At first side-on glance, the new Suzuki Kizashi 2011 may seem a little shorter than other mid-size sedans. But this is not a mere optical illusion, created by its squarish back end. Rather, the Kizashi is the shortest length car in its category, and trunk room as well as space for backseat passengers suffer the most because of this fact. Even so, with stylish tail lights and dual chrome exhaust outlets, its sporty rear certainly struts its stuff.
Suzuki fits squarely in the mid-sized car category. The Kizashi fills the gap between the smaller vehicles and SUVs offered by Suzuki dealerships over the past few years. Once featuring just all-wheel drive (AWD) with CVT transmission, the Kizashi will now be available with a 6-speed manual transmission for $25,995. That aside, these two versions share the same equipment and the same build. Even if the Kizashi Sport has not yet appeared in showrooms, it’s only a matter of days before it does so.
What’s Inside
Although not overly indulgent, the Kizashi has a more luxurious finish than what we have come to expect from Suzuki. The quality leather finishing is understated and streamlined and storage spaces are sufficiently ample. However, the Kizashi does not include a navigation system. The interior is nicely designed, but the backseat area is ill-suited for taller people. Plus the backseat is not particularly easy to access, with less legroom to boot. On the other hand, for children it’s ideal.
Overall, it is well built with comfortable seating throughout. That being said, the driver’s seat has 10-way power adjustment, while that of the passenger only has 4. Drivers will appreciate the large, well-placed footrest for long-distance travel. Standard equipment also includes a tilt and telescoping steering wheel, installed Bluetooth technology and a sunroof.
On the Road
Featuring a 2.4L, 16-valve, 4-cylinder engine with 180 HP @ 6500 rpm coupled with either an AWD, CVT or a 6-speed, manual transmission, the Suzuki Kizashi reacts well to all challenges. Its 2700 mm wheelbase, less than most of its competitors, is an unexpected advantage on the road - the curvier the road, the better the car can handle it. A little more horsepower would be appreciated, but Suzuki is asking us to be patient on this issue.
Conclusion
For this newcomer to be better known and appreciated, Suzuki needs to increase its marketing efforts to draw more consumers to its dealership showrooms. Also, if the Kizashi is to cater to everyone, it needs to diversify its options. Still, the Kizashi has many strong points within its category, notably, its AWD transmission. It must, nevertheless, carve out its own place amongst other competitors, like the Subaru Legacy, Ford Fusion and Volkswagen Passat…plus there are others that do not offer AWD, but are still fierce contenders, such as the Chevrolet Malibu, Hyundai Sonata, Nissan Altima, Honda Accord, Mazda6 and Toyota Camry, just to name a few.
Daniel Lafrance
