2010 Suzuki Kizashi: The best Suzuki yet, but…
Suzuki has always been something of an enigma to me. It’s one of the best and largest motorcycle manufacturers in the world, and they produce excellent outboard motors and ATV. In most of these categories, this Japanese giant is among the best, if not the best. However, its history in the world of automobiles has been more erratic.
On the Japanese and Indian markets, Suzuki is a dominant brand in the small car sector, yet it hasn’t enjoyed the same success on the other international markets. In the US and Canada for more than two decades now, Suzuki, unlike several other Japanese brands, hasn’t yet been able to rise to the top. Sure, it has had some success along the way, but there have also been miserable failures with some models made by affiliated companies that never met the public’s expectations. It seems that the era of the partner/supplier is coming to an end with Suzuki deciding to take an active approach by designing and producing its own models. The Kizashi is part of this movement.
More sensible than the prototype
When I first saw the production version of the car, I was struck by the rather sensible lines of the body. It’s balanced and pleasant aesthetically, but the concept cars featured such aggressive lines to go with their huge chrome grille that I expected the production model to be cut from the same cloth. The goal of these concept cars was to attract attention to the Kizashi first and to the Suzuki name second. It came in the form of a large sedan, a big hatchback with all-wheel drive before finally arriving at the definitive version. Fortunately, more thought went into the final product.
This newcomer is best described as a Volkswagen Jetta with a Suzuki grille on the front end and a tail end that features a rounded rear spoiler integrated into the trunk lid, triangular exhaust tips and rectangular taillights that wrap around the sides. This design is easy on the eyes and should be able to hold on to its looks as the years pass. Visually, the passenger compartment is well balanced. In the centre of the dash, as you find so often these days, there’s a vertical console that narrows toward the bottom where you’ll find the audio and climate controls.
Everything is in line with the current trends, with neither excess nor innovation. Then again, this category isn’t exactly known for producing transcendental innovation. I had the chance to try a version with a black interior and another with a beige interior with chrome accents. This want was reminiscent of a VW product. It has a similar ambience but isn’t an exact replica – and that isn’t meant as a criticism. By the way, this compact is very spacious and has interior dimensions like those of an intermediate. We’ve come a long way from the convoluted passenger compartments of some Suzuki products at the turn of the century when it seemed as though the designer was visually impaired.
Overall
As for the mechanics, unwavering fans of Japanese products will be pleased to learn that the Kizashi is assembled in Japan, at the Suzuki plant in Sagara. What’s more, it’s powered by a 2.4-litre Suzuki engine. This four-cylinder features 185 horses when paired up with the factory-standard six-speed manual transmission. If you go for the optional continuously variable transmission (CVT), it has 178 horsepower. This transmission can be controlled by paddle shifters located behind the steering wheel, which are programmed to shift like real gears, again following current trends. Moreover, the Kizashi base version comes with front wheel drive but it can be ordered with all-wheel drive. This AWD system is activated with the help of a control button on the dashboard. It works in concert with an efficient and smooth lateral stability system.
Good on the road
Even before you take to the road, you’ll like this Suzuki as much for its looks and equipment as for its passenger compartment. It’s the first Suzuki made for our market that features so much consistency. My test model came equipped the CVT transmission and all-wheel drive. However, the initial kilometres travelled behind the wheel of the Kizashi left me wanting. The engine output was good, just like the vehicle handling, but the Suzuki rep had boasted so much about this sedan’s sport capabilities that I expected more. And as always, I found that the steering was over-assisted and slow.
Those are my first impressions. After spending more time behind the wheel, I made peace with this Suzuki, which proved to have a rigid platform, safe handling and better-than-average fuel economy. While the accelerations are pretty good, I found that it lacked a bit of punch for a sport sedan. It seems that there are more muscular examples in this category. Thus, it shouldn’t be considered a sport sedan, but just a regular sedan, plain and simple.
In short, the Kizashi is the best sedan ever produced by Suzuki. Now it remains to be seen whether it will be reliable in the short and medium run. It’s the best product of its brand, and next to the competition, it will be one of the most interesting compact sedans, but not necessarily the leader of the pack.