who make up the Association of Scottish Motoring Writers so much that they named it their small car of the year, as well as giving it their top safety award. The Swift may be working nine to five now and even thinking about settling down, but it’s still capable of having some fun.

Auto facts Suzuki Swift SZ4

  • Price: £12,245
  • Insurance group: Nine (1-50)
  • Fuel consumption (Combined): 56.5mpg
  • Top speed: 103mph
  • Length: 385cm/151.6in
  • Width: 169.5cm/66.7in
  • Luggage capacity: 7.4 cu ft
  • Fuel tank capacity: 9.2 gallons/42 litres
  • CO2 emissions: 116g/km
  • Warranty: Three years/60,000 miles