Young Driver training firm replaces ‘woefully unreliable’ Vauxhalls with Suzuki Swifts
Change allows children as young as nine to get their first driving lesson
A leading young driver training company says it has switched to using a fleet of Suzuki Swifts as the Vauxhall Corsas it previously used proved “woefully unreliable”.
The £2m+ investment sees 170 dual-control Swifts being used to give under-17s their first driving lessons, with Young Driver claiming that those who receive the training are far less likely to be involved in an accident in the first six months after passing their driving test: 3.3 per cent versus the national average of 20 per cent.
Vauxhall Corsas have been used by Young Driver for 15 years, covering nearly 1.5m lessons, but in recent years up to 10 per cent of the fleet has been out of action due to unreliability, according to the company.
“Compared with the previous-generation models we ran, the current Corsa is clearly built down to a price – and it’s a price that we’ve paid dearly for over the last couple of years,” said Ian Mulingani, Young Driver’s managing director.
Mulingani said there were three key requirements when looking for a replacement: product quality and durability; low CO2 emissions and fuel economy; and ease of operation for beginner drivers.
“After reviewing all our options, the Suzuki Swift was the clear winner,” he said. “The Swift stood head and shoulders above other rivals, particularly the outgoing Corsa, which trailed it at every level.”
The Swift is Suzuki’s best-selling model and is offered with a warranty of up to seven years and 100,000 miles. Suzuki was also rated third in What Car?’s 2024 Reliability Survey, while Vauxhall placed 29th out of 31 brands.
Young Driver cites other benefits of the switch. The 160 manual-transmission Swifts (a further 10 have CVT automatic gearboxes) feature mild hybrid powertrains that have an official fuel economy figure of 64.2mpg, and the company expects to save just under £20,000 per year in petrol compared with its previous fleet of Corsas. They’re also greener, with a CO2 emissions rating of 99g/km, versus the Vauxhall’s 117g/km.
Young Driver says it had the confidence to buy the Swifts outright, rather than on a lease deal, due to their strong residual values (also known as depreciation). According to valuation expert CAP HPI, they will retain 55 per cent of their value after three years and 36,000 miles.
A final benefit, Young Driver said, is that the Swift’s cabin ergonomics are such that the company can lower the minimum height from 142cm to 140cm, which means that it can now provide lessons to drivers from the age of nine, rather than 10 with the Corsas.
Senior instructor, Lance Peake, said the smaller footprint of the Swifts will be beneficial, too.
“Being 200mm shorter and 30mm narrower than the Corsa, the Swift is more manoeuvrable, and its lower scuttle and widely-adjustable driver’s seat means that even kids who have only just reached our (now lower) 1.4-metre threshold … will feel more confident and comfortable,” he said.
Vauxhall has been approached for comment.
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