Suzuki is launching a new hybrid estate car in Europe, dubbed Swace and targeted at both fleet and private buyers.

The Suzuki Swace goes on sale in Europe in late 2020

The Swace is the second car to be launched under its tie-up with Toyota and is based on the Corolla Touring Sports but with stand-out Suzuki features. It follows the reveal of the RAV4-based ‘Across’ model earlier this summer; both models will go on sale later this year.

The Swace, which will be built alongside the Corolla at Toyota’s Burnaston plant, will focus on design, ride comfort and hybrid performance.

It gets the same hybrid powertrain as the Corolla’s entry-level unit, featuring a 102hp 1.8-litre petrol with a 72hp electric motor and a CVT transmission. Total output, along with fuel economy and combined CO2, is yet to be revealed but it will offer 99g/km CO2 on the WLTP low cycle and 115g/km on the high, along with a 0-62mph time of 11.1 seconds.  It also includes an EV dedicated mode, ideal for residential areas, and three driving modes, covering Normal, Eco or Sport. The Corolla’s 2.0-litre hybrid is not being used at this stage.

Design is carried over from the Corolla estate but the Swace gets its own distinctive front-end, including bi-beam LED headlamps and a large honeycomb-patterned hexagonal grille. It will also feature integrated roof rails for simple roof carrier mounting – part of its focus on targeting lifestyle needs – and 16-inch alloys.

Luggage space is 596 litres with the rear seats up and the seats can be folded fully flat with a lever. It also features a removable boot floor partition to increase space.

The interior is largely based on the Corolla and focuses on spaciousness, comfort and practicality; Suzuki says it will offer legroom among the best in class. Equipment includes an eight-inch multimedia audio system with AM/FM/DAB radio, Bluetooth function and steering wheel controls plus Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration and a Qi wireless charging pad in the front console.

Driver assistance features include parking assistance, a pre-collision system, lane keeping assist, road sign assist, dynamic cruise control, a blind spot monitor and rear crossing traffic alert.

Sales are set to start in Europe this winter and UK specifications will be announced closer to the launch date.