Word doesn't travel fast when you're a small-time player, but the 2010 Suzuki Kizashi has been a labor of love some four years in the making. It is by far the most important car Suzuki has ever launched in the United States.
Although compact cars rule most parts of the world, midsize sedans will make or break you in the U.S. market. So when the 2010 Suzuki Kizashi goes on sale in December, the American outpost of Suzuki has an opportunity to reinvent itself from scratch. The company has never had a presence in the midsize sedan class. That is, unless you count the short-lived Verona, a rebadged sedan from the Korean market.
Maybe you don't want to take the 2010 Suzuki Kizashi seriously, either. (Oh, that name.) So you'll just have to go for a drive in one. And make sure it's a back road with some tight corners. Do this for an hour and you get the feeling that Suzuki's chassis development engineers get real joy out of driving and they've tuned a midsize sedan for those of us who feel the same.
It's Homegrown
Concept versions of the Suzuki Kizashi were said to have a General Motors-sourced 3.6-liter V6. This gave some of us the impression that the whole car would borrow GM platform architecture, much like the current Suzuki XL7. But this is not the case.
Instead, the 2010 Suzuki Kizashi is an entirely homegrown design. Its basic architecture is front-wheel drive, although an all-wheel-drive version with a clutch-pack-type center differential is optional. And while the Kizashi is coming to the United States first, it will eventually be a world car. So Suzuki has had to make it a little smaller than a biggie-size Accord or Camry.
The Kizashi stretches 183.1 inches nose to tail and rides on a 106.3-inch wheelbase with a track of 61.6 inches. It's close in size to the Acura TSX and the 2005-'09 Subaru Legacy.
Grip, not understeer, is the prevailing sensation, thanks to some inspired suspension tuning.
Like the TSX, the Kizashi uses a 2.4-liter inline-4 engine. This engine has twin balance shafts and features variable intake valve timing. It's rated at 185 horsepower at 6,500 rpm and 170 pound-feet of torque at 4,000 rpm with the standard six-speed manual gearbox. With the optional continuously variable transmission (CVT), power maxes out at 180 hp at 6,000 rpm. You can only get AWD with the CVT, which also has shift paddles for its simulated manual mode.
Obviously, the Acura TSX and Subaru Legacy 2.5GT offer more horsepower, but the Kizashi easily tops the non-turbocharged Legacy's 170-hp rating. And among all four-cylinder midsize sedans, only the Accord EX (190 hp), and Volkswagen Jetta Wolfsburg and Passat (200 hp) beat it in the power department.
Suzuki plans to undercut the prices of most potential rivals anyway. The base 2010 Suzuki Kizashi S should come in below $20,000, and our high-line SLS with a six-speed manual transmission should cost about $25,500 (there are SE and GTS trim levels between these two). Expect to spend $27,500 on an AWD Kizashi with the CVT.
Doesn't Drive Like a $25K Car
Why mention the TSX and Legacy GT if the 2010 Suzuki Kizashi is so cheap? Well, it just so happens the Kizashi feels a lot like those cars, specifically the smaller 2004-'08 TSX and 2005-'09 Legacy that we liked so much.
In developing the 2010 Kizashi, says Gene Brown, vice president of marketing and public relations for American Suzuki, "we wanted to build world-class sport sedan at a price the average person can afford."
Of course, you'll never find a true sport sedan in the form of a front-wheel-drive midsize car with a $25K price tag, but the Kizashi offers a level of entertainment that has been refined out of most other midsize sedans. Like the older TSXs and Legacys, it feels relatively lightweight, agile and honest in communicating its intentions.
You're not supposed to be put off by the body roll through tight turns. Rather, this is your cue to push harder, because it's then that the Kizashi really digs in. Grip, not understeer, is the prevailing sensation here, thanks to some inspired suspension tuning and an above-average set of all-season tires — P235/45R18 94V Dunlop SP Sport 7000s. The electric-assisted steering is a little shy on feedback, but it weights up so usefully off-center that you scarcely notice it's electric. Stability control can be fully disengaged, and our Kizashi SLS test car slaloms at 64.8 mph and manages 0.88g on the skid pad.
Brake pedal feel is a tad abrupt at tip-in, but the brakes have ample power and resist fade well — exactly what you want if you're going to play around back roads. Our test car's best 60-mph-to-0 stop is 122 feet.
What really makes all of the 2010 Suzuki Kizashi's cornering capability a neat trick, though, is the midsize sedan's composure on the highway. Even with 18s, our Kizashi SLS never rides harshly. Road noise isn't a problem, either.
Engine's Just OK
We can't muster quite the same enthusiasm for the Kizashi's 2.4-liter engine, but it's perfectly adequate for everyday driving. Low and midrange torque take priority here, and the upshot is that it's easy to get going in low-speed traffic and take full advantage of passing zones on back roads.
What we don't love is the engine's demeanor at high rpm. Power begins to drop off before the 6,600-rpm redline, and the 2.4-liter is not the smoothest or the freest-revving engine in this class. Rather, it's just average, and this stands out because the rest of the drive is far above average.
As today's manual gearboxes go, though, the Kizashi's six-speed is pretty good. Clutch engagement is a bit vague, but the long-throw shifter moves through the gates with precision. Heel-and-toe downshifts come easily if you want them.
This combination is good for an 8.3-second 0-60-mph time (8.0 seconds with 1 foot of rollout like on a drag strip) at our testing facility. The quarter-mile goes by in 16.0 seconds at 86.6 mph. For comparison, a current-generation Acura TSX with an inline-4 (201 hp, 172 lb-ft) and equipped with a six-speed manual runs the quarter-mile in 15.6 seconds at 89.8 mph. Most other non-premium four-cylinder sedans are a second slower than the Kizashi, save for the 2.0T-equipped VWs and the Accord EX.
There's more in store for the Suzuki Kizashi in the engine department. We're not holding our breath on a turbocharged version of the 2.4-liter, but Suzuki is already a testing a V6 AWD version, which does, in fact, have the GM-sourced 3.6-liter V6 from the XL7 along with a six-speed automatic transmission.
Snug but Well-Trimmed Cabin
Cost considerations evidently didn't allow for serious sport seats in the 2010 Suzuki Kizashi, but the cabin is otherwise driver-friendly. The seating position is neither too high nor too low, and the three-spoke steering wheel offers both telescope adjustment and a comfortable grip.
Most controls are easy to find, and though the audio display in our pre-production Kizashi SLS isn't the most state-of-the-art, Suzuki is working to source an upgraded head unit for production models that will allow more characters to be displayed. Keyless start and a USB port are standard on all Kizashis, and GTS and SLS models get a Rockford Fosgate audio system and streaming Bluetooth capability.
Suzuki will offer an upgradeable Garmin navigation system for the Kizashi, but this time the screen is larger and built into the dash. The $1,300 price tag for navigation includes a back-up camera and real-time traffic updates.
The only thing that gives us pause is the somewhat snug rear-seat headroom and legroom, but that's merely a consequence of this being a world car. If you're way over 6 feet, don't get in the back of a Suzuki Kizashi.
Save Your Jokes
On the whole, it's pretty amazing how much Suzuki gets right with the Kizashi. This midsize sedan handles well, rides well and accelerates respectably. It's also attractive in an unconventional way and has all the features you'd expect in a mainstream car.
The only obstacles standing in the way of the 2010 Suzuki Kizashi's success are its funny name and Suzuki's scant dealership network in the U.S. (Actually the latter really isn't funny at all, as dealers are few and far between even in import-friendly Southern California.)
But for those willing to track down a 2010 Suzuki Kizashi, this is a chance to own a right-size sedan that drives like the TSX and Legacy once did. If the Kizashi can find some buyers, it could change the fortunes of a small-time Japanese player that until now hasn't had the right kind of four-wheeled product for America.
The manufacturer provided Edmunds this vehicle for the purposes of evaluation.
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jct416 says:
04:07 AM, 12/20/2009
I didn't even know about this car until just 3 days ago! I was looking for an affordable quality car that offered a good warranty and possibly awd, and a co-worker of mine mentioned the Suzuki SX4, he said I should check it out. So I went to the local Suzuki dealer and I did test drive the SX4, great car and very competatively priced for the equipment you get. But while I was at the dealership I spotted what I thought was some sort of new Audi with a body style I wasn't familiar with. The dealer said oh no that is not an Audi, that is the new Suzuki Kizashi! I was about to say Gesundheit! and offer him a tissue, but then I saw the lettering on the back of the car, and it turns out the dealer hadn't just sneezed, that is the name of this new beauty of a sedan.
So we walked over to the sedan, I walked all the way around, and caught all of the angles of the car, and no matter which angle you look from this car is a class act. So he suggested we take it for a test drive.
Once on the road the first thing I noticed was how smooth the engine was and the ride quality is top notch, but it's not completely disconnected from the road like some of the more cushier luxury sedans are. That is a HUGE plus for this car, specially for people like me who like a comfortable ride but I still have decades to go before I'm a senior citizen so I don't want to feel like I'm driving a Lincoln LOL. He suggested we hop on the highway and directed me to a turn off that lead to an unfinished neighborhood on the side of a hill that has a newly paved road that snakes back on forth up and down the hill. Once there he said to really test it out, take the corners at a competative pace to get a feel for the cars handeling. Since there is no one actually living in that area yet I was able to do just that. This is where this car will completely undo ANY competition brand in the price range and even surpass cars costing 10 to 15k more than this car! The car just gripped thru everything I could throw at it, every turn, wind, and manuvuer this car just ate it all up and never became unstable. I owned and drove an Audi A4 for almost 2 years (before I finally gave up on it because the repairs bills almost ate me alive), and I can tell you when it comes to handeling the Kizashi can hang right in there with the A4 except that Kizashi isn't as harsh or jarring when it encounters potholes or road irregularities as A4. My Audi had more HP, so in a straight line it was faster than Kizashi, but you know what? The Kizashi is a blast to drive already, so I can live without that straightline extra HP I had with the A4, after all that extra HP I got with the Audi came at a BIG price, not just the sticker price of the Audi, (which I bought used with 40k miles on it) but also the maintenace of the A4 and the non-stop repair bills once the A4 went out of warranty. Now I totally understand why almost all of the used Audi's you see for sale are conviniently just out of the warranty period..... obviously because alot of actual Audi owners already know what I ended up finding out...they are repair nightmares on wheels! lol They trade in their cars right before it goes out of warranty.
The version of Kizashi I test drove was the GTS version, which came extremely well equipped. It didn't have navigation but according to the dealer that is coming in summer for people like myself that want navigation to come with the car.
So here are a few bottom lines. Kizashi is an amazingly competent car and and will out-handle ANYTHING in the same price range and even cars priced way above.
If all you care about is straighline speed, then maybe a camaro would suit you better. Kizashi is already faster than almost anything else in the catagory, with the 185hp 4 cylinder though.
But if you're like me, and you put more value the total package such as top notch handeling, highest bang for the buck pricing, awesome 100,000 mile warranty that is >FULLY TRANSFERABLENO DEDUCTABLE<, , classy looks without looking gaudy (ie..new sonata so overdone they even put a chrome strip above each front fender...wtf? lol!), not over-bloated and SUPERSIZED (like new Mazda6, Subaru Legacy) alot of uniqueness (ie.. do you know of any other car in this segment that has ALL of the above features including AWD that actually allows you to switch to FWD to save gas? Kizashi does that!) then you won't find anything with that TOTAL combination of elements that you will in Kizashi.
So what about the SX4 I test drove? Well the funny thing is my roomate came along with me for the test drive, and he was so impressed with SX4 and the fact that it's AWD and it's pricing that he's decided to trade in his Honda and he's picking up a new SX4 AWD next tuesday haha. Needless to say I'll be borrowing his SX4 now and then even though he doesn't know it yet!
I'm now pretty set on picking up a new Kizashi, so I'm going to wait until summer, so that I can stash away as much extra dollars as I can until then so I can put down a big down payment to keep my monthly payments low, and then probably walk away with a GTS or possibly an SLS (SLS is the top-dawg version) sometime between June and August.
Sidenote -
(I also found out from the dealer that a V6 version of Kizashi is coming out soon too, supposed to be somewhere between 260hp to 280hp. That's WAY more horsepower than I need but I know some people have a V6 fixation so they will have that option too. There is supposed to be a hybrid version on the way too).
bepperb says:
10:13 AM, 10/28/2009
another car in the segment that has: aluminum pistons with low tensile force rings, forged connecting rods, forged crankshaft, timing CHAIN (not a belt), balance shafts, hydraulic valve lifters AND coil-over ignition. There are none.
Every Toyota AR or Honda K series engine has everything listed except the Hydraulic valve lifters, but both have fully rollerized valvetrains which IMO is better with the exception of possibly needing adjustment. The GEMA engine (Hyundai, Mitsubishi, Mopar) also has everything you've listed except the lifters but still bucket style cam actuation. Trust you? You don't seem to know what you're talking about.
Agreed with 1487, it probably won't sell in record numbers out the gate, just because it's too different from a Camry/Accord and performance buyers will probably look past a 4cyl family sedan.
malik14 says:
03:17 PM, 10/25/2009
Style: 7.5
Performance: 8.5
Value: 8
Overall: 24 out of 30
mtaylor3 says:
03:07 PM, 10/23/2009
From what I've seen and read about this car, it seems it is what the last generation of Mazda6 should have been! I bought an 09 Mazda6, but this car makes me think seriously about a swap! Nothing really wrong with the Mazda, but it isn't as much fun to drive as I would have hoped...it's simply too big. I think Suzuki knows what America needs (responsibly sized, efficient, and fun to drive). The trick will be to convince Americans that what they want can be the same as what they need. Good luck, Suzuki...I'll be at the dealer when this thing goes on sale.
8str8rollin says:
03:18 AM, 10/23/2009
That's a really nice looking car! I had seen the concept car at an autoshow already. It was a real looker... very flashy and sleek, but maybe a bit too outlandish for an actual production model. Suzuki did a great job at toning it down while at the same time still leaving alot of the design elements intact. This car will age really well.
One thing that this article didn't mention though is all the engineering that went into this car. There is nothing else like the Kizashi in this catagory of car on the road today!
For starters show me another car in the segment that has: aluminum pistons with low tensile force rings, forged connecting rods, forged crankshaft, timing CHAIN (not a belt), balance shafts, hydraulic valve lifters AND coil-over ignition. There are none.
If you don't know what all that means, trust me, it means this car will be a great performer and is better engineered than anything in its catagory and price level. The prices are going to start around 19k, and go up to 25k for a totally loaded version complete with AWD! To get anything even close to this car you will have to spend ATLEAST 10k to 20K more that you will with Kizashi.
Suzuki tends to put it's money where you can't see it, unlike other brands that sell a fancy interior on a dinosaur chassis. Multi-link fully independent suspension too, no lame-o semi-trailing arms or torsion beams to be found on this car.
Combine all those features w/ the AWD option and there's plenty to differentiate this car from Honda's, Toyota's, VW's and Subaru's, etc.
veryhrm says:
02:00 AM, 10/21/2009
Why is the AWD only available w/ the auto (cvt)? Audi does the same thing w/ their A3 TDI in the US. Annoying. It's not like they don't have the parts...
It would be interesting if they did a wagon (w/ AWD and manual). It could be some competition for the Legacy / Outback with the same features but 2/3rds the price.
In the meantime... i'm actually thinking of getting an SX4.
foxtrot685 says:
09:02 PM, 10/19/2009
i dont see this car taking sales from camy or accord shoppers... i do see it getting looks from potential jetta buyers and tsx buyers for some reason in my head. if its as good as they say it is i wouldnt even look at jetta...
marvinlee1 says:
07:24 AM, 10/18/2009
I have the 2004 Suzuki Verona, which was the top-of-the-line Suzuki sedan that year. The car has been reliable and is pleasant to drive. But the depreciation is astoundingly high, as I found out this week upon shopping for a new car. The best bet for Suzuki may be to install a vigorous V6 in the Kizashi and promote it as an affordable high performance auto.
clarkma5 says:
11:33 AM, 10/16/2009
I fear it won't sell either. Honestly, I think the public perception is that Suzuki is actually a Korean brand, or is at least Korean-level, and despite how good Hyundai is doing these days I still hear "oh, I'll never buy Korean". That same sort of attitude will, sadly, make this car a struggle for Suzuki, but I hope they market it well and it finds its niche.
337 says:
10:52 AM, 10/16/2009
@1487: Estimated mileage is to the right of the story. An estimated 20/29 mpg won't snag much attention...