It’s got style, it’s got flair, it’s fun to drive and it has an efficient all-wheel drive. You’re thinking, “why, this is the perfect car”, and you’d almost be right. But knowing car enthusiasts, because it’s a Suzuki, many a buyer will hesitate before visiting the dealership or seriously considering owning one.
Which to me is a real shame, because even if the Suzuki Kizashi has a few faults here and there, it’s proof positive that a car can be good at everything – well, almost.
Stylish and belligerent
From the outside, the Suzuki Kizashi makes a statement. It’s got an imposing grille, prominent wheel wells that give it presence on the road and an undeniably sporty character. In fact, when I first saw a picture of the Kizashi, I thought “here’s one huge, imposing vehicle.” But when I actually stood beside it, I beheld a good-sized sedan with a particularly assertive personality.
Same story inside. The cabin is spacious, both in front and in back, and by offering plenty of support, the seats do credit to the sporty reputation this Suzuki is trying to establish. And the driving position has more to do with a sports car than a simple road-going sedan.
Note also that the Kizashi is delivered with a lot of standard equipment, which makes life on board that much sweeter. Especially with the well-thought out ergonomics, where the controls are easy to reach and don’t require a university degree to master!
Throw in an inner design that blends in well with the outer lines, a much higher quality of fit and finish than Suzuki is known for and above average materials, and you get a sophisticated cabin that doesn’t go overboard. A bit like the car itself.
Impotent engine
The main problem with the Suzuki Kizashi is undoubtedly the feebleness of its 180-hp four-banger. As the car is relatively heavy, the impotent mill detracts a little from your driving enjoyment by limiting accelerations and creating the impression that the Kizashi quickly reaches its limits.
Which is really too bad. Even in the Sport version, the Kizashi can only be motivated by this base engine, whose breathing becomes even more laboured with the presence of an AWD system on the SX variant we tested in the past.
Which to me is a real shame, because even if the Suzuki Kizashi has a few faults here and there, it’s proof positive that a car can be good at everything – well, almost.
 |
| It’s got style, it’s got flair, it’s fun to drive and it has an efficient all-wheel drive. (Photo: Matthieu Lambert/Auto123.com) |
Stylish and belligerent
From the outside, the Suzuki Kizashi makes a statement. It’s got an imposing grille, prominent wheel wells that give it presence on the road and an undeniably sporty character. In fact, when I first saw a picture of the Kizashi, I thought “here’s one huge, imposing vehicle.” But when I actually stood beside it, I beheld a good-sized sedan with a particularly assertive personality.
Same story inside. The cabin is spacious, both in front and in back, and by offering plenty of support, the seats do credit to the sporty reputation this Suzuki is trying to establish. And the driving position has more to do with a sports car than a simple road-going sedan.
Note also that the Kizashi is delivered with a lot of standard equipment, which makes life on board that much sweeter. Especially with the well-thought out ergonomics, where the controls are easy to reach and don’t require a university degree to master!
Throw in an inner design that blends in well with the outer lines, a much higher quality of fit and finish than Suzuki is known for and above average materials, and you get a sophisticated cabin that doesn’t go overboard. A bit like the car itself.
Impotent engine
The main problem with the Suzuki Kizashi is undoubtedly the feebleness of its 180-hp four-banger. As the car is relatively heavy, the impotent mill detracts a little from your driving enjoyment by limiting accelerations and creating the impression that the Kizashi quickly reaches its limits.
Which is really too bad. Even in the Sport version, the Kizashi can only be motivated by this base engine, whose breathing becomes even more laboured with the presence of an AWD system on the SX variant we tested in the past.
 |
| The main problem with the Suzuki Kizashi is undoubtedly the feebleness of its 180-hp four-banger. (Photo: Matthieu Lambert/Auto123.com) |