JAPANESE manufacturers Suzuki have been punching above their weight for some time now by quietly churning out a range of cars for smaller niche markets.

From the tried-and-tested quirky little Jimny 4x4 to the range-topping SX4 S-Cross, the car makers are more than happy to keep things simple within their current range.

This has recently increased to six, with the brand new Celerio and sixth-generation Vitara SUV now hitting showrooms after their recent launches.

And while the two newcomers will certainly take their market sectors by storm, thanks to their fabulous value-for-money, high specification list and up-to-the-minute looks, one other model from the stable that can't be overlooked from a used-car point of view is the Swift three and five-door compact hatchback.

For the current edition Swift retains the curvy, sporty looks of its predecessor, although every body panel was brand new for the latest model which was introduced in 2011.

Initially, only a 93bhp, 1.2-litre petrol engine was available, but thanks to the little car's stop start system, it offered higher levels of environmental performance than the outgoing model, returning more than 56mpg and cutting CO2 emissions to just 116g/km.

The little Swift just loved to be given a bit of welly, but even so, it did take more than 12 seconds to hit 62mph from a standing start, but top speed proved a respectable 103mph.

And it became just one of a very special brand of cars that could put a smile on anyone's face, thanks to its point-and-shoot kart driving style. It had masses of grip for hard cornering while body roll was kept to a minimum.

The ride could be classed as somewhat firm but without being too hard, yet the suspension coped with our poor roads better than a whole host of its competitors.

Suzuki made sure the Swift was well appointed in the safety features, so much so, that even the entry-level offering came with no fewer than seven air bags fitted as standard - little wonder the car sailed through to a maximum five-star rating in Euro NCAP crash tests.

Inside the cabin, you'll find plenty of room for four adults and even five could fit in at a push. The supermini's deceiving dimensions also offered loads of headroom while plenty of legroom proved a bonus for taller passengers to get comfortable in the back.

The boot swallowed up to 211 litres of luggage, but with the split rear seats folded, this increased to 528 litres.

Suzuki retained their common SZ trim level classification for the Swift. Entry-level SZ2 got electric front windows and mirrors, CD sound system with steering wheel controls and USB connection, while the steering wheel could also adjust for both reach and rake.

Moving up to SZ3 trim added air-conditioning and alloy wheels, while the all-singing, all-dancing range-topping SZ4 was kitted out with climate control, Bluetooth, rear privacy glass, electric rear windows, cruise control and keyless entry.

Other dealer-fitted options included leather seats, DVD player and satellite navigation.

The previous Swift found more than 1.8 million homes throughout the world during its five years in production and the new model has continued to build on these figures, with Suzuki selling around 100,000 new models annually throughout Europe alone.

A 2011 11-plate entry-level five-door SZ2 petrol model with around 40,000 miles on the clock will set you back between £3,640 and £5,225, while a similar-plated range-topping SZ4 model rises from around £4,280 to £6,145.

Move on to 2012 and 12-plate models and you will have to pay anything from £4,190 to £5,940 for a five-door SZ2 model and between £4,960 and £7,025 for one in SZ4 spec, with a increased premium of up to £550 applying to SZ4 models fitted with an automatic gearbox.