2010 Suzuki Kizashi Preview

Suzuki is doing fairly well in Canada and especially in Quebec where compact vehicles are popular. But south of the border, a mid-size sedan is the volume seller, and the small Japanese company is missing out on a good opportunity.

2010 Suzuki Kizashi

But this coming winter, Suzuki will try to live the American Dream with the new and long-awaited Kizashi sedan. First shown as a concept at the New York Auto Show a year and a half ago, it will be the automaker’s new flagship.

Attractive shape
The production Kizashi isn’t as low-slung and voluptuous as the concept, but it still boasts a svelte, muscular shape. The front end is unmistakably Suzuki and bears a strong resemblance to the SX4 Sedan. The front and rear fenders hug the wheels while the low roofline makes for relatively small side glass. The rear end looks decidedly sporty, with its ducktail trunk lid and extruded exhaust outlets.

The car rides on a 2,700-mm (106.3-inch) wheelbase and is 4,650-mm (183.1-inch) long, which pretty much places it as the shortest of the mainstream mid-size sedan pack. As a result, we expect rear-seat legroom to be a little tight compared to the others, but we’ll get a better idea of the Kizashi’s interior dimensions once we park our behinds in it during its media launch next month.

Inside, a down-to-business cockpit includes an instrument panel with chrome bezels around the speedo and tach, a multifunction steering wheel as well as a centre stack that groups the sound system and climate controls in straightforward fashion.

One engine choice (for now)
Although we were expecting a V6 engine in the Kizashi, since the company announced that the concept boasted a 300-hp 3.6-litre powerplant, the 2010 sedan will only be available with a 2.4-litre inline-4 that will develop about 175 horsepower, and will be mated to either a 6-speed manual or a CVT automatic with paddle shifters. In Canada, though, the manual transmission won't be available.

While no V6 has been initially announced, we wouldn’t be surprised if one turns up under the hood of the Kizashi at some point, since Suzuki has a 230-hp V6 in the Grand Vitara. It isn’t a big issue, as the majority of mid-size sedan buyers choose 4-cylinder engines anyway. Suzuki has announced that a hybrid powerplant will turn up in the future, though.

2010 Suzuki Kizashi