Usually, I drive the Swift Sport (MT) with my three kids (8, 5, and 2 years old) for shopping or picking them up.

But just recently, for the first time, we drove with all five family members and the trunk packed full with large, heavy suitcases and luggage, and the driving experience was noticeably different from usual. I’d like to share my impressions.

Differences from the Usual Swift Sport Experience

What I love about driving the Swift Sport on a regular basis is its lightness, smooth acceleration, and sheer driving enjoyment.

Looking at the numbers, it’s a 1400cc with 140 horsepower, but it feels more powerful than the specs suggest, and even just driving around town with frequent stops at traffic lights is fun. It accelerates well from any speed range, and on the highway, even pressing the accelerator in 6th gear results in a smooth, lively response, which I always find impressive.

However, when driving fully loaded with five people and heavy luggage, the lightness fades, acceleration feels sluggish, and the sharpness of the car’s movements diminishes, cutting the fun of driving roughly in half. (Well, of course it’s tough with that much weight in the car, haha.)

At takeoff, the weight isn’t too noticeable, but once you reach a certain speed, acceleration becomes sluggish, and merging onto the highway clearly feels like the rear is heavier.

Regarding ride comfort, the car picks up road undulations and bumps more directly, making the ride feel bumpier and rougher.

Normally, highway joints cause a moderate “thud,” but with the extra load, these impacts felt stronger, and there was even a sense that the car’s grip on the road was weaker…

Usually, I can maintain a good pace on the highway, but that day I felt a bit tense, thinking “It might be tough to keep driving continuously in the passing lane…”.

This experience reminded me once again that the Swift Sport’s fun comes from its light weight (under 1 ton) and nimble handling.

If You’re Driving on the Highway, I Prefer German Cars

In terms of everyday usability, compactness, reliability, fuel efficiency, and safety features, Japanese cars are incredibly well-made and often offer great value.

On top of that, the Swift Sport has excellent handling, good road grip, and is a joy to drive, making it perfect for me right now.

Still, when driving on the highway, I find myself missing the solid feel and dependable suspension of German cars.

Especially recently, with heavy luggage onboard, I sometimes felt the highway grip weaken and the car become a bit unsettled.

“If it were a Volkswagen Golf, I’d feel more confident driving on the highway even fully loaded with suitcases and luggage” (Of course, price, wheelbase, tires, and other factors differ, but still.)

It’s not that I’m particularly a fan of German car brands, but cars designed for high-speed, long-distance driving on the Autobahn just feel reassuring and well-built.

Right now, the Swift Sport is fun and more than enough, but as my kids grow and I get some time to take longer trips alone, I find myself hoping to own a German car someday.