The designers of the latest Suzuki Swift clearly adhere to the adage, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it”, because, despite the styling of the popular little hatch being nearly six years old, the new model is barely distinguishable from its predecessor.

There are changes, the headlights and taillights are larger and more sweeping than before, but the new Swift has retained the tall, neat and angular design that has proven so popular since its launch in 2005. It is significantly larger than before with increases in length (90 mm), wheelbase (50 mm) and height (10 mm) as well as running on larger wheels.

 But the Swift shape isn’t just there to look cute, it’s also very practical. For a 3.8-metre car there’s a surprising amount of interior space with plenty of headroom at both front and rear, although the sloping roof does make entry into the rear seats a bit awkward for taller passengers. The only other negative is the car’s very small boot - the 60/40 split rear seat back is likely to get plenty of use.

The number one aim across the current automotive world is improved fuel efficiency and engine emissions and Suzuki has taken the brave step of reducing the size of the Swift’s engine from 1490 cc to 1372 cc. While this has produced a slight decrease in both power (70 kW compared with 74 kW) and torque (130 Nm from 133 Nm) it has ticked the green boxes with good reductions in fuel consumption (5.5 L/100 km against 6.3 L/100 km) and emissions (132 grams per km from 152 g/km).

The 2011 Suzuki Swift comes in three different equipment levels, GA, GL and GLX, all with the same engine. The entry-level GA is only offered with the five-speed manual gearbox, the GL and GLX come with the option of a four-speed automatic. The latter now has a straight shift pattern, replacing the annoying gated one in the superseded Swift.

On our recent visit to Japan to drive the Swift in its home country we met with a number of Suzuki engineers, and although they wouldn’t confirm it, it seems likely a new five- or six-speed automatic will be introduced reasonably soon.

Standard equipment in all models includes seven airbags, ABS brakes with electronic brakeforce distribution and brake assist, electronic stability control and mp3 compatible audio with a dash-mounted USB socket. The mid-specced GL adds body-coloured door handles and side mirrors, leather-wrapped steering wheel with mounted audio controls, two additional speakers and a tachometer; while the GLX also gets 16-inch alloy wheels (the GA and GL have 15-inch steel), rear disc brakes (the others have drums), keyless entry/start system, Bluetooth connectivity, climate control air conditioner and front fog lamps.

Automatic models also get a somewhat pointless hill-hold function.

Swift’s safety features combine to give it the maximum five-start ANCAP rating.

The slight reduction in power and torque is offset by reductions in weight in both engine and body and Swift remains as delightful to drive as ever. The press launch review was carried out in the Mornington Peninsula to the south of Melbourne and we were able to extend the test through the city and suburbs.

There’s a refinement in Swift that is rare in small cars and it really does have a large car feel. It cruises comfortably on the open road and is sharp and nimble on hills and bends, although its revs need to be up around 4000 rpm to get the best from the engine. Steering is nicely weighted and gives good feedback.

Automatic transmissions mated to small engines can be a challenge but not so in the Swift. During the urban section of our drive changes were smooth and timely.

Importantly for Suzuki’s marketing people the Swift has proven to be a bit of a gender bender because, unusually for a car in this class, it appeals to both female and male drivers. It also stretches across a wide range of ages.

Part of the reason for Suzuki Swift’s appeal to male drivers has been the addition of a couple of sporty variants, namely the Swift GTi that proved so popular with boy racers in the 1990s and latterly the more conservative Swift Sport. Suzuki Australia told us that an updated version of the Sport was “on the drawing board” but couldn’t provide a timeframe for its arrival.

The complete 2011 Suzuki Swift range, with prices (excluding government and dealer charges) is:

GA 1.4-litre five-door hatch: $15,990 (manual)

GL 1.4-litre five-door hatch: $16,690 (manual), $18,390 (automatic)

GLX 1.4-litre five-door hatch: $18,990 (manual), $20,690 (automatic)

Contact your local Suzuki dealer for driveaway prices.