Suzuki Swift passes the ‘Moose Test’, like a BOSS [Video]

The ‘Moose Test’ is a way to check the stability, grip and direction changing skills of a vehicle. The moose test was devised in Sweden, and simulates a situation similar to a moose (a large deer) suddenly jumping onto the highway and a car driver having to avoid it. This test is meant to help buyers understand a car’s stability in emergency situations. Here is an all-new Suzuki Swift doing a moose test and a slalom test on a test track.

What is happening here?

The all-new Swift shown in the video first goes through a moose test. Traffic cones are placed in a way that it recreates an emergency situation and the car has to swerve to the left and then come back to the track at a high speed. The whole moose test has been set-up over a distance of 60 metres.

The video shows the Swift travelling at 77 km/h for the first test, which is quite a high speed and is a regular speed on the Indian highways. The Swift can be seen doing the first manoeuvre without a problem and cleanly. However, the hatchback faces understeer in the second turn. The video says that the slightly firm suspension set-up keeps the body roll moderate, which in turn provides more stability during such high-speed manoeuvres.

At a slightly higher speed of 80 km/h, the hatchback faces bigger understeer and knocks down a few cones around and cannot be stabilised enough to do the third cornering. It shows how the dynamics of a vehicle can change even with a slight change in the speed.

The video also shows the slalom test. The slalom test shows how quickly the vehicle can change direction without losing the grip. It also shows if the car experiences any understeer during fast direction changes. The video shows the Swift doing the slalom test successfully. The Electronic Stability Control (ESC) keeps the car from slipping away in this test. It should be noted that the Indian version of the Swift does not get the ESC even as an optional feature.

Speed can be dangerous

Apart from the stability of the vehicle, the video highlights the dangers of speeding. A difference of only 3 km/h can change the way a car reacts to the steering feedback from the drive and it can cause a catastrophic accident. Speed can be dangerous for any vehicle and at high speeds, it can be difficult to steer the vehicle in an emergency situation. It is always important to drive within the speed limit, especially on Indian roads where nasty surprises are way too many. 

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