When the 2010 ‘Car Of The Year’ awards roll around, you can take your permanent Texta and write in ‘Suzuki Kizashi’. Yes, it really is that good, Suzuki’s first mid-size sports sedan is a genuine contender.
The production version - which resulted from the head-turning Suzuki Kizashi concept car from the Frankfurt Motor Show three years ago - has immediately shot Suzuki into prominence in the mid-size segment – a segment crowded with great cars from Europe, North America and Asia.
Combine its startling good looks, handy 2.4-litre engine, excellent driving dynamics, extensive standard specifications and sharp pricing from $27,990…well ‘Kizashi’ is Japanese for ‘something good is coming’ and Suzuki is right on the money there.
Suzuki Kizashi Overview
The Suzuki Kizashi is sold in two models – the entry level Suzuki Kizashi XL and range-topping Suzuki Kizashi XLS. Car Showroom has just enjoyed two weeks with both versions – the first an Suzuki Kizashi XLS with the six-speed manual transmission and the second with an Suzuki Kizashi XL with the Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) automatic. As tested, the Suzuki Kizashi XLS manual retails for $34,990 while the Suzuki Kizashi XL automatic is stickered at $30,490.
Designed with Europe in mind (in those markets the Suzuki Kizashi competes in the ‘D’ segment), Suzuki’s newcomer was benchmarked against rivals from BMW and Audi. The result is a tremendous credit to Suzuki – great looks inside and out, plus top-shelf driving dynamics honed by days of chassis development at Germany’s Nurburgring race circuit.
Practicality is important for mid-size sedan customers and the Suzuki Kizashi ticked that box as well with reasonable interior space and a boot which easily handled a family long weekend getaway for the Car Showroom team.
Suzuki Kizashi Engine
Power comes from Suzuki’s 2.4-litre DOHC four cylinder – the same engine fitted to the Grand Vitara SUV but updated and refined for the Suzuki Kizashi. Maximum power of 131kW arrives at 6,500rpm and peak torque of 230Nm is delivered at 4,000rpm.
Suzuki says the combined cycle average fuel consumption is 7.9l/100kms.
Substantial work on refinement and reduced NVH has paid dividends with the Suzuki Kizashi impressively quiet and at all engine speeds. That work includes under floor insulation plus engine balance shafts, tuned manifold passages and dual high-capacity silencers in the exhaust.
Variable intakes deliver good responsiveness across the range.
Suzuki Kizashi Interior
Impressively appointed, the Suzuki Kizashi’s interior delivers an upscale look and feel. We liked the high-quality leather in the XLS (XL models get cloth trim) and the feel of the switches was also reminiscent of pricier European vehicles.
The Suzuki Kizashi XLS also comes standard with a 10-way power adjustment for the drivers seat which combines with rake/reach adjustment for the sporty three-spoke steering wheel to deliver a first-rate driving position. Steering wheel switches for the audio and cruise control are backlit – a modern, elegant touch.
Instrumentation is conventional and Suzuki Kizashi XLS gains a premium 10-speaker Rockford Fosgate audio system that is compatible for iPods and MP3s.
A central screen provides the driver with secondary information including ‘distance to empty’ for the 63-litre fuel tank.
On the center console is the LCD screen for the audio and climate control air-conditioning adjustment. Overall the dashboard is nicely styled and the build quality of the test cars was excellent.
Rear seat passengers score nice support from the 60-40 split fold rear seat and while leg room isn’t the segment’s most generous, it’s not the smallest either.
At first glance the boot isn’t enormous (461 litres), but it easily handled two large suitcases plus some other overnight bags for our weekend family trip.
Suzuki Kizashi Exterior & Styling
Suzuki has got the proportions and lines of theSuzuki Kizashi spot-on. It turned heads as a concept car and in production form still exudes a distinctly European look with its deeply sculptured front end/bonnet and superbly curved rear three-quarter.
At 4,650mm overall length and with a wheelbase of 2,700mm, the Suzuki Kizashi is not the largest mid-sizer, but buyers in this segment will be impressed by its overall packaging. The extra size of the standard 18-inch alloy wheels on the Suzuki Kizashi XLS model add to the sporty look that highlights the Kizashi.
The details are excellent: from the curved bonnet line, smoked-look mesh grille and modern headlights to the chrome trim for the indicator lights and piano black finish on the B-pillars.
At the rear, the slim boot line and modern taillights complete a thoroughly impressive styling job.
Suzuki Kizashi On The Road
By any measure the Kizashi shapes up to the pricier Europeans. The Suzuki Kizashi XLS runs 18-inch alloy wheels while the Suzuki Kizashi XL sits on 17-inchers – both delivered commendably sporty driving dynamics.
Over our high-speed mountain road loop, the Suzuki Kizashi XLS with its slick-shifting six-speed manual transmission rivaled competitive European mid-sizers with its excellent dynamics, good feedback from the nicely weighted power steering and strong mid-range torque from the 2.4-litre engine which loved to rev. The CVT auto in the Suzuki Kizashi XL was no slouch and really either derivative was a great drive – as you would expect from Suzuki.
At the limit in wet going - with the ESP and Traction Control working overtime - we liked the feedback from the steering wheel (some rivals are a tad too remote in their feel for our tastes).
Back in the city, the Suzuki Kizashi’s nice dimensions provided good visibility for parking and the responsiveness of the engine/transmissions provided handy acceleration for freeway merging.
Suzuki Kizashi Challenges
We reckon Suzuki has got the Suzuki Kizashi packaging just right, but if we were to be super critical we would say it doesn’t quite match the segment leaders for rear seat legroom or boot space (but it stacks up well compared to many).
Suzuki Kizashi Verdict
When the Kizashi concept bowed in Frankfurt a few years ago, it was a knockout and the production version is spectacularly good. Take the dynamic styling, nice driving dynamics and toss in Suzuki’s reputation for engineering and build quality and the combination is certainly enticing.
Suzuki Kizashi Competition
Suzuki’s first mid-sizer jumps into a pool populated by great cars. The German-sourced Ford Mondeo is a favourite with the Car Showroom team and it’s handily priced. Same for the Mazda Mazda6.
Then there is Hyundai’s i45 – also a ‘must consider’ on the new car buying list.
And while Honda’s Accord Euro gets expensive at the top of the model range, it’s $33,490 starting price is right in the mix.
Likes:
Looks great inside and out; great drive
Dislikes:
Rear seat and boot could both do with some extra size
