2010 Suzuki Kizashi
by Jim Prueter -06/2010

Kizashi – difficult to say, easy to like

It’s difficult enough for most people to say they drive a Suzuki (and not mean something with two wheels) without giving it a name that’s nearly impossible to pronounce. For the record, the Kizashi (pronounced: kee-zah-shee) means “something great is coming.”

Kizashi actually arrived last December. I recently spent a week with the car and give it high praise.

The Suzuki's sales continue to struggle in the U.S., a problem it doesn’t have at home in Japan. Kizashi is Suzuki’s attempt to compete in the highly competitive family-sedan segment, bumping up against numerous celebrated brands like Toyota Camry, Honda Accord, Ford Fusion, Nissan Altima, Chevrolet Malibu and others. The last time Suzuki attempted to compete in the midsize segment, it was with the Verona. Never heard of the Verona? You’re not alone. That explains the brand’s difficulty in making inroads in the U.S. market.

One area where Kizashi falls short is that it’s — well — short. Sizewise, Kizashi isn’t quite a midsize sedan, rather more like a bigger Honda Civic — a bit small to be marketed in the midsize segment. Suzuki says it used the Acura TSX, Volkswagen Passat and Audi A4 as benchmarks and is targeting those who want an A4 or BMW 3-Series, but can’t quite afford the price. It will be interesting to see how their strategy works.

Still, you have to hand it to Suzuki for putting together a well-thought-out car loaded with standard features, all in an attempt to defilade competition. To begin with, it’s offered in all-wheel-drive ($1300 extra), something unavailable in a Camry, Altima, or Accord. Its shortcoming, however, is that it’s available with just one engine: a 2.4-liter, 180-horsepower four-cylinder with a choice of a six-speed manual or continuously variable transmission ($1100 extra for the CVT). Our test car was equipped with the CVT. While it certainly doesn’t possess the power of a V-6, it was up to task passing on the Interstate and should be powerful enough for most consumers. We expect Suzuki will offer a V-6 or perhaps add a turbocharger to the 2.4-liter four-cylinder within the next year.

Given its aggressive Euro-style looks, you’d think the Kizashi had a V-8 behind its pretentious honeycomb grille and assertive air dam. The side profile is well proportioned, with a cat-like ready-to-pounce look suggesting a more performance-oriented sedan. Its large dual exhaust tips are something I’m not sure I’ve seen on a four-cylinder sedan before.

The interior is nicely detailed, with premium soft-touch materials, excellent fit and nice unexpected touches included in all four trim levels: S, SE, GTS and SLS. Some of those include one-touch up-down power windows, key fob with keyless entry and push-button start, auto headlights, dual-zone auto climate control, tilt-telescoping steering wheel, outside temperature display, dual illuminated visor mirrors, electronic stability and traction control, eight standard air bags including rear-seat side-impact air bags, LED ambient interior lighting, and steering-wheel-mounted audio controls.

In government crash tests, Kizashi scored the highest 5 stars for front and side impact protection.

We tested a front-wheel drive SE ($21,499) that added 10-way power driver’s seat, 17-inch alloy wheels, steering-wheel-mounted cruise control, split folding rear seat and leather-covered steering wheel and gearshift. Options included floor mats and a gorgeous platinum metallic exterior color, well worth the extra $130, bringing the sticker price to $22,549.

The GTS adds an upgraded stereo, Bluetooth connectivity, and 18-inch alloy wheels. The SLS has heated leather seats, heated outside mirrors, parking sensors, and a Home Link system.

Ride and handling are above average with impressive suspension, plenty of grip in corners and good steering feel and response. The ride is firmer than Camry, Altima and Accord, but we like the sporty suspension feel and still felt it handles large bumps with composure. But, some might find the ride a touch too sporting. We recommend a test drive over some rougher roads before you buy if you are considering the Kizashi.

Front seat legroom is more than ample, even for this 6-6 driver, with a fairly roomy rear seat. Doors open wide but the sloping roofline means ducking to get in without banging your noggin. Seats are comfortable and offer excellent support.

Concerns include the very small dealer network. You may have to search to find a dealer, especially in rural areas. Additionally, while Suzuki advertises that it has “America’s #1 warranty” — 100,000 miles/7-year limited, no deductible and fully transferable — previous Korean built Suzukis have seen more than their fair share of trips to the service department. Suzuki says that was back when it was part of the General Motors family, and initial quality scores have improved significantly. Kizashi is built in Japan.

Overall, Kizashi is an impressive sedan that completely changes our perception of everything we knew and thought about the brand. We give it a strong recommendation. Still, the Suzuki brand doesn’t have top-of-mind consumer consideration (other than for motorcycles) and resale values have traditionally been poor. With Kizashi, Suzuki is hoping to change that perception, but the name probably won’t help much. “You drive a what?”