So, how does a 180-horsepower, all-wheel drive sport sedan with no gears get to be sporty? Kizashi's engineers say it's all under the car. They benchmarked Volkswagen and Alfa Romeo for stability and handling, and set off to create the best chassis in the class. The goal, simply, was to give drivers a more entertaining and involving experience than they'd find elsewhere.
After a few moments alone with the Kizashi and a twisty road, it becomes apparent that they've nailed its manners down. There's a heavy and locked-on character to the steering, which itself is mischievously light and eager. Big steering motions happen with little steering input, and it all feels nicely, naturally matched to the weight and size of the car.
Kizashi's body stays relatively flat, too—even during aggressive emergency manoeuvres at a good clip. It rotates really nicely during lift-off oversteer when intentionally pushed as well.
High-performance Dunlop SP Sport tires helped deliver no-fuss grip, even at livelier-than-advisable cornering speeds. The ride is stiff and abrupt on some surfaces, but those who appreciate a good bend in the road won't mind the trade-off.
In a variety of back-to-back handling tests against key competitors, the Kizashi felt like a natural. The Mazda6 and Subaru Legacy are likely the biggest threats in the dynamics department—though comparing the Kizashi's handling to that of the Accord or Camry is like comparing the athleticism of a ninja assassin to a golfer.
The Suzuki is instantly sharper and more agile. Being the smallest car in the group doesn't hurt here, either.
Add in quick and mainly enjoyable response from the CVT transmission's paddle-shiftable manual mode, and the Kizashi should reach out to excitement seekers more effectively than some of the other blandly-seasoned sponge cakes in its competitive set.
It even looks fun to drive. There's a pleasant alertness to the fascia, a wide stance, and awesome exhaust tips that wouldn't look out of place on the latest supercar.
Inside, the tester got automatic climate control, heated power leather seats, parking radar, and all the expected accessories. One touch opens and closes both front windows, and Kizashi returns 3 blinks for every tap of its turn signal lever, just like those fancy German cars.
Trim materials were upscale—especially the Chrysler 300-inspired chrome-ringed door handles and faux-leather door accents. Stitched leather covered the steering wheel, which itself got audio, cruise and trip computer controls.
Build quality was about average for the segment, though the unit tested was an American pre-production model that may be tightened up even further.
So, when's it coming?
Suzuki officials say Kizashi will launch soon in a loaded package with pricing from under $30,000.
photo:Justin Pritchard
After a few moments alone with the Kizashi and a twisty road, it becomes apparent that they've nailed its manners down. There's a heavy and locked-on character to the steering, which itself is mischievously light and eager. Big steering motions happen with little steering input, and it all feels nicely, naturally matched to the weight and size of the car.
Kizashi's body stays relatively flat, too—even during aggressive emergency manoeuvres at a good clip. It rotates really nicely during lift-off oversteer when intentionally pushed as well.
High-performance Dunlop SP Sport tires helped deliver no-fuss grip, even at livelier-than-advisable cornering speeds. The ride is stiff and abrupt on some surfaces, but those who appreciate a good bend in the road won't mind the trade-off.
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| Stitched leather covered the steering wheel, which itself got audio, cruise and trip computer controls. |
In a variety of back-to-back handling tests against key competitors, the Kizashi felt like a natural. The Mazda6 and Subaru Legacy are likely the biggest threats in the dynamics department—though comparing the Kizashi's handling to that of the Accord or Camry is like comparing the athleticism of a ninja assassin to a golfer.
The Suzuki is instantly sharper and more agile. Being the smallest car in the group doesn't hurt here, either.
Add in quick and mainly enjoyable response from the CVT transmission's paddle-shiftable manual mode, and the Kizashi should reach out to excitement seekers more effectively than some of the other blandly-seasoned sponge cakes in its competitive set.
It even looks fun to drive. There's a pleasant alertness to the fascia, a wide stance, and awesome exhaust tips that wouldn't look out of place on the latest supercar.
Inside, the tester got automatic climate control, heated power leather seats, parking radar, and all the expected accessories. One touch opens and closes both front windows, and Kizashi returns 3 blinks for every tap of its turn signal lever, just like those fancy German cars.
Trim materials were upscale—especially the Chrysler 300-inspired chrome-ringed door handles and faux-leather door accents. Stitched leather covered the steering wheel, which itself got audio, cruise and trip computer controls.
Build quality was about average for the segment, though the unit tested was an American pre-production model that may be tightened up even further.
So, when's it coming?
Suzuki officials say Kizashi will launch soon in a loaded package with pricing from under $30,000.
photo:Justin Pritchard
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