In the U.S., Suzuki is primarily known for motorcycles, and forgettable small cars that offer good value, but never seem to compete with the best of the class. It's the 11th largest automaker in the world, but its image in the U.S. trails well behind some smaller companies that have had more success here. The Japanese automaker is out to change that, however, with a premium midsize car for the 2010 model year, the Kizashi. The automotive press has now seen the car for the first time, and is cautiously optimistic that Suzuki may have come up with something worthwhile.
Motor Trend reports, "A ground-up design from Suzuki, the Kizashi is an impressive player on paper. Suzuki is promising a car with standard AWD, the most powerful four-cylinder engine in its class, and a premium interior." Designers didn't target the car at cheaper midsize entries, Motor Trend says, instead aiming for near-luxury cars like the "Acura TSX, and Volkswagen Passat, and, at first glance at least, it shows."
Kicking Tires reports, "Only a 2.4-liter four-cylinder [engine] will be available, teamed to a six-speed manual or a continuously variable automatic transmission with paddle shifters. All-wheel-drive models will come only with the CVT. The engine in other Suzukis puts out 166 hp, which would be on par with other four-cylinders in the segment."
Kicking Tires reports that All-Wheel-Drive will be optional, while Motor Trend says it will be standard. Regardless, it helps to set the Kizashi apart from the competition. Most affordable midsize cars don't offer it at all, KT notes. "Only the Subaru Legacy offers all-wheel drive with a four-cylinder engine in the class, with Ford's Fusion offering it only on V-6 models."
Autoblog likes what it sees in the cabin. "Inside the Kizashi gets standard sport seats and a decidedly upscale interior," they report. "The design is clean, appears well executed and should feel right at home to buyers of some premium brands. In spite of all this, Suzuki is planning to price the Kizashi in the same range as more mainstream models like the Camry and Mazda6."
Outside, Motor Trend writes, "it retains sharp, modern looks and an aggressive stance... What really sets the Kizashi off, though, are the big wheels lurking below the bulging fender flares."
It's hard to be certain what to make of the Kizashi before driving it, but on first impression, most auto writers are hopeful that Suzuki has produced an upscale car at an affordable price. Automobile Magazine writes, "In Japanese, the word kizashi means something great is coming. From what we've seen of the Kizashi, we'd have to say the nomenclature seems appropriate. Suzuki expects the first cars to arrive at dealers this winter, with base front-wheel-drive models carrying a starting price of approximately $19,500."
If you're in the market for a new car, check out the U.S. News rankings of this year's best cars as well as this month's best car deals.
