The All New 2010 Suzuki Kizashi
December 2010
A lot of car enthusiasts claim that the all-new Suzuki Kizashi is the best ride the famed Japanese automaker has brought to Australia. Others say that the Kizashi is now the most desirable Suzuki in the country, taking the spotlight from the Suzuki Grand Vitara. These are bold claims but when you take a closer look at the specs of the Suzuki Kizashi, they might as well be true! This new ride from Suzuki represents exciting changes in the brand’s line-up in the Australian market. The Suzuki Kizashi is a unique blend of great looks, refined cabin and awesome driving dynamics, making it a formidable contender in the mid-size sedan segment.
The Suzuki Kizashi will be offered in two variants: the Suzuki Kizashi XL and Suzuki Kizashi XLS. Both versions are powered by Suzuki’s 2.4-litre DOHC in-line four cylinder engine, which is mated to either a six speed manual or a six-speed CVT automatic gearbox. The powerplant is capable of generating 131 kW of power at 6,500 rpm and 230 Nm of torque at 4,000 rpm. These figures translate to an estimated fuel economy of 7.9L/100km in combined highway and city driving. As for the sprint time, the Suzuki Kizashi can blast forward from 0-100 km/h in just 7.4 seconds.
The base model XL is very well equipped and comes with a dual zone climate control, keyless entry and start, six airbags including side curtains, 17-inch alloy wheels, stability and traction control, and anti-skid brakes with emergency brake assist. At a $2,500 premium, the Kizashi XL is also offered with a six-step pre-programmed Constantly Variable Transmission (CVT). Moving to the XLS gives you some extra perks such as 18-inch alloy wheels, a heated driver's seat with 10-way electronic adjustment and three-position memory, front and rear park sensors, rain sensing wipers, an electric sliding glass sunroof, a leather wrapped steering wheel and parking brake handle, cruise control and a 425W Rockford Fosgate sound system which pumps out a whopping 425W through a 10 speaker setup.
The Suzuki Kazashi’s exterior has the perfect mix of elegance and sporty lines, easily making it a very enticing sports car. Up front is a smooth design with huge headlights and the Suzuki logo mounted in the grille which sits on a curvy bonnet. The rear features the same curvy yet symmetrical style at the front and is highlighted by stainless-steel exhaust covers. Inside, the cabin’s quality and design is up to the rest of the package. The dash and instrument cluster have a clean and conventional design with two main gauges and standard support for iPods and iPhones. Soft plastics were employed throughout and there are plenty of other fine touches that raise Suzuki Kazashi head and shoulders from most of its rivals.
On the road, the front-wheel drive Suzuki Kizashi is a driver’s car in all aspects. It rolls quietly, the gearshift of the six-speed manual is slick, and the CVT does not have the irritating engine roar of some of its competitors. The steering is precise and responsive, the suspension effectively absorbs road bumps and it is essentially neutral in all corners and at all speeds.
With all the significant upgrades that folks at Suzuki gave the Kizashi, it’s quite likely that it will make its way to the shortlist of the best cars for 2010. Car shoppers certainly need to take a serious look at this one. The reasonable price, superb aesthetics, impeccable handling and performance moves the Kazashi with the best mid-size cars in the market. Check out the Suzuki Kizashi at our Warwick Farm dealership, or visit Macarthur Suzuki for a test drive.