These are good times for Suzuki. Eight distinct models helped sales rise last year to 33,000, up 8,200 on the previous year.

That’s a 33 per cent growth year on year and it made Suzuki the second fastest growing brand during 2013 and it is now well inside the top 20.

Well known for small cars, demand remains strong for Suzuki’s stylish range in the UK with sales of the Alto city car reaching more than 13,600 and overtaking Swift for the first time as the most popular in the range.

But Swift remains an important model and Suzuki has been hard at work to make its popularity endure. Revisions to the Swift and the addition of two new models – 4x4 five-door and Sport five-door – are important. The 1.3 litre DDiS model five-door is now available in SZ4 trim offers with lower emissions of 101g/km and improved fuel consumption.

No wonder Swift has recorded 85,000 UK sales since it was first launched in 2005.

Launched in the UK in late 2010, the latest Swift range now receives some cosmetic upgrades and specification changes as well as two new models.

For the range model update, all Swift models receive some minor styling refreshments including a new design front bumper and grille and silver detailing to the lower front bumper.

For added safety and style, a new LED type high level brake lamp has been added.

The three grades continue for the revised model; SZ2, SZ3 and SZ4. As standard equipment and in addition to seven airbags and ESP, SZ2 has front passenger airbag deactivation facility, electric front windows, remote central door locking with deadlocks, electrically adjustable and heated door mirrors, MP3/WMA compatible CD tuner with USB port and steering wheel mounted audio controls. New design 15-inch wheel covers are now included.

SZ3 adds air conditioning, Bluetooth, integrated audio unit with music streaming, new design 16in alloy wheels and is now equipped with front fog lamps as standard.

SZ4 includes LED daytime running lights, mirrors with integrated turn indicators and ‘auto up’ facility for the driver’s window. Further standard specification for SZ4 includes automatic air conditioning, electric rear windows and rear privacy glass (Five door models), push button keyless start, automatic headlamps and cruise control as standard.

To the untutored eye, Swift remains unaltered. That’s intentional because Suzuki believe customers are happy with the formula. As a cornerstone of the company’s line-up, messing with a successful formula wouldn’t be smart.

This refresh of the all-new car sees a number of subtle tweaks and updates to the car’s specification, and incremental improvements to fuel economy and emissions performance. The one thing missing until now has been an all-wheel drive option. Sure, you could always opt for a genuine 4x4 such as the SX4 or Jimny if you wanted to stay loyal to the brand and needed something compact.

However, if you’re keen on retaining the Swift’s compact footprint, agile driving characteristics and don’t need a lofty SUV-style driving position, the Swift 4x4 (from £13,819) sounds like a decent alternative.

For the UK, buyers are presented with a refreshingly simple choice: one engine and one bodystyle. Believing that the heavily lifting will always be done by a regular SUV, the Swift 4x4 is powered by the firm’s familiar 1.2-litre petrol motor and wrapped in a five-door body. For moderately taxing conditions the unit’s 93bhp should be ample. Its free-revving nature ensures progress is brisk, and it’s no hardship to zip through the car’s manual five-speed gearbox.

The result is an affordable and economical supermini with the added bonus of all-wheel drive.

Meanwhile, Suzuki has expanded its Motability offering to include 20 models from the range with nil advance payment, a key consideration in this sector.