IF ever a good example of weight loss was needed for inspiration then look no further than the fabulous Suzuki Swift Sport because it has shed the pounds but still packs a mighty punch.

In fact, the all-new third generation now tops the scales at just 975kg - some 80kg lighter than the outgoing model - and that results in responsive driving dynamics guaranteed to put a smile on your face.

There is only one trim level and what you see is what you get so there will be no unexpected extra costs when you get to signing on the dotted line.

And when it comes to price, it's not cheap at £19,249, but the Swift Sport has always been regarded as the flashier version of the Swift model, and it comes fully loaded with top notch kit and on-board technology.

The car is powered by a four-cylinder 140ps 1.4-litre Boosterjet turbo petrol engine matched to a six-speed manual gearbox and can sprint from 0-62mph in 8.1 seconds, topping out at 130mph.

According to official figures it can deliver combined fuel efficiency of 47.1mpg under stricter WLTP testing with carbon emissions of 125g/km.

Viewed from any angle the five-door Swift Sport looks dynamic in its styling with a wide body, honeycomb-patterned grille, dual exhaust system, carbon fibre-effect trim, black windscreen and door pillars, a 'floating' roof, rear spoiler, privacy glass, integrated rear door handles and 17-inch alloys to complete the look.

There's a choice of six colours and our car looked the business in a bright Speedy Blue Metallic shade that perfectly suited its character.

The interior is ultra-modern and upmarket in its design and layout with a three-spoke leather covered flat-bottomed steering wheel, sport exclusive seat upholstery, flashes of red trim to highlight the car's sporty nature and even readouts that display information about the G-force tracking as well as power, torque, brake and acceleration information. There are, of course, all the traditional panels and readouts too.

The semi bucket-design sports seats are embossed with the Sport logo and there are lots of creature comforts to be explored within the driver-focused cockpit. These include a sat nav system, full smartphone connectivity via Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, Bluetooth, a six-speaker DAB radio, adaptive cruise control, automatic air conditioning, a rear parking camera and lots more.

The Swift Sport has always had a great reputation when it comes to delivering superb driving dynamics and the latest model carries on the tradition with sharp acceleration through the gears and all the power needed for rapid bursts of pace.

The road holding is ultra-grippy meaning bends can be attacked with confidence and there is minimal body sway even at higher speeds. The downside of the weight loss is that I noticed the car was buffeted a little by stronger crosswinds when driving on a motorway, but that was my only slight gripe.

The agile handling in busier town centres was impressive as was the ease in which the Swift Sport could manoeuvre its way into very tight parking spaces without any fuss.

Comfort levels are good and there is room for a couple of youngsters in the back. The boot has a capacity of 265 litres that increases to 579 litres with the split-folding rear seats dropped flat and there is also a glovebox, door bins, cup holders, a pocket in the back of the passenger seat and a central cubby box to store items.

The Swift Sport features a good range of safety kit and the car carries the same four-star Euro NCAP rating awarded to its sibling, the Suzuki Swift. Systems include lane departure warning, hill hold control, electronic stability programme, high beam assist, a high mounted stop lamp and numerous airbags.