Suzuki Kizashi 2010 Review

Suzuki Kizashi

What we liked
>> ride/handling balance
>> quality feel to interior
>> overall refinement

Not so much
>> Engine needs more torque
>> Features like Bluetooth are add-ons

Overall rating: 3.5/5.0
Engine/Drivetrain/Chassis: 3.0/5.0
Price, Packaging and Practicality: 4.0/5.0
Safety: 3.5/5.0
Behind the wheel: 4.0/5.0
X-factor: 3.5/5.0

About our ratings

OVERVIEW

Its fortunes have improved more recently as models like Alto and SX4 have added meat to the Swift and Grand Vitara's bones. But this is the car that needs to succeed to significantly change the perception of the brand in Australia.

Suzuki's first 'native' midsized car (it re-badged Daewoo/GM Epica midsizers in the US market in years gone by though mercifully they never came Down Under), Kizashi is a deliberate move upmarket for the brand worldwide. It purports to add 'Status' to Suzuki's already completed brand development phases: 'Sporty' and 'Family'.

A medium car proportioned at the compact end of the segment, it is the production reality of a three-step concept car campaign that commenced with the debut of Kizashi I at Frankfurt show in 2007. Development of this real world production model began in 2004. After the USA, Australia is only the second major international market in which the Kizashi has gone on sale.

With Kizashi, Suzuki is looking to steal sales from Honda, Mazda and established European brands in Australia's rather crowded medium car segment. With a starting price of under $28,000  and an impressive standard equipment list, the car has a brace of key opposition models in its sights.

PRICING & EQUIPMENT

Though priced at a very competitive $27,990, the XL entry-level version wants for little. Standard features include 17-inch alloys, dual-zone climate control air, keyless entry and start and an impressively upmarket cabin.

Offered standard with a six-speed manual gearbox, a six-step pre-programmed Constantly Variable Transmission (CVT) is also offered on the XL at $2500 premium.

Stability and traction control, antilock-equipped four-wheel disc brakes with emergency brake assist and distribution, and six airbags including side curtains, are all standard on the sub-$28K Kizashi.

The top of the range Kizashi wears an XLS badge -- something that Suzuki Australia may yet change if buyers don't embrace the moniker. Whatever it's called, it's one with the lot. Though it features the same powertrain choices, the XLS adds 18-inch alloys, rain sensing wipers, front and rear park sensors, electrically-adjustable and heated front seats (driver's with lumbar and memory settings), leather upholstery, an electric sliding and tilting glass sunroof and a 425W Rockford Fosgate audio system. In manual guise, the XLS is priced from $34,990.

For the CVT version of the flagship -- this time with steering wheel paddles not offered in the XL-- Suzuki asks an extra $2000.

If there's one area in which Suzuki has been a little 'cute' with its pricing, it's related to metallic paint. Suzuki offers a choice of five colours but only one -- a classy, bright red -- is non-metallic and included in the above sticker prices. White, silver, black and blue are all pearls or metallics and require an extra $475 spend.

Suzuki Australia already has a list of dealer fit accessories on the way for the Kizashi. Included in the range are alternative wheel designs, a Bluetooth kit ($399), 'Display on demand Video Mirror with reverse camera ($1115) and integrated DVD/Satnav  ($3906). All prices exclude fitting charges.

MECHANICAL

Significant internal revisions have concentrated not only on liberating more power but also refinement. The engine features a bespoke block with better crankshaft support, revised cam-chain design and a host of other changes aimed at reducing noise and vibration. Suzuki claims the Kizashi is significantly quieter than its direct midsize car competitors, with some justification.

The engine features a variable length inlet manifold and porting and valve timing changes. Unlike some other engines in the segment there's no high-tech direct-injection, turbocharging or twin-cam variable valve timing. Suzuki has some of the world's best combustion engineers thanks to its long-term motorcycle expertise. That said we'd expect this will be last generation of Suzuki auto engines without these sorts of tweaks. The clock is ticking...

Even though its power numbers are up (compared to the Grand Vitara), the engine delivers to Kizashi near-small car fuel economy -- 7.9L/100km for both manual and auto variants.

The Kizashi features a unique body structure which Suzuki claims has been benchmarked against Audi's A4 family, BMW 3 series and Alfa Romeo 159. The company claims it matches the latter and VW Passat and Mazda 6 in terms of rigidity. Relatively heavy at around 1445kg, the car has already gained five-star crash rating in US (not NCAP) testing and already meets 2014 side impact standards.

Suspension is all new and is a cut above most small and medium cars in its design, construction and execution. Up front the Kizashi features a conventional McPherson strut design but the rear is a sophisticated multi-link independent design. Aluminium is used for parts like lower control arms (frront and rear) and wheel hubs to help reduce weight.

Headroom can be tight in the sunroof-equipped XLS version and in terms of width it's more a four-setaer than five. This impression (and Kizashi's general compact appearance) is no doubt influenced by the substantial 'tumblehome' taper. There's quite some shape to the glasshouse compared to other square-rigged competitors.

At 2700mm the new Suzuki's wheelbase is just 5mm shy of the Euro's but 60mm longer than the Mazda 3. The Mazda 6 is just 25mm longer between the axles than the Suzuki but almost 85mm longer overall.

Suzuki believes that the Kizashi's compact external dimensions will help it attract buyers 'up' from the small car segment, though it is keen not to cannibalise sales from its SX4 sedan which was recently facelifted.

Inside the cabin the impression is one of surprising quality. Surprising because this is the brand that brought you the Swift with its built-in passenger-side airbag blemish free on every dash. The Kizashi is different. There's near-VW levels of quality to the look and feel of the dash and doortop plastics and the brightwork and detailing is also well executed -- even on the XL variant.

Where hands, elbows and boomsidaisy make contact with the car it's soft in the right places and firm in the others. Handles, lids and the like are damped and the sunshades even get slide out extensions -- like a 'real' car. There's enough incidental storage to keep most of us happy and we had no problem getting a driving position that was just so. Even biggies should be happy -- there's tons of rake and reach adjustment on the wheel on both versions.

The dash and instrument panel are a conventional, symmetrical design with two main gauges and all the usual modcons. This tester found the graduations a touch busy in the first instance. Steering wheel spoke audio and cruise controls are logical. Though it took an extra look to locate and work out the trip computer reset and scroll controls behind the wheel hub, that shouldn't faze owners.

SAFETY

What's also worth praising is the dynamic abilities of the car. This is one of the picks of the bunch in terms of its degree of deportment across a range of surfaces. Even at a fair clip we rarely troubled the stability control or antilock brakes -- a good measure of its abilities.

We'd expect ANCAP or Euro NCAP to crash test the car sooner, rather than later. We'd almost bet the farm that the outcome will be five stars.

COMPETITORS

Competitively priced and Goldilocks-sized (not too big, not too small, but j-u-s-t right), the Kizashi deserves to carve itself some sales. But, as good as it is, we're not going to hold our breath.
 
Suzuki Australia has a target of around 3500-4000 sales annually for the Kizashi, but local MD Tak Hayasaki says he believes it will take some time for Australian consumers to embrace the new car.

"When you talk Suzuki with most Australian car buyers they think small cars. The Kizashi is a different car for us, and it will take a year or so for buyers to associate Suzuki with this [larger] class of car," Hayasaki told the Carsales Network.

Suzuki Australia execs are, however, bullish about the car's potential, not only to capture sales in its own right, but to positively affect floor traffic at its dealers and boost sales of its established Swift and SX4 models.

To help prompt some Kizashi customers, the company is backing the Kizashi with a cash payment offer that sees registered test drivers 'rewarded' with $200 if they sample a Kizashi and then go one to buy a range of other models. Included in the targeted cars are the Kizashi's key competitors, Honda's Accord Euro, Subaru Liberty and segment sales leader, Mazda's 6. Volkwagen's Jetta and Audi's A4 also make it onto the list.

Suzuki's test drive route didn't pull any punches. Climbing hard out of the Gold Coast and across some of the best hinterland racer roads south into NSW and then back northwest across the border towards Warwick, the Kizashi was wieldy without being wearing.

As noted above it's the ride that stands out from the pack, but the car is also possessed of well weighted steering that is almost completely devoid of kickback without ever being lifeless. Turn-in as sharp as you expect from a quasi-sporting sedan and grip levels, even on the at-times-damp roads, were high.

A very rutted and potholed stretch of road fail to faze the Suzuki or its full load of passengers -- something that might not have been the case in some of its opposition.

It's a quiet car too. Suzuki says it paid particular attention to the Kizasahi's NVH levels and it's telling. Compared to the current medium car crop Suzuki's in-cabin sound figures have it substantially quieter. Our experience, even on a mix of coarse blacktop, backs up the claim. In both 17 and 18-inch variants, the Yokohama dB Decibel tyres are likely in part to take credit -- hence their name.

The CVT-equipped version will be the pick of most buyers. That's probably just as well because the engine is not exactly muscular in low and middling revs. Though a sweet enough revver it feels light-on when it comes to torque. Indeed, the six-speed manual version regularly needs stirring to keep it on song. With an ever so slightly 'soupy' gear change and oddly angled gate, it's not the polished drivetrain the chassis deserves.

The 'six-speed' CVT is better matched to the engine's power characteristic and as long as you're happy with the 'flaring' revs that come part and parcel with these types of gearboxes, it's a much more effective mode of travel.

We didn't sample an XLS with the wheel-mounted shift paddles, but that's no great loss. Though the standard gearbox's 'tiptronic' mode lever shifts the right way (forward for down a gear, back toward the driver for up), we found progress was quicker and more effective if we let the box do its own thing.

Solid brakes with good pedal feel and plenty of power are another plus point for the car. Not once did we trouble the antilock system and the same goes for the stability control system -- despite pushing on a bit at times. When a chassis keeps its wheels on the ground instead of skipping from bump to bump, there's less 'stress' in this department all round.

Less enthusiastic drivers will appreciate the Kizashi's good on-centre steering feel and stability on B-roads and freeways alike. You don't have to drive like a loon to benefit from a well-tuned chassis.

The over-riding impression of Suzuki's new midsizer is one of competence and refinement. That shouldn't be surprising given Suzuki's engineering expertise. That said the only (slightly) weak point is the drivetrain. It's refined and will definitely do the job, but when it comes to performance, there's not a lot left on the table.

We can't help but think just how good this car could be with a torque rich direct-injected petrol powerplant and a smart twin-clutch gearbox. Perhaps before the four-wheel drive version arrives Down Under a call to new 'partner' Volkswagen is in order?

Check out our launch video of the Suzuki Kizashi at Carsales TV.

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