THE Suzuki Swift Sport is a handsome little hatch, which might not be in the hot category but is certainly super warm.

With a top speed of 130mph and a 0 to sixty sprint time of 8.1 seconds it's most definitely sprightly in character.

Looks-wise it has more than enough to set it apart from the standard Swift model on which it is based.

It's 40mm wider and sits lower. A distinctly purposeful look is completed thanks to 17-inch alloys, a sharpened nose, blacked out roof pillars and darkened privacy glass.

There are also spoilers on the side, front, rear and roof of the car and a sports exhaust with dual tailpipe design.

Sporty styling is to the fore on the inside too, chiefly in the character of the instrumentation - with a red rev counter finish and features like torque and power gauges, a turbo boost readout and a G-meter.

Therer are a few more red flourishes in the cabin, alloy pedals and supportive seats - complete with a special Sport logo - which all suggest this is a car to have fun in.

And fun it most definitely is. This souped-up supermini really is a joy to drive around and while it might stop short of delivering extreme thrills is certainly capable of putting a smile on your face.

The 1.4-litre turbocharged petrol engine delivers 140ps and there's also an impressive torque curve which enhances its performance feel significantly.

One of the things about the current Swift Sport is that it's lighter than its predecessor and it feels agile.

It goes round corners at speed with consummate ease and the Monroe shock absorbers maximise comfort levels without diminishing the fun factor.

The Swift Sport costs £17,999, which means it is keenly priced compared to competitors from the likes of Peugeot and Vauxhall.

If you do decide to buy one you will also benefit from having pretty much everything included - even the special paint finishes, of which there are six to choose from.

The lengthy standard equipment list includes sat-nav, air conditioning, DAB radio, LED daytime running lights, Bluetooth, smartphone link display audio, rear view camera and front fog lamps.

The Swift Sport also comes with some sophisticated and extremely useful safety features.

They include lane departure prevention and an advance forward detection system with autonomous emergency braking.

Despite its distinctly sporty focus the Swift Sport also measures up in the practicality stakes.

It only comes in five-door form, though this in no way detracts from its sleek and svelte profile.