A HOT hatch without a manual gearbox is often like tomyam soup without chilli padi - pointless.

Suzuki's four-speed auto Swift Sport is one exception, even if its performance is nowhere as fiery as its five-speed manual counterpart. According to declared specifications, it clocks an 11.4-second century sprint and a 170kmh top speed, against the manual's 8.9 seconds and 200kmh.

But how enjoyable a car is cannot always be measured in seconds. The way it delivers the goods can be a big determinant too.

In the automatic Swift Sport, the delivery is on par with some of the finest. Yank the shifter to Drive, tap the throttle and the car responds with a surging enthusiasm that will have you believe there was a printing error in Suzuki's specifications.

Its relatively primitive four-speeder can't imitate the characteristics of a manual like the sequentials you find in some German cars, and it does not have any quick-shift mode like most autos these days. But it does a creditable job in harnessing the low- and mid-range torque of the Swift's revvy 1.6-litre engine.

For most purposes, you will find this suppleness sufficient. It responds to kick-down like a continuously variable transmission, and it somehow finds itself in the right ratio - even right after hard braking for entry into a corner.

The Swift Sport's unshakeable chassis and superb tractability are still evident. You can drive the cheery chuckable Suzie like the original Mini, blissfully aware that the car's physical attributes - and not some electronic nanny - will keep it planted.

Onboard, the auto car has all the niceties found in the manual, including an ultra-modern factory-fitted stereo, with steering-mounted controls.

The only gripe is that the car costs $2,000 more than the manual. For something that's a tad less punchy, it is not completely justified.

SUZUKI SWIFT SPORT AUTOMATIC

Price: $65,900 with COE
Engine: 1,586cc 16-valve inline-4
Transmission: Four-speed automatic
Power: 125bhp at 6,800rpm
Torque: 148Nm at 4,800rpm
0-100kmh: 11.4 seconds
Top speed:170kmh
Fuel consumption: 9.5 litres/100km (city)
Agent: Champion Motors