Kizashi Sport AWD for under $40K

Affordable Japanese mid-size cars with all-wheel drive have been easy to find; just look under the star sign of Pleiades. Now however, there's a new star in the firmament -- Suzuki's Kizashi Sport.

An all-wheel drive version of the Kizashi mid-size sedan, the Kizashi Sport features the same 2.4-litre four-cylinder engine coupled to the same continuously variable transmission that's available as an option in the front-drive car. The engine develops 131kW of power and 230Nm of torque, for a fuel consumption figure of 8.4L/100km and a CO2 emissions figure of 198g/km.

"When the first Kizashi concept was unveiled at Frankfurt in 2007 we knew we had something very special on our hands," said Suzuki Australia General Manager Tony Devers, welcoming the new addition to the range.

"The launch of the production car earlier this year confirmed Suzuki's arrival as a major player in the global market. Now, with the arrival of the Kizashi Sport AWD, we can offer Australian customers a range of premium mid-sized vehicles that surpasses anything else on the market for performance, dynamics and value for money."

The new Kizashi variant's all-wheel drive system is a mechanical upgrade of the system used by the all-wheel drive SX4 small car, but with entirely new electronics regulating the drive system. It's essentially a part-time system with a switch that allows the driver to enable or disable drive to the rear wheels. Unlike some traction control systems, the Kizashi Sport's switchable drive system doesn't default to the 'safe' setting on start-up... if the driver switches off the engine in 2WD mode, that's the operating mode for the next time the car is started.

However, the car, even when 4WD mode has been selected by the driver, will seamlessly shift from 4WD to 2WD and back as required by circumstance and driver input. The means of transferring torque to the rear wheels is an electronically controlled multi-plate electromagnetic clutch system. This system allows shift on the fly between 2WD and 4WD with the press of the button on the dash to the right of the steering column.

Suzuki says that the new drive system in the Kizashi offers formidable active safety and further claims that this type of set-up will enhance the driving experience, although not at the expense of ultimate safety. The car's stability control always maintains a margin of safety. A drive session at the Snow Farm in New Zealand's South Island earlier in the week supports that view.

When the system detects understeer, it transfers torque from the front to the rear wheels. Should the car begin to oversteer, the system will transfer torque from rear to front and provide 'counter-steering assistance'. This doesn't take the correction of the car's attitude out of the driver's hands, instead merely guiding the driver with more electric assistance for the steering when the wheel is turned in the appropriate direction. If the driver tries to turn the wheel in the wrong direction, heavier (unassisted) weight will be encountered.

To distinguish the Kizashi Sport from the front-wheel drive models, Suzuki has designed the car with styling cues that include 18-inch alloy wheels in a unique 10-spoke style, a mesh lower grille, restyled front bumper, chrome side trim/fog light bezels, a 10mm lower ride height and a more prominent rear spoiler.

A choice of five colours will be available when the car goes on sale in September: Super Black, Mineral Grey, Premium Silver, Snow White and Fervent Red.

Inside, the Kizashi Sport features a unique steering wheel with chrome trim and boasting audio and Bluetooth phone controls. The Bluetooth connectivity is described by Suzuki as the "latest version of wireless technology", capable of audio streaming from smart phones.

Standard leather trimmed seats, handbrake lever and gear lever sport a contrasting silver stitching.

The Kizashi Sport AWD is based on the front-wheel drive XLS variant and comes equipped as standard with: dual zone climate control, a 425-Watt Rockford Fosgate audio system, heated electric front seats, keyless entry and start system, rain sensing windscreen wipers and auto dimming rear view mirror.

In addition to the native safety of the all-wheel drive system, the Kizashi Sport also offers reassurance of six airbags, stability control, traction control, ABS/EBD and auto-on/off xenon headlights. Suzuki has engineered the Kizashi with what the company calls Total Effective Control Technology, which basically alludes to a "deformation-resisting cabin". Pedestrian safety has also been given high priority in the design of the Kizashi, with a crumple zone between the bonnet and the top of the engine, plus a lower front bumper.

Pricing for the Kizashi Sport is $39,990, $12,000 above the starting price for the base model manual Kizashi XL ($27,990), but only $3000 above the price of the XLS grade with the optional CVT ($36,990). Suzuki hopes to shift about one hundred units a month when the Kizashi Sport goes on sale in September.

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