Just enough room
The 2011 Suzuki Kizashi can comfortably accommodate four adults, although rear-seat legroom becomes relatively limited when tall occupants sit in the pleasantly-supportive buckets up front. That being said, the car’s hind quarters still provide a little more comfort than the cramped rear seat of a 3-Series.
Lifting up the trunk lid reveals a wide albeit slightly short opening with a high step. Cargo capacity amounts to 378 litres vs. 400 in the Passat. If need be, the 60/40 split-folding rear seatbacks will help you stuff more luggage inside.
Interestingly, the owner’s manual warns that the Kizashi is not designed for towing a trailer. Who would dare, anyway? This machine is about pure driving enjoyment. Handling performance at low and high speeds is probably its greatest attribute, hence the connection with European-engineered sedans.
Just ask Bill Porter: "The road test the customer makes at the dealership is what sells the Kizashi. It’s like that every time!"
Drivers are treated to a surgically-precise steering, a slick-shifting gearbox, an ideally-firm, fully-independent suspension that effectively absorbs road imperfections (and God knows how many there are in Quebec!) and powerful brakes that prove easy to modulate. What a delightful combination!
On the flip side, the hilly Laurentides made the Kizashi Sport’s four-cylinder engine struggle on more than a few occasions. When proceeding up steep grades, the sedan could definitely use a couple more ponies, but then again, no other four-cylinder would fare better, not even with a 323i or Mazda6. I did feel that the "sport" label wasn’t totally accurate, however.
The 2011 Suzuki Kizashi can comfortably accommodate four adults, although rear-seat legroom becomes relatively limited when tall occupants sit in the pleasantly-supportive buckets up front. That being said, the car’s hind quarters still provide a little more comfort than the cramped rear seat of a 3-Series.
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| The Kizashi boasts surprising material selection, fit and finish. (Photo: Luc Gagné/Auto123.com) |
Lifting up the trunk lid reveals a wide albeit slightly short opening with a high step. Cargo capacity amounts to 378 litres vs. 400 in the Passat. If need be, the 60/40 split-folding rear seatbacks will help you stuff more luggage inside.
Interestingly, the owner’s manual warns that the Kizashi is not designed for towing a trailer. Who would dare, anyway? This machine is about pure driving enjoyment. Handling performance at low and high speeds is probably its greatest attribute, hence the connection with European-engineered sedans.
Just ask Bill Porter: "The road test the customer makes at the dealership is what sells the Kizashi. It’s like that every time!"
Drivers are treated to a surgically-precise steering, a slick-shifting gearbox, an ideally-firm, fully-independent suspension that effectively absorbs road imperfections (and God knows how many there are in Quebec!) and powerful brakes that prove easy to modulate. What a delightful combination!
On the flip side, the hilly Laurentides made the Kizashi Sport’s four-cylinder engine struggle on more than a few occasions. When proceeding up steep grades, the sedan could definitely use a couple more ponies, but then again, no other four-cylinder would fare better, not even with a 323i or Mazda6. I did feel that the "sport" label wasn’t totally accurate, however.
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| The Kizashi convinces with impressive and rewarding driving dynamics. (Photo: Luc Gagné/Auto123.com) |